Easy Cream Cheese Sugar Cookie Trees

Kristen Massad — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 14:42:30 +0000

Soft and chewy, Easy Cream Cheese Sugar Cookie Trees are so festive and fun for the holidays!! A modern and easy take on a traditional decorated sugar cookie, this dough is easy to roll out, cut, bake and dipped in glaze!

I love every thing about the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, including getting messy in the kitchen with my kids. There are so many wonderful traditions that I remember from being a kid at Christmas and it is so fun for me to pass these on to my three kids. Christmas cookie baking is one of the best ones and this Easy Cream Cheese Sugar Cookie is going to be a family favorite for years to come!

The dough is easy to make, roll out and bake and the best part is that these sugar cookies are dipped in the glaze! I love decorated shortbread and sugar cookies, but sometimes the icing and decorating can be intimidating. This cream cheese sugar cookie recipe is kid and adult friendly and there is absolutely no pressure with the glaze. Dip the cookies in the glaze and let them dry!

We are obsessed with these Cream Cheese Sugar Cookie Trees, but will also be baking our famous Shortbread Cookies and the delicious Soft Almond Sugar Cookies.

Ingredients

Flour- All purpose flour is the best option for these cookies to keep a great soft texture but stable enough to be dipped in glaze.
Sugar- Granulated sugar is used for the cookie dough and powdered sugar for the glaze!
Butter- Room temperature butter is the key to making these cookies extra delicious and flakey!
Cream Cheese- A great addition to a traditional sugar cookie make with just butter, cream cheese adds a soft texture and a tangy flavor that is so delicious with the sugar glaze.
Egg-Just one egg needed!
Baking Powder- Making these cookies soft and chewy!
Extract- Vanilla extract is a great addition to this soft and chewy cookie, but you can always add almond extract for a fun burst of flavor
Milk- Whole milk for the glaze is the best option, but 2% will also work! Don't use skim milk

Step-by-Step Directions

Prepare The Dough

In a mixing bowl with paddle attachment, cream together the butter and cream cheese until smooth
Add in the granulated sugar and mix until fully combined
Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture and mix until creamy
Mix in the flour and baking powder until the dough comes together
Remove the dough from the mixer, shape it into a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour

Bake The Cookies

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and prepare 2 sheet pans with parchment paper
Roll the dough out on a floured surface until it ¼-1/2 inch thick, cut the desired shape using a cookie cutter and place on the prepared baking sheets
Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes
Allow the cookies to cool completely before glazing

Glaze The Cookies

In a small bowl combine the powdered sugar and milk and whisk until smooth and creamy (if the glaze is to thick, add milk or to thin add a little powdered sugar)
Separate the glaze into three small bowls and add green food coloring to your desired color (light, medium, dark)
Dip the top of the cookies in the glaze allowing the excess to drip off and then place the glazed cookie on a cooling rack to dry
Allow the glaze to dry completely before stacking, packaging or serving!

Tips and FAQS To Make The Best Sugar Cookies

Ingredients
It is super important to make sure that all your ingredients are at room temperature before starting to mix. This will ensure that the dough is combined evenly and bakes evenly.

Chill Time
Give yourself enough time to allow the dough to chill. When making shortbread or sugar cookies the dough needs time to rest and chill before rolling out, cutting and baking.

Cookie Cutters
Have fun with this recipe and create any shape of cookie you love. I am loving these tree cookie cutters for a simple and modern Christmas design.

Glaze
I am loving this silky smooth and thin glaze that is easy to dip the cookies in, but you can adjust the glaze by adding more or less milk to make it the consistency you love.

Store and Save
This Cream Cheese Sugar Cookie recipe is great to make in advance. Make the dough and refrigerate it until you are ready to bake. Once the cookies are baked you can keep the cookies in an airtight container for up to 4 day and then glaze one day before you are ready to serve.

Can I freeze the cookies?

I would recommend freezing the cookies before they are glazed and then glaze them before you are ready to serve them, but if you have leftovers of the glazed cookies they can definitely stored in the freezer for 1 month!

More Christmas Cookies You Will Love

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