🍪🤎 Cinnamon Cream Cheese Cookies
Soft, tender, buttery cookies made with cream cheese and warm cinnamon, finished with a sweet cinnamon-sugar coating for the perfect cozy bite.
These Cinnamon Cream Cheese Cookies have a wonderfully soft texture and rich buttery flavor with just the right amount of tang from cream cheese. A generous cinnamon-sugar coating gives the outside a delicate crunch and adds warm, comforting spice to every bite.
They’re perfect for holiday cookie trays, afternoon tea, bake sales, gifting, or simply enjoying with a cup of coffee.
⏱️ Recipe Information
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Chill Time: 30 minutes
Bake Time: 10–12 minutes
Total Time: About 1 hour
Yield: 24–28 cookies
Difficulty: Easy
Method: Oven-Baked
🛒 Ingredients
🍪 For the Cookies
- ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 4 oz (113 g) cream cheese, softened
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1½ cups (190 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
🤎 For the Cinnamon-Sugar Coating
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Prepare the Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
2. Cream the Butter and Cream Cheese
Place the softened butter and cream cheese in a large mixing bowl.
Beat with an electric mixer for approximately 2–3 minutes, until completely smooth, creamy, and slightly fluffy.
Make sure both ingredients are properly softened so the mixture doesn’t become lumpy.
3. Add the Sugar
Gradually add the granulated sugar.
Beat for another 1–2 minutes, until well incorporated and slightly lightened.
4. Add the Vanilla
Add the vanilla extract and mix briefly until combined.
5. Combine the Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together:
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Ground cinnamon
- Salt
This ensures the baking powder and cinnamon are evenly distributed throughout the flour.
6. Make the Cookie Dough
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the cream cheese mixture.
Mix on low speed or stir with a spatula until a soft dough forms.
Do not overmix.
The dough should be soft and slightly tacky but easy to scoop.
❄️ Chill the Dough
7. Refrigerate
Cover the bowl and refrigerate the dough for approximately 30 minutes.
Chilling helps firm the butter and cream cheese, making the dough easier to shape and helping the cookies maintain a thicker, softer texture while baking.
🤎 Prepare the Cinnamon-Sugar Coating
8. Mix the Coating
In a small bowl, combine the granulated sugar and cinnamon.
Mix until evenly blended.
Set aside.
🍪 Shape the Cookies
9. Scoop the Dough
Using a small cookie scoop or tablespoon, portion the chilled dough into balls approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide.
10. Coat in Cinnamon Sugar
Roll each dough ball thoroughly in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
Make sure the entire surface is lightly coated.
11. Arrange on the Baking Sheets
Place the coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, leaving approximately 2 inches (5 cm) between each cookie.
Gently flatten each ball slightly with your fingertips or the bottom of a glass.
You don’t need to flatten them completely—the cookies will spread naturally during baking.
🔥 Bake
12. Bake the Cookies
Bake for approximately 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are set and the bottoms are lightly golden.
The centers should still look slightly soft.
Don’t overbake.
The cookies will continue to firm up as they cool.
13. Cool
Remove the cookies from the oven.
Let them cool on the baking sheet for approximately 5 minutes.
Carefully transfer them to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely.
⭐ Chef’s Tips
Use softened cream cheese
Cold cream cheese can leave lumps in the dough. Let it soften at room temperature before mixing.
Don’t overmix
Once the flour is incorporated, stop mixing. Overworking the dough can make the cookies less tender.
Chill the dough
Cream cheese makes the dough naturally soft. Chilling makes it much easier to scoop and shape.
Don’t overbake
These cookies are meant to be soft and tender. Remove them when the edges are set but the centers still look slightly soft.
Coat generously
The cinnamon-sugar mixture forms a delicious lightly crisp exterior as the cookies bake.
Cool before moving
Freshly baked cream cheese cookies are delicate. Give them several minutes on the baking sheet before transferring them.
🍪 Easy Variations
Snickerdoodle-Style
Increase the cinnamon in the coating to 1½ teaspoons for a stronger cinnamon flavor.
Cinnamon Vanilla
Add another ½ teaspoon vanilla extract to the dough for a more pronounced vanilla aroma.
Chai-Spiced
Add ¼ teaspoon ground ginger, ¼ teaspoon cardamom, and a pinch of cloves to the dough.
Maple Cinnamon
Replace half of the vanilla extract with ½ teaspoon maple extract.
Pecan Cinnamon Cookies
Fold ½ cup finely chopped toasted pecans into the dough before chilling.
White Chocolate Cinnamon
Fold in ½ cup white chocolate chips for a creamy sweet addition.
☕ Serving Suggestions
These cookies are delicious with:
- Coffee
- Chai
- Black tea
- Hot chocolate
- Latte
- Warm milk
- Vanilla ice cream
For a beautiful dessert plate, arrange them with fresh fruit and a light dusting of powdered sugar.
🎁 Perfect for Gifting
Pack completely cooled cookies into:
- Holiday tins
- Small cookie boxes
- Cellophane bags
- Decorative jars
- Dessert trays
Place parchment paper between layers to keep the cinnamon-sugar coating neat.
🧊 Storage
Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
For a slightly firmer texture, refrigerate them in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Bring refrigerated cookies close to room temperature before serving for the softest texture.
❄️ Freezing
Freeze the Dough
Scoop and shape the dough into balls, then freeze them on a tray until firm.
Transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to 2 months.
Roll in cinnamon sugar just before baking.
Freeze Baked Cookies
Completely cooled cookies can also be frozen in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
Thaw at room temperature before serving.
🍪🤎 Final Result
These Cinnamon Cream Cheese Cookies are soft, buttery, tender, and filled with warm cinnamon flavor.
The cream cheese gives them a subtle tang and wonderfully soft texture, while the cinnamon-sugar coating adds just the right amount of sweetness and spice.
Soft inside, lightly crisp around the edges, and absolutely irresistible with a hot cup of coffee or tea! ☕🍪🤎✨