Cinnamon Cream Cheese Cookies

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Cookies - made dough December 9, 2018 from This Silly Girl's Kitchen

A late post from last month's cookie baking for the holidays. I'm torn about this cookie. As you know, I'm not a fan of cream cheese or the tang in its taste. Yes, I know, I still seem to keep baking with it anyway. Call me contrary.

These cookies look like snickerdoodles but they're not. They have that deceptively snickerdoodle-y appearance because I rolled them in cinnamon sugar before baking them. But they're a cream cheese-based cookie and have a more dense, chewy texture.

I liked the texture of these cookies as they give your teeth something to sink into. The taste was fine but because they look so much like snickerdoodles, my mind kept expecting they'd taste like them too but my taste buds said "nope". To trick your mind and mind's eye, you can also roll the cookie dough balls in colored sugar or plain granulated sugar and omit the cinnamon so you avoid the faux snickerdoodle conundrum.

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
pinch kosher salt
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

1. In a large bowl, cream together butter and cream cheese until smooth and combined. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing until combined. Add egg, baking powder, vanilla and salt; mix until just combined.
2. Gradually add flour in 3 additions, mixing after each addition until just combined; do not overmix. Portion into small dough balls, cover and chill for 1 hour.
3. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 375 degrees F and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Mix 1/4 cup granulated sugar and cinnamon in small bowl. Roll chilled dough balls into mixture, coating completely, and evenly space on prepared baking sheets. Bake for 8-9 minutes or until just set; do not overbake. Let cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.