Description
These Gluten-Free Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies are soft, tender, and deliciously flavorful. Made with cream cheese, butter, and gluten-free flour, they offer a perfect balance of richness and sweetness. Ideal for those avoiding gluten but still craving classic sugar cookies, these treats are easy to prepare and bake. Perfect for holidays, celebrations, or everyday snacking.
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 Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to ensure cookies don’t stick and bake evenly.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the gluten-free flour, baking powder, and salt. This helps distribute the leavening agent evenly through the flour.
- Cream Butter, Cream Cheese, and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, cream cheese, and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which should take about 2 to 3 minutes. This step is key for a tender texture.
- Add Egg and Extracts: Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract if using, mixing until the batter is smooth and fully incorporated.
- Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a dough forms. If the dough feels too soft or sticky to handle, chill it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to make it easier to work with.
- Shape the Cookies: Roll the dough into 1-inch balls, place them onto the prepared baking sheets spaced apart, and gently flatten each ball slightly to form cookie shapes.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the cookie edges are set and the bottoms turn lightly golden. Be careful not to overbake to maintain softness.
- Cool the Cookies: Let the cookies cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheets before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, preventing breakage.
- Decorate: Once cooled, decorate the cookies as desired with icing, sprinkles, or enjoy them plain for a simple treat.
Notes
- If your gluten-free flour blend does not contain xanthan gum, ensure to add it separately to help bind the dough.
- Chilling the dough is optional but recommended if the dough feels too soft to handle.
- These cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
- For variation, try adding lemon zest or different extracts to customize flavor.
- Do not overbake to keep cookies soft and tender; they continue to set as they cool.
