(Preschooler Friendly) Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies

While I'm not sure that Facebook has many redeeming qualities, it does occasionally lead to a connection with a relative you haven't seen in decades. That can lead to getting a family recipe book that includes recipes from your grandmother, and that's pretty cool. My grandmother passed away when I was maybe 7, so I don't remember these cookies, but I'll take everyone's word on the topic.

When decorating cookies made using a recipe that has been passed on through the generations, it's best to let the preschooler be in charge. You get bonus points that way. I decided this particular recipe was a good match for preschooler decorations because they're super easy. Carefully executed cut-out sugar cookies are fun, but the urge to keep them "perfect" is high with me. I'm not sure that I could let Mila dump half a container of sprinkles on them. I'd probably start twitching.

We'll know for sure in a week or two, though. I have no doubt that the resident preschooler will want to help when we make the cut-out sugar cookies. She's addicted to sprinkles, in case you didn't notice.

(Preschooler Friendly) Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups granulated sugar
1 8-oz package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/4 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 - 4 teaspoons milk

Sprinkles

1. Preheat the oven to 350 and line a few cookie sheets with parchment paper.

2. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

3. In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to make the cream cheese and butter all sorts of creamy together. Add the sugar and mix well then add the eggs and vanilla. Mix, mix, mix.

4. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ones and mix until combined.

5. Toss the cookie dough in the fridge for at least 20 minutes so that it won't be so sticky.

6. Roll a heaping teaspoon of dough into a ball then flatten it on the cookie sheet. Keep doing that until you run out of space. These cookies will approximately double in width, so keep them about 2 inches apart.

7. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Their done when the bottoms are lightly browned. Allow to cool on the cookie sheet for 2-4 minutes then move to a cooling rack.

8. Make the frosting. In a medium mixing bowl, cream the butter and vanilla together then gradually add the powdered sugar. Add the milk one teaspon at a time until the frosting is smooth.

9. Spread frosting over cooled cookies and then decorate with sprinkles as you see fit. In Mila's case, she'll be adding sprinkles for the next eight years. So.

At least she's happy!

Comments

[Mary]

Set aside some of those future cookies for the preschooler to decorate. That is how I kept the nephews (4 of them) and my niece from making me twitch. Just if you wanted to know how to avoid that short of thing.