In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat together softened butter and cream cheese with granulated sugar.
Add egg and almond extract. Mix until all ingredients are well combined.
Next, add the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder and salt.
Mix until a cookie dough forms.
Roll the cookie dough into 1 ½ inch spheres. Place gently on a cookie sheet (you may have to bake it on 2 pans), leaving at least 1 ½ inches apart from each other.
Bake for 11 to 13 minutes. Allow to cool then sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Notes
Chips: Use white chocolate chips for cream cheese chocolate chip cookies.
Nuts: Maybe add some chopped pecans or walnuts to the batter.
Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies: Try a dollop of strawberry jam, or raspberry jam, for strawberry flavor cheesecake cookies.
Drizzle: Melt some chocolate and drizzle on top of the cookies.
Graham Cracker Crumbs: Make these cookies more like cheesecake by rolling them in a graham cracker crust.
Frosting: Cream cheese frosting adds even more creamy goodness to the cookies. Top with some festive sprinkles or sanding sugar.
Extract: You can use vanilla extract or even cream cheese extract for even more flavor.
Zest: Use orange or lemon zest to add a nice citrusy flavor to these cookies.