Super Soft Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies (With Buttercream Frosting)

These super soft cream cheese sugar cookies are fluffy, tender, and perfect for frosting with buttercream. A bakery-style cookie that’s even better than Lofthouse—plus multiple variations like snickerdoodle and powdered sugar options!

A Sweet Little Easter Story (and How These Cookies Came to Be)

Sometimes the best recipes don’t come from a plan…they come from a moment.

This one started with a big batch of leftover lime green buttercream frosting from my recent Easter cupcake project, (the one where I made the cupcake liner paper flowers). I had more frosting than I knew what to do with, and it was just too pretty (and too delicious) to waste.

Then I looked outside.

Kids everywhere.

Our neighborhood was buzzing with an Easter egg hunt, and I thought—those sweet babies need cookies.

And not just any cookies.

Soft. Fluffy. Frosted. Bakery-style cookies.

So I got into the kitchen, pulled from a recipe I’d used before, made a few changes (as I always do), and what came out of the oven was something truly special.

Even better? I’m baking these again for my grandkids, because we’ve got our own Easter celebration coming up tomorrow.

And trust me…these are the kind of cookies that make memories.

Why You’ll Love These Cookies

These aren’t your average sugar cookies.

They’re:

• incredibly soft and fluffy (like my Golden Girls cookies)
• lightly tangy (thanks to cream cheese)
• rich and buttery
• perfect for frosting
• versatile enough to make multiple ways

If you love those soft grocery store cookies (you know the ones), these are like that—but homemade, fresher, and so much better.

At a Glance

• Skill Level: Easy
• Flavor Profile: Sweet, buttery, lightly tangy
• Options Included: Frosted, powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar
• Best For: Holidays, parties, gifting, bakery-style treats

Ingredients

You will find a full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post, but here's a glance at what you'll need to make these. They came together so easily, almost like magic!

For the Cookies:

• 1 cup salted butter, room temperature
• 2 cups sugar
• 8 oz whipped cream cheese
• 2 large eggs (room temperature)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (clear vanilla optional, for a lighter color)
• 5½ cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda

(Note: This is a doubled version of my original recipe—perfect for feeding a crowd!)

For the Frosting:

• 1 cup butter, room temperature
• 1 cup shortening
• 5-6 cups powdered sugar
• 2 - 3 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• food coloring (optional)
• sprinkles

(I used leftover lime green buttercream—and it was perfect for Easter!)

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. Make the Dough

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the whipped cream cheese and mix until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla.

In a separate bowl, whisk together flour and baking soda. Gradually add to wet ingredients and mix until a soft dough forms.

3. Scoop and Roll

Scoop dough into balls and place on prepared baking sheets.

4. Flatten (Important!)

Because of the whipped cream cheese, these cookies will puff up as they bake.

👉 Use your palm (or the bottom of a glass) to gently flatten the dough balls before baking.

5. Bake

Bake for about 10 minutes, or until the bottoms are lightly golden.

6. Flatten Again (Optional but Helpful)

As soon as they come out of the oven, gently press them down again if needed to create a smooth surface for frosting. Let cool on the baking sheet for several minutes before transferring.

The centers will still look soft—this is exactly what you want!

7. Frost and Decorate

Once completely cool, frost with buttercream and add sprinkles.

Serve and Enjoy!

Why Use Whipped Cream Cheese?

This is where the magic happens.

Instead of sour cream (like traditional Lofthouse-style cookies), I used whipped cream cheese, which gives these cookies:

• a softer, fluffier texture
• a richer flavor
• less tang than sour cream
• a more “bakery-style” bite

It’s also what makes them puff—so don’t skip the flattening step! (Hint: If you do actually forget to press them down, don't panic! Just coat them in powdered sugar when they come out of the oven and you'll have something very similar to my Golden Girls cookies!)

Why You Need to Flatten These Cookie to Ice Them

These cookies naturally rise and puff thanks to the cream cheese.

If you’re planning to frost them, you’ll want a flat surface.

So:

• flatten before baking
• flatten again (gently) after baking if needed

This gives you that classic soft frosted-cookie look.

Ways to Make This Recipe

This is where things get really fun.

Frosted (Main Version): Top with buttercream and sprinkles for a bakery-style cookie.

Powdered Sugar Version: Roll dough balls in powdered sugar before baking for a crinkle-style cookie.

Cinnamon Sugar Version (Snickerdoodle Style): Roll in cinnamon sugar before baking for a super soft snickerdoodle twist.

Plain Soft Sugar Cookies: Roll in sugar before baking, then skip the toppings and enjoy them as they are—soft, fluffy, and perfect with coffee or milk.

Lofthouse vs. Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies

If you’re wondering how these compare:

Lofthouse Cookies:

• made with sour cream
• slightly more structured
• classic grocery store flavor

These Cookies:

• made with whipped cream cheese
• softer and fluffier
• richer and more homemade

Both are good. But these?

👉 These are the ones I’ll be making again.

Perfect for Easter (and Beyond)

Between the soft texture, the pastel frosting, and those cheerful sprinkles, these cookies are perfect for:

• Easter celebrations
• spring gatherings
• birthday parties
• bake sales
• gifting

Or just…a regular afternoon when you spot kids outside and decide they need cookies. 💛

More Sweet Ideas for Your Next Celebration

If you’re planning a party, holiday gathering, or just looking for more delicious inspiration, I’ve got you covered! Here are a few of my favorite collections to help you build the perfect dessert table:

• Ultimate Easter Desserts & Celebration Guide
  From pastel treats to crowd-pleasing classics, this collection is filled with ideas perfect for spring gatherings and family celebrations.
• The Ultimate Party Planning Guide
  Need help pulling everything together? This guide is packed with themes, dessert table ideas, and tips to make your next event feel extra special (without the stress!).
• Cookie Recipes Hub
  If you love cookies as much as I do, don’t miss this collection of my best cookie recipes—from soft and chewy to crisp and classic.
• Cake & Cupcake Decorating Guide
  Looking for ways to dress up your desserts? This hub is full of decorating ideas, including fun projects like my cupcake liner flowers that inspired this very recipe!

Final Thoughts

I didn’t set out to create a new recipe. I just had leftover frosting…a house full of ingredients…and a heart that wanted to bless some kids.

But sometimes those are the very moments when something special happens.

And this?

This is one of those recipes I know I’ll come back to again and again.

If you make these, I’d love to hear how they turn out for you. And if you try one of the variations—snickerdoodle, powdered sugar, or frosted—be sure to let me know your favorite!

Thanks for Stopping By!

If you make this recipe and enjoy it, please leave a comment or review. And before you go, why not pin some photos to your Pinterest boards?