COOKIES CHEESE RECIPES

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
• Combine the butter, vanilla, 4 ounces of the room-temperature cream cheese and 1 teaspoon of the salt in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Add 2 cups of the sugar and beat until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg yolk and beat until smooth, then add the flour and beat on low until the dough just comes together. Remove the frozen cream cheese from the freezer and chop into 1/4-inch cubes. Add the cubes to the dough, quickly stirring with a rubber spatula to evenly incorporate them into the dough. Refrigerate the dough for 1 hour.
• Using a 1-ounce ice cream scoop or 2 tablespoons, scoop 12 portions of dough, roll into balls and transfer to the prepared baking sheet, spacing them evenly apart. Lightly flour the bottom of a 1/2-cup measuring cup and use it to flatten each cookie into a disk about 1/2 inch thick, re-flouring the cup after each cookie.
• Bake, rotating the baking sheet halfway through, until the cookies look set but are still pale and barely brown on the bottom, 20 to 24 minutes. Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for 1 minute, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining cookie dough. 
• Meanwhile, combine the remaining 2 ounces room-temperature cream cheese, 2 cups sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl and beat with an electric mixer on low speed until the mixture forms a thick paste. Add the milk and stir slowly until a thick glaze forms. 
• When the cookies are cool, dip the entire surface of the top of each cookie in the glaze and lift up, letting the excess glaze drip off, then flip the cookie right-side up and onto the cooling rack. If the glaze is too thick, add another teaspoon of milk to loosen it. If using the cranberries or lime zest, sprinkle on top of the cookies while the glaze is still wet. Allow the glaze to set before serving, at least 10 minutes. Store the cookies in a single layer in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Steps:

• This works great as a stand-alone recipe, but also as a component in Jamie’s Sunny Gathering from Together – see the full collection of menus here. GET AHEAD Finely grate all of the cheese. Place the butter in a medium pan on a medium heat with 250ml of cold water. As soon as the mixture comes to a rolling boil, tip in the flour, semolina and a pinch of sea salt. With a wooden spoon, work carefully, quickly and fairly vigorously to beat it all together until smooth and starting to come away from the sides of the pan. Remove from the heat and beat for 30 seconds, then, one at a time, beat in the eggs, followed by the grated cheese. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Line a baking sheet with greaseproof paper. With wet hands, divide the mixture into 24 pieces and roll into glorious, shiny balls, lining them up on the tray as you go. Cover and return to the fridge overnight. TO SERVE Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/gas 6. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes, or until golden. Enjoy warm with a glass of something cold and sparkling.