Gluten-Free Icebox Vanilla Sugar Cookies With Cream Cheese Frosting

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These icebox vanilla sugar cookies with cream cheese frosting are like a vanilla-scented hug straight from your oven. And the best part is there’s no need to stress over complicated steps or fancy equipment.

Perfect for beginners and seasoned bakers alike, these cookies come together with simplicity in mind. With a magical touch of vanilla, a hint of sweetness, and a cream cheese glaze to top it off, you’ll be amazed at the heavenly flavor in every bite.

Ingredients 

• Gluten-Free All-purpose Flour   
• Baking Soda
• Salt
• Unsalted butter
• Granulated Sweetener
• Vanilla Bean Powder/Vanilla Bean
• Vanilla Bean Paste 
• Egg
• Cream Cheese 
• Vanilla extract
• Powdered Sweetener
• Milk 

How To Make Icebox Vanilla Sugar Cookies

These icebox vanilla sugar cookies are easy to make. Since they are chilled and sliced you don’t need to worry about rolling out the dough and using cookie cutters to cut out the dough. 

Sugar Cookies: 

Mix the gluten-free all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and vanilla bean powder or the seeds of a vanilla bean if using in a small bowl until combined.

Add the unsalted butter and sweetener to a large bowl. Beat it with a hand mixer for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy. 

Mix in the egg along with the vanilla bean paste until combined. 

Mix in the gluten-free flour mixture and mix until it clumps together. The dough should stick together when pressed with your hands. 

Shape the cookie dough into a ball. Divide the sugar cookie dough into 2 portions.

Shape each half into an 8-10 inch log. Wrap each half with plastic wrap tightly and place them in the fridge for 4 hours or overnight. The dough will last in the fridge for 3 days. 

Preheat your oven to 350°F. 

Unwrap the sugar cookie dough log, then cut it into 1/4-inch slices, rotating the dough each time you cut it. 

Put the sugar cookies on a baking sheet 1/2-inch apart. Bake them for 8 minutes until slightly golden around the edges. 

Allow the sugar cookies to cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet. Put the sugar cookies on a cooling rack to cool completely. 

Repeat the above steps to slice and bake the remaining cookies. 

Cream Cheese Glaze:

Put the butter and cream cheese in a medium bowl. Mix it with a hand mixer until it is evenly incorporated. 

Mix in the vanilla extract and powdered sweetener until the frosting is smooth and creamy. 

Add the milk a tablespoon at a time and mix until the cream cheese frosting reaches your desired consistency. 

Frost the sugar cookies with the cream cheese glaze and sprinkle them with sanding sugar or sprinkles if desired. 

Decorating The Cookies

These icebox vanilla sugar cookies are pretty easy to decorate. You can decorate the cookies with a piping bag and a 1M tip or with cookie cutters and sprinkles or sanding sugar. 

Piping Bag 

Place a 1 M piping tip in a piping bag. Add the cream cheese frosting to your piping bag. Carefully pipe a flower on top of each cookie. 

Do not go overboard and pipe a mountain of frosting on top of each frosting. The goal is to cover the top of the cookie and create a beautiful design. 

Cookie Cutters

Dust off your holiday cookie cutters to decorate these tasty sugar cookies. 

Spread the cream cheese frosting on each cookie. Carefully place your cookie cutters in the center of each cookie. 

Carefully sprinkle sanding sugar or sprinkles inside the cookie cutters. I like to use my fingers for this job rather than dumping the sprinkles on top. 

Using your fingers allows you to distribute the sanding sugar or sprinkles evenly. Remove the cookie cutter to reveal your beautiful design, then enjoy! 

Tips For Making Icebox Vanilla Sugar Cookies With Cream Cheese Frosting

1. Chill the dough for at least 4 hours or overnight. The dough should be firm enough to maintain its shape when you slice it. If you don’t chill the dough long enough, it will crumble when you slice it. 
2. Place the cookie dough logs on top of an egg carton. The log-shaped insert on top of the carton will prevent the cookie dough from forming a flat edge. If you don’t have an egg carton, wrap each cookie dough log with 2 sheets of foil to prevent it from forming a flat edge. 
3. Cut the cookie dough one at a time. The cookie dough may start to soften if you let it sit at room temperature too long. 
4. Rotate the cookie dough every time you slice it. This will help the cookies maintain their round shape. 
5. Bake the cookies one tray at a time. This ensures they cook evenly. 

Variations

These icebox vanilla sugar cookies are tasty. But if you want to make them even better, try one of these variations: 

• Lemon Zest: Add a zesty kick and burst of freshness by mixing in some lemon zest. 
• Cinnamon: Sprinkle a 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon into the dry ingredients for a warm, cozy flavor. 
• Almond Extract: Enhance the flavor with a hint of almond extract. It adds a touch of sophistication to your cookies.
• Maple Pecan: Instead of using a cream cheese frosting, drizzle maple syrup over the cookies and sprinkle chopped pecans for a sweet and nutty combo.
• Orange Creamsicle: Add orange zest and a splash of vanilla extract for cookies that taste like a creamsicle!
• Gingerbread Magic: Infuse your dough with ginger and molasses for a festive gingerbread twist.
• Minty Cookies: Add a drop of peppermint extract for a cool, minty flavor.

Is It Better To Cut Sugar Cookies Before Or After Baking

In this case, cutting the cookies before they are baked is better. The cookies are sliced. It will cook unevenly if you try to bake the cookie dough log. Additionally, the edges of each cookie will not be round and smooth. Even if you roll out the cookie dough and bake it, you’d still have to work quickly to cut out the cookies before they harden and set up. So, it is better to cut the cookies before baking them. 

How To Add Flavor To Sugar Cookies

Using extracts is the easiest way to flavor sugar cookies. Vanilla extract is the most popular option. However, you can add almond extract, rum, maple, or anise extract to give the sugar cookies an extra flavor boost. 

What Happens If You Don’t Chill Sugar Cookie Dough

If you do not chill the sugar cookie dough, the cookies will be harder to slice. Additionally, the cookies will spread too quickly. The sugar cookies will not be soft and chewy. They will be crispy.

Storage Instructions

Store the icebox vanilla sugar cookies at room temperature for 3-4 days at room temperature. You can also store the sugar cookies in the fridge for 4-5 days. 

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