Cream Cheese Cookies
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My cream cheese cookies are ever so tangy, chewy, and melt-in-your-mouth soft. Made with 5 key ingredients, one bowl, and NO flour!
I know what you’re thinking, but trust me, it’s not as weird as it sounds.
Cream cheese adds moisture and a subtle tangy flavor that perfectly complements the cookie’s sweetness. When paired with baking staples, these cookies will have all your friends questioning where you bought them.
My version of these cookies is a little different. During testing, I found that skipping the flour created a softer, richer cookie with an almost melt-in-your-mouth texture. The trade-off is that the dough needs extra chilling time before baking, which helps the cream cheese firm up and prevents the cookies from spreading too much in the oven.
Table of Contents
Why I love this recipe
- Flourless. There’s no flour needed, which also means these cookies are naturally gluten-free.
- Made with only 5 key ingredients. Better yet, they’re all simple pantry staples.
- Soft and chewy. The cream cheese gives these cookies a rich texture and subtle tangy flavor that sets them apart from traditional cookies.
- Ready in 15 minutes. Once chilled, these cookies are freshly baked and on the table in no time.
★★★★★ REVIEW
“Delicious!! Absolutely amazing if you are trying to eat healthier.” – Anna
Key Ingredients
Here’s what goes into cream cheese cookies, along with my kitchen notes. Full measurements are in the recipe card below.
- Cream cheese. Softened to room temperature. I recommend full-fat cream cheese, as lower-fat varieties contain more moisture and can cause the cookies to spread too thin.
- Peanut butter. Use smooth, drippy peanut butter with no added salt or sugar. I also tested almond butter, and while I found the flavor a little stronger, the cookies still turned out well.
- Brown sugar. Adds sweetness and helps create a soft, chewy texture. White sugar or a brown sugar substitute can also be used.
- Baking soda. Gives the cookies a little lift and helps create a softer texture.
- Egg. A room-temperature egg mixes much more easily into the dough and helps bind everything together.
- Vanilla extract. Optional, but I never skip it. It rounds out the flavors and complements the cream cheese perfectly.
How to make cream cheese cookies
Step 1- Prep. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2- Make the cookie dough. In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients.
Step 3- Shape and bake. Using a cookie scoop, scoop 2-inch balls of dough. Place the cookie dough balls on the cookie sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Let the cookies cool on the pan briefly, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Don’t skip the chill. Chilling the dough is a must to prevent the cookies from spreading too much in the oven. I recommend at least 45 minutes, but if you have longer, even better.
- Avoid overbaking the cookies. They’ll continue to firm up as they cool down, so remove them from the oven as soon as the tops are lightly golden and the edges have just set.
- Use an electric mixer. While not essential, I find a hand mixer makes it much easier to incorporate the cream cheese evenly into the dough.
Storage instructions
To store: Because these cookies are soft and delicate, I prefer storing them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Let them sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving. They’ll keep well for up to 2 weeks.
To freeze: Place the cookies in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 6 months. Let the cookies thaw overnight in the fridge.
5-Ingredient Cream Cheese Cookies
Video
Ingredients
- 1 cup cream cheese 8 ounces, softened, 225g
- 1 cup peanut butter 250g
- 1 cup brown sugar * See notes, 200g
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon baking soda 5g
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Line a large baking tray with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the cream cheese, peanut butter, sugar, egg, baking soda, and vanilla, and mix until combined. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 45 minutes.
- Using a cookie scoop or a large spoon, scoop out heaping 2-tablespoon portions of the cookie dough and place them on the lined tray. Bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the pan completely.
Notes
Nutrition
More cookie recipes
Originally updated September 2022
The cookies are delicious but very moist and soft. I used Splenda Magic Baker and baked for 15 min. Should I bake longer next time?
What do you recommend using instead of peanut butter or almond butter?
Any smooth/drippy nut/seed butter works. Tahini or sunflower seed butter are two great options!
Pleasantly surprised! I cut the recipe in half but still used a whole egg and used Brown Sugar Splenda. The cookies turned out more cake like but were really good! Not overly sweet. Next time I will add some pecans and maybe some dark chocolate chips.
The taste is excellent. I am dairy free and follow the Keto diet, so I used Kite Hill cream cheese substitute and brown sugar Swerve in replacement of the sugar (measurements stayed at 1 cup for each). I also added a dash of cinnamon– so good! My one disappointment is that the cookies are very fluffy– like cake consistency. I was hoping for a fudgier or crispier consistency (maybe it’s because of the substitutes I have to make?). Next time I will try eliminating the baking soda to see if that give it a more cookie-like consistency.
Best cream cheese cookies I’ve ever made!
Very good. Sift. Baking soda not needed.
Okay, these cream cheese cookies are fabulous!!!
Recipe sounds good. Question, if you omit the sugar are you saying they are sweet enough?
You need to use a sugar substitute
Ok got it; thx
This recipe is so easy to make. I used Splenda brown sugar and added Lily’s semi-sweet chocolate chips. Fantastic! This is my go-to cookie from now on.
Just made them using monk fruit/erithrytol and will definitely make them again. They’re delicious!
These are excellent – moist and delicious. This recipe is a keeper!
Very good
Anyone tried to replace the sugar with honey or maple syrup? Would love to try these but can’t have sugar in that form!
Omg!!! I was cautiously optimistic and these far exceeded my expectations!! Added some dark chocolate chips & sea salt – thank you for this amazing recipe!
I’ve made these twice now and we love them, I use Philadelphia cream cheese and natural peanut butter with only peanuts in the ingredients.
These cookies are delicious!! They’re perfect!! They taste just like my Grandma’s peanut butter pie without the guilt!! I’ve never been able to duplicate her pie recipe so I’ve definitely missed it until I bit into this cookie today!! Thank you so much for this delightful recipe!! Yum!!😋