Pineapple Cream Cheese Cookies

Tangy pineapple meets creamy bliss in every soft, irresistible bite of these Pineapple Cookies!

Get ready to be wowed by these Pineapple Cream Cheese Cookies, a delightful twist in the realm of cookie treats! They stand out with their luscious pineapple glaze, elevating each bite to new levels of deliciousness. What’s more, the addition of cream cheese in the dough imparts a unique, cake-like texture. These cookies are irresistibly soft and bursting with a perfectly balanced tartness from the pineapple, making them an exciting choice for cookie enthusiasts looking for something uniquely scrumptious!

Why You’ll Love These Pineapple Cookies

• Unique flavor combination. The blend of tangy pineapple and rich cream cheese offers a delicious departure from the usual cookie flavors.
• Delightfully soft texture. Thanks to the cream cheese in the dough, these cookies have a soft, almost cake-like texture that melts in your mouth.
• Simple yet impressive. These cookies are easy to make but look and taste like gourmet bakery treats, perfect for impressing your guests or for a special treat for yourself.
• Great for all occasions. Whether it’s a cozy gathering, a special celebration, or just a weekday treat, these cookies fit perfectly into any setting.

Love the idea of cream cheese cookies? Try my Cream Cheese Peanut Butter Cookies and Lemon Coconut Sugar Cookies next!

What You’ll Need

Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the ingredient amounts and full directions. Here are some helpful notes about the ingredients.

• All-purpose flour – As always, measure by weight for best results. Otherwise, use the spoon and sweep method.
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Unsalted butter – Allow the butter to soften before mixing. Learn more: How to Soften Butter
• Cream cheese – Full-fat, block-style cream cheese works best. Bring it to room temperature so it will mix smoothly.
• Granulated sugar
• Eggs – Let the eggs come to room temperature, too.
• Crushed pineapple – This is just canned crushed pineapple. The smaller cans are usually 8 ounces, so you’ll need half of the pineapple. You’ll need to drain it and save the juice. I like to add about 1/2 teaspoon of reserved pineapple juice to the cookies along with the pineapple. Save the remaining juice to use in the glaze.
• Confectioners’ sugar – This is also called powdered sugar. Sift the sugar if it’s especially lumpy so your glaze will be smooth.

How to Make Pineapple Cream Cheese Cookies

These pineapple drop cookies are quite easy to make. Be sure to factor the chilling time into your baking plans.

• Combine the dry ingredients. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
• Combine the wet ingredients. Place the butter, cream cheese, and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat until fluffy and lightened in color. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.

• Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Don’t over-mix; only mix just until combined or a few streaks of flour remain.
• Add the pineapple. Stir the pineapple into the dough along with any juice you want to add.
• Chill. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour.
• Prepare for baking. Heat the oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone liners.
• Bake. Drop the dough by tablespoon portions onto the prepared pans, leaving about 2 inches between the cookies. Bake one pan at a time 12 to 15 minutes, or until the bottom edges are lightly browned and the centers appear set. (Refrigerate the remaining dough between batches.)

• Cool. Place the pans on wire racks to cool for 10 minutes. Then transfer the cookies from the pan directly to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Make the glaze. In a small bowl, combine the confectioners’ sugar and as much pineapple juice as you’d like to make a thick but pourable glaze. You can also substitute milk for some or all of the pineapple juice if you want a more subtle pineapple flavor.
• Glaze the cookies. Drizzle the glaze over the cooled cookies. Allow to set for 10-15 minutes.

Want More Glaze?

I like to drizzle a little bit of the glaze over the cookies, but you can certainly go for a more thorough topping if you like. Try doubling the confectioners’ sugar and juice. If you don’t have enough juice, you can use milk to help get the glaze to the right consistency. Dip the cookies top-down into the glaze or spoon the glaze on top of each cookie.

Variations

Here are some fun, tasty ways to customize this recipe to your tastes:

• Citrus zest. Add a pinch or two of lemon or orange zest to the dough for a citrusy twist.
• Nuts or coconut. Mix in a handful of chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts, or shredded coconut for added texture.
• White chocolate. Add a handful of white chocolate chips for a sweet contrast.
• Change the glaze. Use vanilla extract or another of your favorite extracts in the glaze.

How to Store

Once the cookies have cooled completely, they can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.

Can These Cookies Be Frozen?

Yes, you can freeze these pineapple cookies. For best results, I recommend freezing them without the glaze. Place the cooled cookies in an airtight, freezer-safe container. When you’re ready to serve them, thaw for an hour or two at room temperature.

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