Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe - Easy Holiday Treats
Soft, chewy, and perfectly gooey, these Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies are made with just 6 simple ingredients including cake mix and cream cheese. Rolled in powdered sugar and topped with festive sprinkles, they’re the ultimate easy holiday cookie for gifting, parties, or cookie exchanges.
Equipment
- Baking Sheets
- Parchment paper
- electric hand mixer or stand mixer
- Mixing bowls
- Rubber Spatula
- Cookie Scoop
- Wire Cooling Rack
Ingredients
- 8 oz full-fat cream cheese (block style), softened
- 0.5 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 box (15.25 oz) yellow cake mix
- 0.5 cup holiday sprinkles
- 0.5 cup powdered sugar (for rolling)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- In a large bowl, beat together cream cheese, butter, egg, and vanilla with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes.
- Add the yellow cake mix and stir on low speed or with a wooden spoon until a thick, sticky dough forms.
- Gently fold in the holiday sprinkles with a spatula until evenly distributed. Avoid overmixing to prevent color bleeding.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. This firms up the dough for easier handling.
- Scoop dough into 1½-inch balls (about 2 tablespoons each). Roll each ball thoroughly in powdered sugar until well coated.
- Place dough balls 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake for 10–12 minutes, until edges are set but centers remain soft. Do not overbake.
- Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Use full-fat block-style cream cheese and a 15.25 oz cake mix for best results. Chill the dough before rolling—it makes shaping easier and ensures the cookies stay thick and gooey inside. Roll generously in powdered sugar for that beautiful crackled finish.