Nicole Avant’s Chewy Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies

Nicole joined us in the studio to talk about how she has managed to reach for joy, even while dealing with soul-crushing grief in the wake of losing both of her parents — the legendary music mogul Clarence Avant and the well-known philanthropist Jacqueline Avant.

One of her favorites memories is of her mother making these delicious sugar cookies at the holidays. Just the smell of them cooking in the oven sparks joy.

“But I remember the smell. And I remember that again. She loved it. Something about the cookies. Out of everything she baked, out of everything she cooked.” —Nicole…

Ingredients

• 3 Cups All Purpose Flour

• 1 1/2 Tsp Baking Powder

• 1/2 Tsp Salt

• 1 Cup Unsalted Butter

• 2 Oz Room Temp Brick Cream Cheese

• 1 Cup Granulated Sugar

• 1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar (On The Side For Rolling The Cookies In)

• 1 Room Temp Large Egg

• 1/2 Tsp Almond Extract

• 1 1/2 Tsp Vanilla Extract

Step 1

Whisk FLOUR + BAKING POWDER + SALT until combined and set aside 

Step 2

In a large bowl (I use a stand mixer) mix BUTTER + CREAM CHEESE for about 2 minutes until smooth and creamy 

Step 3

Add GRANULATED SUGAR and mix until fluffy and light in color 

Step 4

Mix in EGG + VANILLA EXTRACT + ALMOND EXTRACT (you may need to scrape down the sides of the bowl to fully mix together) 

Step 5

Slowly mix in FLOUR + SALT + BAKING POWDER combination on low speed 

Step 6

Remove dough from the bowl, wrap in plastic wrap, refrigerate for 2 hours minimum to 2 days maximum 

Step 7

When ready to bake, remove dough from refrigerator - if it was refrigerated for more than 4 hours, let it rest on the counter for 20 minutes so that it is easier to work with 

Step 8

Preheat oven to 350 and line baking sheets with parchment paper 

Step 9

Scoop and roll spoonfuls of dough into balls and roll in GRANULATED SUGAR until coated, place on baking sheet 3 inches apart 

Step 10

Gently press the cookie balls down to semi-flatten (I use the bottom of a stemless wine glass) and bake for 13-15 minutes - rotate the pan midway through to ensure even baking 

Step 11

 Allow cookies to rest 5 minutes on the baking sheet before moving them to a cooling rack or serving plate 

 ENJOY!! ❤️

#MichelesKitchenNotes These are considered Holiday Cookies but they are delicious all year long. They are a great desert when served on a elegant platter with chocolates and dried fruit. They also travel beautifully as a hostess or heartwarming gift.

The cream cheese is the key ingredient. It makes the cookies rich and chewy.

The refrigeration is a necessary step so plan ahead.

And don’t forget the parchment paper. You can also use silicone liners but be careful during the cooling process because they can hold heat a bit more than parchment.