You know that smellwhen cream cheese, butter, and vanilla hit the oven and suddenly the whole house smells like Christmas morning. These Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies are exactly that, baked into melt-in-your-mouth bites. Soft, sparkly, and just a little messy in the best way. They’ve been making rounds lately because they’re ridiculously easy and totally irresistible.
This version starts with cream cheese, butter, and a simple yellow cake mix. You don’t need a mixer or fancy gadgets, just a bowl and a spoon. They’re pillowy soft, rolled in powdered sugar, and come out looking like little snow-dusted gems. It’s like your favorite shortbread cookie collided with a gooey butter cakeonly quicker and more fun. Bonus: they use pantry staples and freeze like a dream. Kind of like the best bits of Christmas, only bite-sized.
I first baked these in 2014 during a snowy December in Vermont, testing comfort desserts for a holiday brunch. My neighbor stopped by mid-bake, took one bite, and immediately asked for the “official cookie tray rights.” One tip I learned? Chill the dough 30 minutes so it doesn’t melt in your hands. After years of developing holiday recipes, this one still makes the permanent cookie rotation.
Joe Rooney
Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe Youll Love
Enjoy these delightful Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies, a festive twist on classic Cake Mix Gooey Butter Cookies. These Christmas Ooey Gooey Cookies feature a soft, creamy texture from the cream cheese that melts in your mouth. Perfect for holiday gatherings, these delicious Ooey Gooey Christmas Butter Cookies are easy to make and decorated with colorful sprinkles for a joyful Christmas touch.
Set your oven to 350°F and prepare two baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper.
Using an electric mixer, blend the cream cheese, butter, egg, and vanilla until the mixture is silky smooth.
Add the yellow cake mix and mix until you get a dense dough.
Carefully fold in the holiday sprinkles, ensuring not to overwork the dough to keep the colors vibrant.
Refrigerate the dough for a minimum of 30 minutes to firm it up for easier handling.
Form the chilled dough into 1 1/2-inch balls and roll each ball thoroughly in powdered sugar.
Arrange the dough balls on the baking sheets with a 2-inch gap between each.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, watching for edges to firm while centers remain soft.
Allow the cookies to rest on the baking sheet briefly before transferring them to a cooling rack to set completely.
Notes
Keep the cookies stored in a single layer inside an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. These cookies freeze well for up to three months; thaw them at room temperature before enjoying.
Why You’ll Love These Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies
Nostalgic and festive: These cookies look like snow-dusted holiday delights, perfect for evoking cozy Christmas memories.
Easiest holiday treat: They start with a simple yellow cake mix, making them incredibly easyno need to measure flour or fuss with fancy ingredients.
Melt-in-your-mouth texture: Full-fat cream cheese and butter ensure every bite is deliciously soft and gooey.
Customizable fun: Holiday sprinkles allow you to add festive bursts of color to match your Christmas spirit!
Key Ingredients and Tools
This recipe keeps things simple yet magical, using pantry staples and a few holiday touches:
Cream cheese and butter: This duo makes these cookies incredibly rich, soft, and indulgent.
Yellow cake mix: The shortcut hero of this recipe, ensuring perfect sweetness and texture every time.
Holiday sprinkles: A festive sprinkle mix adds a touch of holiday cheer.
Powdered sugar: Rolling the dough in powdered sugar before baking creates that signature snowy, crackled effect.
Helpful Tools: You’ll just need a mixing bowl, an electric mixer, and two baking sheets lined with parchment paperno fancy gadgets or special equipment required!
How to Make Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies Step-by-Step
Prepare your baking tools: Start by preheating the oven to 350°F and lining two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Mix the wet ingredients: In a large bowl, beat softened cream cheese, butter, egg, and vanilla until smooth and creamy.
Add the dry ingredients: Stir in the yellow cake mix to create a thick, sticky dough.
Sprinkle in the magic: Gently fold in the holiday sprinkles, careful not to overmix to avoid the color bleeding.
Chill the dough: Transfer the dough to the fridge and chill for at least 30 minutes. This makes it much easier to handle and less sticky.
Shape and sugar coat: Scoop 1 1/2-inch balls of dough and roll them in powdered sugar until fully coated.
Bake to perfection: Space the dough balls 2 inches apart and bake for 10-12 minutes. The edges will set, but the centers should still look slightly soft.
Cool and enjoy: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
Quick Timing Table for Busy Bakers
Step
Time
Prep
10 minutes
Chill Dough
30 minutes
Bake
10-12 minutes
Cool
5 minutes
Troubleshooting & Tips for Success
Trouble with sticky dough? Don’t skip chilling the dough! This crucial step helps firm up the batter for much easier handling.
Sprinkles bleeding into the dough? To prevent colors from bleeding, gently fold them in at the very last moment.
Flat cookies? Ensure your butter isn’t too soft (room temperature is ideal). Additionally, avoid overbaking; leave the centers slightly soft to maintain that signature gooey texture.
Pro Tip: For making ahead, you can freeze unbaked dough balls (after coating them in powdered sugar) and bake them straight from the freezer. Just remember to add an extra minute or two to the bake time!
How to Store and Serve
Storing: Store these delicious cookies in a single layer in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For extended storage, freeze them in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Serving: Serve these delightful cookies on a festive platter alongside a mug of hot cocoa, or bring them to a Christmas cookie exchangethey’re guaranteed to disappear quickly!
Storage Tips at a Glance
Storage Method
Time
Room Temperature
Up to 3 days
Freezer
Up to 3 months
Frozen Dough
Up to 3 months
Expert Says
Christmas gooey butter cookies achieve their signature softness through the balance of cream cheese and butter, which adds moisture and richness. The slight acidity from the cream cheese also helps tenderize the dough, creating a tender crumb that melts in your mouthkey for that irresistible, gooey texture.
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The Journey to Perfect Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies
After several attempts and a few delightful (and sometimes sticky!) kitchen mishaps, I finally perfected the balance of sweet and buttery in these Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies. Each trial helped me fine-tune the texture until they were irresistibly soft and just the right amount of gooeynow they’re a cherished holiday favorite I’m thrilled to share with you.
FAQs ( Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies )
How do I keep the cookies from spreading too much?
To prevent excessive spreading, chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking. Also, make sure your baking sheet is cool and use parchment paper to help the cookies hold their shape. Avoid adding too much butter beyond the recipe’s amount to maintain the right consistency.
Can I make these cookies ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can prepare the dough and refrigerate it for up to 3 days before baking. After baking, store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week to keep them fresh and gooey. This flexibility makes them great for holiday planning.
What is the best way to store leftover cookies?
Store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain their softness. For longer storage, freeze them in a sealed bag for up to two months. Thaw at room temperature to enjoy the same ooey gooey texture as fresh.
Can I substitute ingredients in this recipe?
While some substitutions like using light butter instead of regular can work, avoid changing the cake mix type to keep the texture gooey. You can add a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg for extra holiday flavor without affecting the cookie’s unique consistency.
What makes these cookies so ooey gooey?
This recipe uses a blend of cream cheese and cake mix, which creates a dense, moist interior with a slightly crisp edge. That unique combo is the secret behind the soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture that sets these cookies apart from traditional ones.
Conclusion
In about an hour from start to finish, these Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies deliver irresistibly soft, buttery bites that fill your kitchen with the scent of holiday magic. You’ll adore how they perfectly balance rich cream cheese with just the right amount of gooey sweetnessoffering easy baking with all the charm of a homemade treat.
For a warm twist, try adding a sprinkle of cinnamon, or swap the holiday sprinkles for chopped nuts if you prefer a little crunch. And here’s a little tip I picked up from my aunt’s kitchen: freezing the dough means you can enjoy freshly baked cookies any time you need a cozy pick-me-up, with no fuss.
Did these cookies bring back any sweet holiday memories for you? I’d love to see your baking adventuresplease share your photos or any family variations! Be sure to save this recipe to your favorites and help spread the joy; truly, nothing says home quite like the comforting aroma of warm cookies on a winter afternoon.
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