These truly are the best ever cream cheese cookies you can make! I love that I can turn them into a simple cookie or add sprinkles and suddenly I have funfetti cookies that everyone clamors to grab off the cookie tray. This recipe is easy to mix up and uses regular pantry ingredients. With simple steps and a perfect blend of ingredients, these can be whipped up and from bowl to your cookie jar in only 30-minutes or less!
Best Ever Cream Cheese Cookies
If you are a fan of light and soft cookies, then this is definitely the recipe for you. It's surprisingly easy to make and super versatile. They are perfect just as they are, but as a basic dough, you can easily mix in other ingredients or top with sprinkles and suddenly you have a whole new recipe! That's my favorite part of this recipe. It's so easy to make and even easier to customize.
What Does Cream Cheese Do for Cookies?
Cream cheese is a great addition to baked goods. Not only does it add a little tang of flavor that is creamy and a perfect pairing to super sweet recipes, but it also adds a good bit of fat. The fat and moisture in the cream cheese help create a softer and airy cookie. The results make a nicely puffed cookie that is sweet but not overly so, super light, and delightfully soft in every bite.
If you want to use cream cheese in more baking, you can of course go traditional with things like these Oreo cheesecake truffles or the no bake Oreo cheesecake. I've even made cream cheese cookie bars before with great success. All delicious and easy to make!
Do I Have to Add Sprinkles?
No. Sprinkles are a fun addition that gives a confetti or funfetti look to the cookies. You can easily top them with just a little sprinkle of sugar, any color or style sprinkles you prefer, or a few of the other ideas below. Check them out and use what fits your family and tastes best!
- Sprinkles or candy pieces.
- Crushed cookie crumbs.
- Chopped pecans, walnuts, peanuts, almonds, pistachios, or macadamia nuts.
- Dried fruit like chopped apricots, cherries, or cranberries.
- Dip into melted milk chocolate, white chocolate, or butterscotch chips.
- Drizzle with melted chocolate or caramel.
For this cookie, mixing add-in's into the cookie can be a great choice, but most items can simply be added just before baking or even just when they come out of the oven for a perfect cookie experience. You don't have to add so many either. A light sprinkle is more than enough to add texture and fun to the cookies!
Do Cookies Made with Cream Cheese Need to be Refrigerated?
The biggest concern with cream cheese is that it might turn rancid. In this recipe, since they are baked and most of the moisture is removed, they do not have to be refrigerated. To keep them fresh longer, refrigerating is recommended, however.
When making these funfetti cream cheese cookies, I prefer to keep them in an airtight container on the counter for no more than 2-3 days. If they won't be eaten before that, I put them in the refrigerator.
Can Cream Cheese Cookies be Frozen?
If stored for more than 7 days, labeling and freezing are best. It is best to freeze these cookies after baking since they are a bit stickier dough than some cookies. Bake them and allow them to cool completely before placing them into a freezer container or freezer storage bag.
Label the bag with the cookie name and date baked, and store for up to 4 months in the freezer. Remove and let thaw on the counter or refrigerator then enjoy! This makes it easier to make the cookies ahead of time for an event or party later down the road.
Ingredients
- Cream cheese
- Unsalted butter
- Granulated sugar
- Egg
- Vanilla extract
- All purpose flour
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Rainbow sprinkles
How to Make Funfetti Cookies from Scratch
Preheat the oven to 350° F and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat and set aside.
If using sprinkles, pour into a shallow bowl and set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the cream cheese, butter, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
To the butter mixture, add one egg and the vanilla extract and mix until incorporated completely.
Add the flour, baking soda, and salt, and mix well until combined and a sticky dough forms.
Using a spoon or cookie scoop, drop scoops of the dough into the prepared bowl of sprinkles and roll to coat one side.
Place the cookies sprinkle side up onto the prepared baking dish 2" apart.
If not using sprinkles, you can sprinkle a bit of extra sugar on top of each cookie at this point.
Bake for 10-12 minutes or until just starting to turn golden around the edges.
More Cookie Recipes
If you liked this cookie recipe then you'll love our other easy cookie recipes. There are so many ways to make cookies unique and fun for sharing. I've made so many varieties in my life that I know just how versatile the term cookie is. If you need something different, don't fret! Whether you want soft, chewy, crunchy, or a combination of all, the recipes below are sure to satisfy your cookie cravings.
- Perfectly Soft Cookies and Cream Cookies Recipe
- Copycat Subway White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies Recipe
- Crunchy Oatmeal Cookies Recipe
- Easy Sugar Cookies with Homemade Glaze
- Chocolate Crinkle Cookies Recipe
- Copycat Samoas Girl Scout Cookies Recipe
Chef's Tip
If you decide to use sprinkles for this cookie recipe, go outside the normal style shown and do something different. You can, of course, use solid colored sprinkles or holiday themed, but I love buying unique blends. I recently found tons of options on Etsy for custom blends of sprinkles including a cute wizard sprinkles blend perfect for Harry Potter themed parties. You can even use my favorite rainbow sprinkle blend that is a mixture of all shapes, sizes, and colors.
📖 Recipe
Best Ever Cream Cheese Cookies with Funfetti Topping
Follow an easy recipe to create the best ever cream cheese cookies with a simple funfetti topping that is sure to be a hit! A delicious treat that is soft and airy with a hint of sweetness.
Ingredients
- 4 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg, room temperature
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup rainbow sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat and set aside.
- If using sprinkles, pour into a shallow bowl and set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream together the cream cheese, butter, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- To the butter mixture, add one egg and the vanilla extract and mix until incorporated completely.
- Add the flour, baking soda, and salt, and mix well until combined and a sticky dough forms.
- Using a spoon or cookie scoop, drop scoops of the dough into the prepared bowl of sprinkles and roll to coat one side.
- Place the cookies sprinkle side up onto the prepared baking dish 2" apart. If not using sprinkles, you can sprinkle a bit of extra sugar on top of each cookie at this point.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until just starting to turn golden around the edges.
Notes
*Sprinkle topping optional.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Rainbow Road Sprinkle Mix Rainbow Cake Topper Edible | Etsy -
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Unicorn Magic Edible Sprinkle Mix Birthday Sprinkles | Etsy -
Sprinkles Pink snowflake sprinkles Pink sprinkles | Etsy -
Sprinkles At the end of the rainbow Sprinkle Mix | Etsy
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
24Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 139Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 93mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 0gSugar: 10gProtein: 2g
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