Easy Cream Cheese Cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Optional: Sprinkles or colored sugar (for topping)
Instructions:
1. Preheat Oven & Prepare Baking Sheets:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent the cookies from sticking.
2. Mix the Wet Ingredients:
In a large bowl, beat together the softened butter and cream cheese until smooth and creamy (about 2-3 minutes). You can use an electric mixer or a hand whisk for this step.
Add the granulated sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined.
3. Add the Dry Ingredients:
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
4. Shape the Cookies:
Scoop tablespoon-sized balls of dough (or use a cookie scoop) and place them onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
Optionally, you can roll the dough balls in colored sugar or sprinkles for a festive touch.
5. Bake the Cookies:
Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are lightly golden. These cookies will remain soft, so don’t worry if they seem slightly underbaked. They’ll firm up as they cool.
6. Cool & Serve:
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Enjoy the soft, melt-in-your-mouth goodness of these easy cream cheese cookies!