Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting and Colorful Decorations Recipe
Classic Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting – tender, buttery cookies baked to golden perfection and topped with a smooth, colorful frosting perfect for any occasion or holiday celebration.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours 20 minutes (including chilling and decorating time)
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 egg
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Frosting
- 3 ¾ cups powdered sugar
- ¾ cup butter, room temperature
- 3-4 tablespoons milk
- pinch salt
- 2-3 drops green food coloring
- Optional: sprinkles, candies, colored coconut for decoration
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a cookie sheet. This ensures cookies don’t stick and bake evenly.
- Make Cookie Dough: In a large bowl or stand mixer, cream together the softened butter, cream cheese, sugar, powdered sugar, almond extract, and egg until the mixture is fluffy and smooth.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add these dry ingredients to the creamed butter mixture, stirring until a soft dough forms.
- Roll and Cut Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to about ½ inch thickness. For crunchier cookies, roll the dough thinner. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes.
- Bake Cookies: Place cutouts onto the prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the cookies lose their glossy surface and the bottoms turn a light golden color. Let the cookies rest on the sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare Frosting: Using a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, beat the butter until light and smooth. Add a pinch of salt, green food coloring, and 2 tablespoons of milk, mixing well.
- Add Powdered Sugar: With the mixer on low speed, gradually incorporate the powdered sugar. Once combined, increase the speed to high and beat for 2 minutes until fluffy. Add additional milk as needed to reach your desired frosting consistency.
- Frost and Decorate: Once cookies are completely cooled, frost them using a spatula or a large star tip for a decorative nest-like appearance. Add sprinkles, candies, or colored coconut to finish and personalize your cookies.
Notes
- Make sure the butter and cream cheese are softened to room temperature for easier mixing and better texture.
- Rolling the dough thinner will yield crunchier cookies; thicker dough results in softer cookies.
- You can substitute almond extract with vanilla extract if desired.
- Allow cookies to cool fully before frosting to prevent melting the frosting.
- Use a wire rack for cooling to ensure even air circulation and prevent sogginess.
- For vibrant frosting colors, use gel-based food coloring instead of liquid.