Cream Cheese Meltaway Cookies are light, buttery cookies with the tang of cream cheese. One special ingredient makes these melt in your mouth! This is a sponsored recipe on behalf of the American Dairy Association Mideast.

A stack of small cookies topped with frosting and sprinkles. Christmas holiday garnish in the background. The top cookie has a bite taken out of it.

Special Ingredients Cream Cheese Meltaway Cookies

You may remember a version of this cookie called “Melting Moments.” Our recipe varies slightly to include cream cheese baked directly into the cookie batter rather than only being topped with cream cheese frosting.

Cornstarch is the special ingredient that makes these cookies melt in your mouth! They are light and fluffy and the perfect addition to any holiday celebration.

It’s not a typo; there are no eggs in this recipe! Do you know someone with an egg allergy who might want a special Christmas cookie?

A female hand is dipping a frosted holiday cookie into a large glass of milk.

Tips for Baking and Storing Soft Cookies

  • Let Cream Cheese Meltaway Cookies briefly rest on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
  • Prepare the deliciously fluffy cream cheese frosting while the cookies are cooling. However, you can dust meltaway cookies with powdered sugar if you prefer.
  • Cream Cheese Meltaway cookies can be stored in an airtight container for 2-3 days. They can be stored in the refrigerator for 1 week or the freezer for 2-3 months.
Stacked, frosted cookies on a wooden platter. The top cookie has a bite taken out of it. Text reads Cream Cheese Meltaways

Baking with Friends and Family

As stated earlier, you may remember “Melting Moments” from childhood. I certainly have fond memories of baking with my mother and grandmother this time of year.

It might be a special recipe representing my heritage, like Vanocka Czech Christmas Bread studded with plump raisins (and forbidden rum!) or Ice Cream Kolacky Cookies with ice cream mixed right into the batter. How meaningful to have a day in the kitchen swapping stories and making a mess together!

A white marble platter holds small buttery cookies frosted with fluffy pink and white icing and holiday sprinkles.

My friends introduced me to these Pepper Jelly Cornmeal Thumbprint Cookies. And there isn’t a December that goes by without making our Best Sugar Cookie Recipe EVER, along with the soft and tender classic Vanilla Ricotta Cookies!

Whatever you choose to bake, spend time in the kitchen making memories with those you love this season! And don’t forget a big glass of milk for Santa! He told me he wants to try our Cheesecake Stuffed Cookies this year.

A small buttery cookie with fluffy white frosting and red, green, and pink sprinkle shown on a marble platter.
Stacked, frosted cookies on a wooden platter. The top cookie has a bite taken out of it.

Cream Cheese Meltaway Cookies

Yield: 2 dozen
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 22 minutes
Cream Cheese Meltaway Cookies are light, buttery cookies with the tang of cream cheese. One special ingredient makes these melt in your mouth!
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Ingredients

For the Cookies

  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 2 Tablespoons cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

For the Frosting

  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 cups powdered sugar

Instructions
 

For the Cookies

  • PREHEAT over to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper, or use silicone baking mats.
  • In the bowl of your mixer, CREAM together butter, cream cheese, and vanilla until smooth (approximately 2 minutes).
  • ADD in the powdered sugar and continue mixing.
  • In a separate bowl, COMBINE flour, cornstarch, and salt. Slowly ADD to the butter mixture until smooth and the batter pulls away from the sides of the mixer.
  • DROP by rounded spoonfuls onto prepared baking sheets. Gently FLATTEN cookies with the bottom of a glass that has been dipped into powdered sugar (to prevent sticking).
  • BAKE for 10-12 minutes. Allow to cool and set for a few minutes until the cookies are firm enough to move to a wire rack to cool completely.

For the Frosting

  • BEAT the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until smooth and light in color.
  • Slowly ADD the powdered sugar and continue mixing until smooth and fluffy.
  • Add a drop of food coloring if desired.
  • When cookies are completely cool, FROST cookies and add sprinkles if desired.

Video

Notes

  • The cornstarch is the secret to the melt-in-your-mouth texture of these cookies.
  • You may know a version of this cookie called “Melting Moments.” Our recipe varies slightly to include cream cheese baked directly into the cookie batter rather than only being topped with cream cheese frosting.
  • The cookies are just as delicious unfrosted or dusted with powdered sugar! 
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cookie, cream cheese, frosting

Original recipes and images © In Katrina’s Kitchen

Did you make this recipe?Tag @katrinaskitchen on Instagram with the hashtag #katrinaskitchenrecipes

Connect with ADA Mideast

Dairy farms operate 365 days a year, even on Thanksgiving and Christmas. On these holidays and every day, dairy farmers are committed to providing excellent care for their cows, producing safe, healthy milk, and protecting the environment for future generations.

For more information about dairy nutrition, to find delicious new recipes and to meet Ohio and West Virginia dairy farmers, visit www.Drink-Milk.com, and follow the American Dairy Association Mideast on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

Collage image showing cookies stacked and a close up of the frosted cookie with sprinkles. Text reads Cream Cheese Meltaways