Description
These Best Cinnamon Cream Cheese Cookies combine a soft, creamy texture with warm cinnamon flavor, creating a delightful treat perfect for any occasion. The cream cheese adds a tender richness, while the cinnamon-sugar coating provides a sweet, spicy crunch on the outside.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For Rolling
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon until well combined. Set this mixture aside for later incorporation.
- Cream Butter and Cream Cheese: In a large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and cream cheese together until the mixture is smooth and creamy, approximately 2 minutes. This creates a rich base for the cookies.
- Add Sugar and Beat: Add the granulated sugar to the butter and cream cheese mixture and continue beating for about 3 minutes until the mixture becomes fluffy and light, adding air for a tender crumb.
- Incorporate Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the large egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated, ensuring even flavor distribution.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. The dough will be soft and slightly sticky, which is normal for this recipe.
- Prepare Cinnamon-Sugar Coating: In a small bowl, blend 1/4 cup granulated sugar with 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon. This will be used to coat the cookie dough balls.
- Scoop and Roll Dough: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough, form them into balls, and roll each ball in the cinnamon-sugar mixture so they are well coated.
- Arrange and Flatten Cookies: Place the coated dough balls onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. Flatten each cookie slightly using the back of a spoon or your fingers to encourage even cooking.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden while the centers remain soft and tender.
- Cool Cookies: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- For best texture, ensure butter and cream cheese are softened to room temperature before mixing.
- Do not overmix the dough once the dry ingredients are added; this helps keep cookies tender.
- Flattening the dough balls slightly before baking helps the cookies spread evenly and bake uniformly.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for longer storage.
- For extra cinnamon flavor, try adding a pinch of cinnamon to the dough itself in addition to the rolling sugar.
