Lemon Cream Cheese Cutout Cookies Recipes

Steps:

• Stir together flour, spices, and salt. In a medium mixing bowl, beat together butter, cream cheese, and sugar with an electric mixer until well combined. Beat in milk and lemon peel. Add dry ingredients, beating at low speed just until combined. Chill, covered, for 2 to 3 hours or until firm. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to about 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into shapes using cutters.
• Place on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake in a 350°F oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned. Cool on wire racks.
• If desired, in a medium mixing bowl combine powdered sugar, meringue powder,* and cream of tartar. Add 3 tablespoons cold water. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until mixture is combined, then on medium to high speed for 7 to 10 minutes or until mixture forms stiff peaks. (If mixture seems stiff while beating, add water, 1/2 teaspoon at a time. Icing should be fairly thick for piping. For a thinner, glazing consistency, stir in a little more water after beating.) Spread over cookies. (When not using, keep icing tightly covered to prevent drying.)
• *Note: One brand of meringue powder is Wilton. Look for the powder at kitchen, cake-decorating, and crafts shops.

Steps:

• Put butter and cream cheese in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until creamy.
• Mix in granulated sugar. Add egg, and lemon zest and juice; mix well. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl; mix into butter mixture on low speed.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place a small amount of the dough in a pastry bag fitted with a large French tip (such as Ateco #865). Holding tip very close to the surface, pipe 3 1/2-inch bows onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper; space 1 inch apart. Refill pastry bag as needed with remaining dough.
• Bake cookies until golden brown on bottom, about 12 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks, and sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, beat together butter, cream cheese and sugar until fluffy. Add egg, vanilla and almond extracts; beat well.
• In a small bowl, combine flour and baking powder- gradually mix into cream cheese mixture; beat until well-mixed.
• Divide dough in half; wrap each half in plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 1/2 hours.
• When dough is done chilling, preheat oven to 375.
• Roll dough on to lightly floured surface to about 1/8"-1/4" thickness. Cut with cookie cutters. (If desired, sprinkle with colored sugars.) Place on ungreased cookie sheets.
• Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes or until edges just slightly golden. Allow to cool 2 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool. If desired, decorate with icing or glaze.