Name: Festive Cream Cheese Sprinkles Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 1 h 15 min
Cook time: 13 min
Total time: 2 h
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 cups (375g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled); 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 cup (16 Tbsp; 226g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature; 2 ounces (57g) full-fat brick cream cheese, softened to room temperature; 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar; 1 large egg, at room temperature; 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract; 1/2 teaspoon almond extract; 3/4 cup (150g) sprinkles (sanding sugar, nonpareils, and/or jimmies)

There's something downright magical about biting into a cookie that's soft, creamy, and sparkling with festive colors. This Festive Cream Cheese Sprinkles Cookies Recipe delivers that cozy holiday charm and a delightful texture you won’t forget — I’ve made these for every Christmas gathering and they disappear fast!

The image shows a small stack of five round sugar cookies with two colors of sugar crystals on the outside: green and red. The bottom cookie is green, followed by a red cookie, then a green cookie, and another red cookie. On top is a green cookie with a bite taken out, showing a light, soft inside. The cookies have a slightly rough texture from the sugar crystals, and one broken cookie piece lies flat in front of the stack on a surface with a white marbled texture. The background is plain and light, making the colorful cookies stand out. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Festive Cream Cheese Sprinkles Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Festive Cream Cheese Sprinkles Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Festive Cream Cheese Sprinkles Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Sharing this recipe feels like gifting joy wrapped in sugar and sprinkles. What really makes these cookies stand out is that creamy hint from the cream cheese paired with colorful sprinkles that add just the right crunch and festive flair.

Soft and Creamy Texture: The cream cheese in the dough keeps them melt-in-your-mouth tender every time.
Beautiful Festive Look: The sprinkles on the outside make these cookies the perfect colorful treat for holiday parties and cookie exchanges.
Simple Ingredient List: Mostly pantry staples with one delicious twist — easy to pull together even last minute.
Lasts Well: These cookies stay fresh for days, so you can bake ahead and enjoy stress-free celebrations.

Ingredients & Why They Work

The magic of this Festive Cream Cheese Sprinkles Cookies Recipe isn’t just in the colorful sprinkles — it’s the balance of creamy dairy and classic baking staples that create that unbeatable texture and flavor.

Flat lay of a small mound of all-purpose flour on a simple white ceramic plate, a small white bowl of baking powder, a small white bowl of salt, a block of unsalted butter with a smooth, pale yellow surface, a rectangular piece of cream cheese with a glossy texture, a small white bowl filled with granulated sugar sparkling in natural light, one whole large brown egg with a clean shell, a small white bowl containing pale golden vanilla extract, a small white bowl with clear almond extract, and a small white bowl filled with colorful round sprinkles in shades of red, blue, yellow, green, and white, all arranged symmetrically on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

All-purpose flour: The backbone for structure, spooned and leveled so your cookies come out perfectly consistent.
Baking powder: Provides just enough lift so the cookies aren’t flat but remain soft.
Salt: Enhances the flavors and balances the sweetness.
Unsalted butter: Room temperature butter adds richness and helps the dough blend smoothly with cream cheese.
Full-fat cream cheese: The star ingredient that makes these cookies soft and moist with a subtle tang.
Granulated sugar: Sweetens perfectly without overpowering the cream cheese flavor.
Egg: Helps bind everything together and adds tenderness.
Pure vanilla extract: Amplifies the overall flavor with that warm, sweet aroma.
Almond extract: Adds a delightful subtle nutty note that complements the cream cheese beautifully.
Sprinkles: A mix of sanding sugar, nonpareils, or jimmies — for that crunchy, festive finish.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

Over the years, I’ve found a few tweaks that really make this recipe shine for me, but the great thing is you can easily make it your own too!

Variation: I love swapping out half the sprinkles for crushed peppermint candies during the holidays — it adds a nice minty crunch that pairs so well with the cream cheese.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Festive Cream Cheese Sprinkles Cookies Recipe

A white rectangular tray is filled with four groups of colorful sugar cookies in red, green, and white colors. One group has red sugar crystals covering the round cookies, another group is covered with green sugar crystals, and the third group has white icing with red and green sprinkles on top. The fourth group is coated with small round red, green, and white sprinkles. In the middle of the tray, a cookie is broken in half, showing a light yellow inside. A woman's hand is holding the tray from the right side, with another woman's hand visible at the bottom holding it. Surrounding the tray, there are two white round plates with more cookies; one plate has a cookie with a bite taken out. All sits on a white marbled surface with a red and white cloth partially visible at the bottom left. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Step 1: Whisk dry ingredients and prep the dough

Start by whisking together your flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl — this ensures your dry ingredients are evenly distributed for consistent cookies. Then, in your mixer, beat the softened butter and cream cheese on high speed until creamy and smooth, about 2 minutes. It’s key to have these at room temperature so they blend without lumps.

Step 2: Mix in sugar, egg, and extracts

Add your granulated sugar to the butter and cream cheese combo and beat until fluffy and combined. Next, add the egg, vanilla, and almond extract and mix well — the batter will look glossy and smooth. Remember to scrape down your bowl once or twice so everything is evenly mixed.

Step 3: Combine wet and dry ingredients and chill

Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix on low just until combined; the dough will be thick. Here’s a tip: cover the dough tightly and chill it for at least an hour (or up to 3-4 days). Chilling not only firms the dough for easier rolling but also deepens the flavors. If chilling longer, let the dough warm at room temp for 30 mins before shaping.

Step 4: Shape, coat in sprinkles, and bake

Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C) and line baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats. Scoop tablespoon-sized dough balls, roll each in your chosen sprinkles, then space them about 2 inches apart. Gently press each ball down with the back of a glass to slightly flatten before baking for about 12-13 minutes, until edges just start to brown.

Step 5: Cool and enjoy

Let your cookies rest on the baking sheets for 5 minutes after pulling them from the oven, then move them to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents them from breaking and keeps their tender bite intact.

Top Tip

Over the many times I've made this recipe, I’ve learned some nifty tricks that help get that perfect texture and presentation. Trust me, these little touches make a world of difference.

Room Temperature Ingredients: Softened butter and cream cheese blend better without lumps, keeping the dough smooth and your cookies tender.
Don’t Skip Chilling: Chilling firms the dough, preventing excessive spreading and ensuring those sprinkles stick nicely.
Even Pressing: Use a glass or measuring cup to gently flatten cookies evenly so they bake uniformly.
Watch Baking Time: Remove cookies as soon as edges turn lightly golden to keep centers soft and creamy.

How to Serve Festive Cream Cheese Sprinkles Cookies Recipe

Festive Cream Cheese Cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I like to keep it simple with colorful sanding sugar and playful nonpareils — they catch the light beautifully and add just the right crunch. Sometimes, I toss on a few edible glitter stars for extra sparkle when serving at holiday parties.

Side Dishes

Pair these cookies with a big mug of hot cocoa or spiced chai tea — the creamy, sweet cookies balance those warm, rich drinks perfectly. At cookie exchanges, I often set them alongside peppermint bark or fruitcake for variety.

Creative Ways to Present

For celebrations, I arrange the cookies on festive platters lined with holiday-themed napkins or sprinkle a bit of powdered sugar on top to mimic a fresh snowfall. I’ve also wrapped small stacks tied with cheerful ribbons to gift neighbors, which always gets great feedback.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

After baking, I store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature where they stay perfectly soft for about a week. If the sprinkles start to soften, gently refreshing them in the oven for a minute helps bring back their crispness.

Freezing

You can freeze unbaked dough balls rolled in sprinkles, placed on parchment-lined trays, until firm and then transfer to a freezer bag. When ready, bake straight from frozen adding an extra minute or two to the baking time. This is my go-to for holiday prep!

Reheating

To warm leftovers, pop the cookies in a 300°F oven for 5 minutes — this revives the soft cream cheese texture without drying them out. It’s like freshly baked all over again.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I substitute low-fat cream cheese?

Using full-fat cream cheese is best because it keeps the cookies tender and creamy; low-fat versions may make the dough less rich and alter the texture.

How do I prevent the sprinkles from bleeding colors?

To keep sprinkles from bleeding, make sure your dough isn’t too wet and press the dough balls gently but firmly into the sprinkles just before baking. Chilling the dough beforehand also helps.

Can I make these cookies gluten-free?

Yes! Substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend. Be sure it contains xanthan gum for structure, and keep an eye on baking time as it might vary slightly.

Why do you recommend chilling the dough?

Chilling solidifies the fats in the dough, which helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much and keeps them thick and tender after baking. It also improves flavor development.

Final Thoughts

This Festive Cream Cheese Sprinkles Cookies Recipe has become a holiday staple in my kitchen — it brings people together, brightens cookie platters, and fills the house with that comforting aroma of butter, vanilla, and sweet celebration. I truly hope you enjoy baking and sharing these as much as I do. They’re more than just cookies; they’re little bites of festive happiness you’ll want to make again and again.