Holidays & Occasions Christmas Cream Cheese Christmas Cookies 5.0 (1) These festive treats are sure to be a hit at your next holiday party. By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on August 12, 2022 Print Share Share Tweet Pin Email It's the most wonderful time of the year, which means it's the most wonderful time of the year for Christmas cookies! And, these festive treats are sure to be a hit at your next holiday party. If your family has an annual Christmas cookie contest, these cream cheese delights are likely to take home the winning prize. Packed with delicious favor and wrapped in an adorable border of red and green sprinkles, what's not to love? Complete with butter, cream cheese, vanilla, and sugar, these holiday cookies are a must-have. You won't be able to resist sneaking a bite—or even 3 or 4 extra cookies!—after the kids go to bed. Speaking of the youngsters, this is a great recipe to get them involved. It's very easy to master, so the entire family can join in on the fun. However, no Southern treat would be complete without a pecan, and these decadent cookies have plenty. Don't miss out on the goodness, and make these Cream Cheese Christmas Cookies as soon as you can. Ingredients 1 cup butter, softened 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese 1 cup white sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup chopped pecans 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup green sugar crystals 1/2 cup red sugar crystals 1 cup pecan halves Directions Cream together the butter and cream cheese. Add sugar and vanilla; beat until light and fluffy. Combine the flour and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture, beating until well blended. Stir in chopped pecans. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 15 minutes. On four sheets of parchment paper, shape dough into four 6 inch rolls, 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Wrap each roll tightly in foil and refrigerate over night. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line cookie sheets with foil. Remove rolls of dough from refrigerator one at a time. Coat each roll with red or green sugar crystals; cut dough into 1/4 inch slices. Place on prepared cookie sheets; top each cookie with a pecan half. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until bottom of cookie is lightly browned when lifted. Emily Laurae/Southern Living Print