If you’re on the hunt for a cookie that perfectly balances soft, tender bites with warm, spicy cinnamon flavor and a luscious cream cheese twist, then you’ve just found the holy grail with the Best Cinnamon Cream Cheese Cookies Recipe. These cookies are irresistibly fluffy, slightly tangy from the cream cheese, and coated in a delightful cinnamon sugar crunch that makes every bite a nostalgic hug. They’re a total crowd-pleaser for any occasion, whether it’s an afternoon snack with tea or the star of the holiday cookie plate. Trust me, once you try this recipe, these cookies will become your go-to whenever you crave that perfect sweet cinnamon treat.
Ingredients You’ll Need
What’s great about the Best Cinnamon Cream Cheese Cookies Recipe is how it uses simple pantry staples that come together to create extraordinary texture and flavor. Each ingredient plays a vital role to give these cookies their soft center, tender crumb, and that irresistible cinnamon sweetness.
- All-purpose flour (2 1/2 cups): The foundation that gives these cookies structure without weighing them down.
- Baking soda (1 teaspoon): Helps the cookies rise and become light and fluffy.
- Salt (1/2 teaspoon): Balances sweetness and enhances all the cookie flavors.
- Ground cinnamon (2 teaspoons): Provides the signature warm spice that defines the cookie’s character.
- Unsalted butter, softened (1/2 cup): Adds richness and tenderness crucial for that melt-in-your-mouth feel.
- Cream cheese, softened (8 oz): Brings moisture, tang, and a wonderfully soft texture.
- Granulated sugar (1 cup): Sweetens the dough evenly for a balanced taste.
- Large egg (1): Binds the dough and adds moisture for softness.
- Vanilla extract (1 teaspoon): Enhances the overall flavor with a subtle aromatic note.
- Granulated sugar (1/4 cup for rolling): Combined with cinnamon for a crunchy coating.
- Ground cinnamon (1 tablespoon for rolling): Mixed into the outer sugar for extra cinnamon pizzazz.
How to Make Best Cinnamon Cream Cheese Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Dry Ingredients
Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats to prevent sticking and ensure even baking. In a medium bowl, whisk together your all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon. Doing this upfront helps evenly distribute the leavening and spice for consistent flavor throughout each cookie.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Cream Cheese
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and cream cheese on medium speed until the mixture is smooth and creamy—this usually takes about 2 minutes. This crucial step ensures the fat and cream cheese blend perfectly, which is what gives these cookies their famously tender texture.
Step 3: Add Sugar and Beat Until Fluffy
Next, add the granulated sugar to your creamy base and continue beating for about 3 minutes until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and almost cloud-like in texture. This aeration is what helps your cookies spread just right and stay nicely soft in the center.
Step 4: Incorporate Egg and Vanilla
Beat in one large egg and the vanilla extract until fully combined. These ingredients add moisture, richness, and depth of flavor that complement the cinnamon beautifully.
Step 5: Mix Dry Ingredients into Wet Ingredients
Slowly add your flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until everything comes together. The dough will be soft and slightly sticky—that’s exactly what you want for tender, fluffy cookies!
Step 6: Prepare the Cinnamon-Sugar Coating
In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup granulated sugar with 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon. This blend will coat each cookie, giving a subtle crunch and extra burst of cinnamon flavor on the outside.
Step 7: Shape, Coat, and Flatten the Cookies
Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll them into balls. Then roll each ball in the cinnamon-sugar mixture, ensuring an even coat. Place them on your prepared baking sheets, spacing each cookie about 2 inches apart. Slightly flatten each cookie with the back of a spoon or your fingers to encourage even baking and that lovely crinkly top.
Step 8: Bake to Perfection
Bake your cookies in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes. You’ll know they’re ready when the edges turn a beautiful golden color, but the centers remain soft. Remove the baking sheets from the oven and let the cookies cool for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to finish cooling completely. This cooling step helps set the cookies and keeps them soft inside.
How to Serve Best Cinnamon Cream Cheese Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
While these cookies shine all on their own, you can elevate their appearance and flavor by sprinkling a tiny pinch of extra cinnamon sugar on top right after baking or adding a light drizzle of vanilla or cream cheese glaze for an elegant finish. Freshly chopped pecans or walnuts sprinkled on top before baking can also add a wonderful crunch and nutty contrast.
Side Dishes
Best paired with a hot cup of chai tea, spiced coffee, or a cold glass of milk, these cinnamon cream cheese cookies make your snack time feel cozy and comforting. They also work beautifully alongside fresh fruit or a dollop of whipped cream for a sophisticated dessert spread.
Creative Ways to Present
For a charming presentation, stack the cookies in small towers tied with rustic twine or serve them in a decorative tin for gifting. You can also sandwich two cookies together with cinnamon cream cheese frosting or spread some apple butter between them for an autumn-inspired twist that will wow guests!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep your cookies fresh by storing them in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay soft and delicious for up to a week—perfect for enjoying over several days or sharing with friends who stop by unexpectedly.
Freezing
If you want to keep these beauties longer, freeze unbaked dough balls on a parchment-lined tray until solid, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. When you’re ready, bake them straight from frozen, adding a minute or two to the baking time. Baked cookies can also be frozen, layered between parchment paper, and then thawed at room temperature when it’s time to indulge.
Reheating
Warm your cookies for a few seconds in the microwave or in a low oven (about 300°F) to refresh their soft texture and bring out the melty cream cheese goodness. They’ll taste almost like they just came out of the oven, perfect for a quick treat anytime.
FAQs
Can I substitute cream cheese with something else?
While cream cheese is essential for the moist and tangy texture in this recipe, you can try mascarpone or a mix of butter and sour cream, but the flavor and softness might not be quite the same. For best results, stick with cream cheese.
Why are my cookies too flat?
If your cookies spread too much, it could be due to too-soft butter or overmixing the dough. Make sure your butter and cream cheese are just softened, not melted, and avoid overworking the dough when adding dry ingredients.
Can I make these cookies gluten-free?
Yes! Substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend that includes xanthan gum for structure. The texture might vary slightly, but the flavor will remain wonderfully cinnamon-rich.
How can I make these cookies more cinnamon-forward?
To boost cinnamon flavor, increase the cinnamon in the dough by up to 1 more teaspoon or add a pinch of cinnamon powder into the sugar-cinnamon coating. You can also try cinnamon extract for an extra punch.
Are these cookies suitable for freezing baked or unbaked?
Both! The dough freezes well before baking, and you can bake directly from frozen with a slightly longer baking time. Baked cookies also freeze wonderfully and thaw to soft perfection.
Final Thoughts
I can’t recommend the Best Cinnamon Cream Cheese Cookies Recipe enough if you want a cookie that feels homemade, cozy, and just a little bit special. The harmony of cinnamon spice, velvety cream cheese, and tender, soft crumb makes these cookies impossible to resist. Once you make a batch, I bet your friends and family will be asking for it again and again. So grab those ingredients, get baking, and enjoy every warm, cinnamon-scented moment!
Print
Best Cinnamon Cream Cheese Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Best Cinnamon Cream Cheese Cookies are soft, tender, and bursting with warm cinnamon flavor. Made with a creamy blend of butter and cream cheese, these cookies have a perfect balance of sweet and spice. Rolled in a cinnamon-sugar mixture and baked to golden perfection, they make a delightful treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
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 the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking 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. Set this mixture aside for later use.
- Cream butter and cream cheese: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and cream cheese using an electric mixer until the mixture becomes smooth and creamy, approximately 2 minutes.
- Add sugar: Gradually add the granulated sugar to the butter and cream cheese mixture, continuing to beat until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
- Incorporate egg and vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined, ensuring the mixture is well blended.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients: Slowly add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until incorporated. The resulting dough will be soft and slightly sticky.
- Prepare cinnamon-sugar coating: In a small bowl, mix together the 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon for rolling the cookies.
- Form and coat dough balls: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough, roll each portion into a ball, then coat each ball thoroughly in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
- Arrange on baking sheets: Place the coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. Flatten each cookie slightly with the back of a spoon or your fingers.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges turn golden while the centers remain soft and tender.
- Cool the cookies: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, preserving their soft texture.
Notes
- Ensure the butter and cream cheese are softened for easy blending and a smooth dough.
- Do not overmix the dough after adding the dry ingredients to keep the cookies tender.
- Flattening the dough balls slightly helps achieve an even bake and soft center.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- For a festive touch, add a drizzle of cream cheese glaze once cooled.
