Description
Delicious and soft Gluten Free Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies that are perfect for those avoiding gluten. These cookies are tender, flavorful, and easy to make, featuring a smooth cream cheese-infused dough that results in melt-in-your-mouth sweetness and a lightly golden edge.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour (with xanthan gum if not included)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Optional: 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven. Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Mix dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk together the gluten-free flour, baking powder, and salt to ensure they are evenly distributed.
- Cream butter mixture. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter, cream cheese, and sugar together until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well combined, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Incorporate egg and extracts. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and optional almond extract to the creamed mixture, beating until smooth and uniform in texture.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a dough forms. If the dough feels too soft or sticky, refrigerate it for about 30 minutes to firm up.
- Shape cookies. Roll the dough into 1-inch balls, place them spaced out on the prepared baking sheets, and gently flatten each ball slightly with your hand or the bottom of a glass.
- Bake. Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are set and the bottoms turn a light golden color. Be careful not to overbake.
- Cool cookies. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely to ensure they set properly.
- Decorate. Once fully cooled, decorate the cookies as desired with icing, sprinkles, or enjoy them plain.
Notes
- Using gluten-free all-purpose flour with xanthan gum helps with cookie structure; if your flour blend does not include it, add a small amount separately.
- Chilling the dough is optional but recommended if the dough is too soft for easier handling.
- You can substitute almond extract with another extract like lemon or leave it out entirely for a classic vanilla flavor.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for longer storage.
- For dairy-free versions, substitute cream cheese and butter with vegan-friendly alternatives, though texture may vary slightly.
