Cottage Cheese Sugar Cookies

In the process of trying to create a crust for our cottage cheese fruit pizza, we *accidentally* came up with the perfect cottage cheese sugar cookie. Oh, darn.

It’s not fussy. It doesn’t have any fancy ingredients. And the dough rolls out like a dream.
Cottage Cheese Sugar Cookies are soft in the middle, lightly golden on the edges, and just the right amount of sweet. No stiff snap. No gritty texture. Just buttery, soft, classic sugar cookie energy – with one simple twist.

There’s cottage cheese in the dough.
And it works.

Let’s Talk About the Cottage Cheese

Here’s what it does not do:
It doesn’t make the cookies taste weird.
It doesn’t make them feel dense or “healthy” or like something they’d hand you in a sad lunchroom.

What it does do:
It adds moisture. A little protein.
And it makes the dough really easy to work with – smooth, soft, and not too sticky.

We whip it first to get it silky. Then it mixes right into the dough with the butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla like it belongs there. Because it kind of does.

Do You Have to Roll Them Out?

Nope. You can roll and cut if you want to. The dough chills for just 30 minutes – enough to firm it up without completely solidifying it – and then it’s super easy to work with. No cracks. No crumbly mess.

But if rolling isn’t your thing?
You can absolutely scoop and press. Ball them up, flatten with your hand or the bottom of a glass, and bake. They’ll still turn out soft and golden, and no one will know the difference.

Decorate or Don’t – Totally Up to You

These cookies are solid on their own. Like, really good straight from the pan. But if you want to frost and sprinkle them? They’re perfect for it.

We love making them for:

– Christmas, Halloween, Easter cookies
– Baby showers
– Weekday cookie cravings
– Any excuse to use the cute seasonal sprinkles

The structure holds up. They don’t spread too much. And the flavor is mellow enough to let your frosting or decorations shine – but still buttery and rich enough to stand on their own.

Why These Have a Permanent Spot in the Rotation

There are a lot of sugar cookie recipes out there. Some are too stiff. Some are too sweet. Some need multiple hours of chill time and a prayer.

This one just works.

It’s soft but sturdy.
Sweet but not too sweet.
And versatile enough to make a dozen different ways.

You can roll them thick and pillowy, or thin and crispy around the edges.
You can leave them plain or go full frosting frenzy.
You can bake them for a quick weekday treat or batch them out for a party.

Whatever your cookie mood is, Cottage Cheese Sugar Cookies show up for it.

A Few Notes for Cookie Success

You don’t need much to nail these, but here are a couple quick things that help: – Use full-fat cottage cheese. It blends smoother and adds better richness.
– Don’t skip chilling. Just 30 minutes helps the dough hold its shape and makes it easier to roll.
– Whip the cottage cheese smooth. No one wants curds in their cookie dough.
– Adjust bake time based on size. Smaller cookies = 7–8 minutes, larger or thicker ones = closer to 10.

They’ll still look pale on top when they’re done – but the bottoms should be lightly golden, and the edges just starting to firm up.

Other Cottage Cheese Bakes You Might Love

If you’re into this recipe, here are a few more ways we’re baking with cottage cheese:

– Cottage Cheese Fruit Pizza – sugar cookie base, creamy whipped topping, and tons of fresh fruit
– Carrot Cake Cottage Cheese Muffins – soft, spiced, and perfect for busy mornings
– Cottage Cheese Zucchini Bread – the perfect way to use up all of that summer zucchini

Let Us Know When You Bake These!

If you end up making a batch – whether you roll, press, frost, or keep them plain – we want to hear about it. Leave us a comment below or tag us on Instagram!

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