- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup sifted confectioners' sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup cold butter, cut into chunks
- 3/4 cup cream cheese, softened
- 3/4 cup milk, or as needed
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon milk, or to taste
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet.
- Whisk flour, sugar, and baking powder together in a large bowl. Cut cold butter pieces into flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Fold cream cheese into butter mixture.
- Stir a small amount of the 3/4 cup milk into cream cheese mixture, continuing to add milk until the dough is sticky. Turn the dough out onto a work surface and knead until the dough is soft, 1 to 5 minutes.
- Roll or cut dough into desired shape and arrange on the prepared baking sheet. Brush 1 tablespoon milk over the top of the dough.
- Bake shortbread in the preheated oven until golden brown and fragrant, 15 to 25 minutes.