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Easy Beginner 4-Ingredient Sugar Cookies Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting

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A simple and forgiving sugar cookie recipe with only four ingredients, topped with a creamy and tangy cream cheese frosting. Perfect for beginners and quick baking sessions.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (225g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 2 ½ cups (315g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 4 oz (115g) cream cheese, softened
  • ¼ cup (60g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ½ cups (180g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar using an electric mixer on medium speed for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy.
  3. Add the egg to the butter-sugar mixture and beat until fully incorporated, about 30 seconds.
  4. Gradually add the all-purpose flour and stir with a spatula or mixer on low speed until just combined. The dough will be soft but not sticky.
  5. Form the dough into 1-inch (2.5 cm) balls and place them 2 inches (5 cm) apart on the prepared baking sheets. Chill dough for 10-15 minutes if too soft to shape.
  6. Flatten each ball gently with the bottom of a glass or your palm to about ¼ inch (6 mm) thickness.
  7. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are just turning golden but centers remain soft. Do not overbake.
  8. Remove cookies from oven and let cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
  9. While cookies cool, make the cream cheese frosting by beating cream cheese and softened butter together until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes.
  10. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract, beat on low speed until combined, then increase to medium and beat until fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Add milk teaspoon by teaspoon if frosting is too thick.
  11. Spread frosting onto cooled cookies with a butter knife or spatula. Serve immediately or store for later.

Notes

Use softened but not melted butter for best texture. Do not overmix flour to avoid tough cookies. Chill dough if too soft to handle. Frost cookies only when completely cooled to prevent frosting from sliding off. For gluten-free version, substitute flour with gluten-free blend and add xanthan gum if needed. Vegan adaptations possible with vegan butter and flax egg.

Nutrition

Keywords: sugar cookies, easy cookies, beginner baking, cream cheese frosting, 4-ingredient cookies, quick dessert

Find it online: https://vexifood.com/easy-beginner-4-ingredient-sugar-cookies-recipe-with-cream-cheese-frosting-tutorial/