I’VE ALWAYS ENJOYED BAKING.
Tempting sweets…
But now that the kids are grown and gone, I seldom bake. I don’t need sweets in the kitchen to tempt me.
This past week, though, I baked three days in a row as I’d been asked to bring treats for fellowship hour at church this morning.
I used my vintage heart-shaped cookie cutter.
I decided heart-shaped cookies would be perfect given the date. And so I pulled out my favorite roll-out cookie recipe, the one my mom used when I was growing up. It’s my go-to “sugar cookie” recipe.
This dough, though, far surpasses the bland taste of most sugar cookies.
Cream cheese is the secret savory ingredient.
Ready to put in the oven.
I prefer to roll the dough nearly paper thin and to sprinkle with colored sugar before baking. I don’t want icing to mask the flavor.
Stacked on a pretty vintage plate.
I’ve never tasted a better roll-out sugar cookie.
A perfect Valentine’s Day weekend treat.
Cream Cheese Cookies
½ cup butter, softened
½ cup shortening
3 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 egg yolk
½ tsp. vanilla
½ tsp. salt
2 ½ cups flour
Cream butter, shortening, cream cheese and sugar. Add egg yolk and vanilla and beat. Add dry ingredients and mix. Chill covered or wrapped dough for several hours or overnight. Roll out on lightly-floured board and cut with cookie cutters. Bake 6 – 10 minutes, depending on dough thickness, at 350 degrees.
© Copyright 2014 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Sounds good!
They are.
They look yummy Audrey, I’ve always loved the taste of sugar cookies but have never enjoyed the rolling out part. My Dad used to make them for Christmas and us kids helped decorate, My mom didnt like the “rolling out’ process either. I bet your congregation was elated this morning to have your scrumptious cookies with their coffee. P.S. I liked all the photo’s! even if you didnt like cookies…you would after seeing these ones.
This is quite interesting, that your dad, and not your mom, made Christmas roll-out cookies. I find the rolling out to be, I don’t know, therapeutic, kind of like kneading bread dough.
There were lots of great homemade goodies at church this morning. The oatmeal M & M cookies actually disappeared before these heart roll-outs.
Glad you enjoyed my food photos.
This is the recipe that my daughters and I use all the time. It is definitely the best. We search to find the best recipes for just about everything and then all use the same ones.
You know exactly what I mean then when I declare these the best roll-out cookies ever. I find my daughters now requesting recipes for some family favorites, too.
Wow! Does that sound fabulous!!! Since tomorrow will probably be a snow day(?!) I may have to make some!!!! Yum!!!!
There you go. Yup, it sounds like another half foot or so of snow is in the forecast. Yeah. Not.
:-\
These look delicious! Dan will be so happy 🙂
Always happy to help a woman make her man happy. Happy baking!
Thank you so much for posting your recipe. I’m going to make these with Camille! And Abby loves cookies. This is perfect.
Excellent. Just be sure to chill the dough as it’s difficult to roll out if not chilled for at least several hours.
You are all about Hearts lately:) Nothing better than a homemade cookie straight from the oven – YUM!
Yup, hearts and warm cookies. Makes you feel all good inside, doesn’t it?
YES IT DOES – I feel the LOVE:)
These sound sooo good Audrey….I know I’ll have to try them for my quilt day with the “basket cases”….
I promise. Delicious cookies.
Yum! I’m with you – I rarely make cookies. And cut-out cookies even less. When I was a kid I did and I’m excited for Katie reaching the age when she wants to cook and bake!
It is nice when the kids reach that age of wanting to be in the kitchen.