CREAM CHEESE WREATH COOKIES RECIPES

Steps:

• Beat butter and cream cheese with a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Gradually add granulated sugar, beating until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Add egg, vanilla, and almond extract, beating until just combined, about 30 seconds.
• Stir together flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating on low speed until just combined, about 1 minute. Shape dough evenly into 2 disks. Wrap each disk in plastic wrap; chill 1 hour. 
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Roll out 1 disk to 1/4-inch thickness on a lightly floured work surface. Cut dough into wreath shapes using a 2 1/2-inch fluted round cookie cutter; cut out centers of wreaths using a 1-inch fluted round cookie cutter (reserve center cutouts). Arrange center cutout pieces into circular wreath shapes, if desired, overlapping pieces slightly. Repeat procedure with remaining dough disk, rerolling scraps once. Arrange wreaths evenly on 2 baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
• Brush wreaths evenly with egg white. Sprinkle with sanding sugar. Gently press red sugar pearls into cookies. 
• Working in 2 batches, bake in preheated oven until cookie edges turn light golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from oven. Immediately gently press red cinnamon candies into hot cookies to make "berries." Cool on baking sheets 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire racks, and cool completely, about 30 minutes.

Steps:

• In a mixer beat the butter until smooth.
• Add the cream cheese, sugar, egg yolks, and vanilla until smooth blending each ingredient before adding the next.
• If you are going to add color to the dough this is the stage to do it. Mix in your coloring to the desired tone.
• Add Flour and salt to the mixture.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or grease the sheets (whichever you prefer).
• Place dough into a cookie press and if using a star pattern, press out approximately 3-4 inches of dough.
• Form the strings into circles and decorate with sprinkles and candied cherries.
• Place decorated cookies in a 400 degree oven for 7-8 minutes.