Soft, buttery, and coated in snowy powdered sugar, these Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies taste like pure holiday joy. Each bite melts in your mouth, filled with the richness of cream cheese and a pop of colorful sprinkles. I've been baking these every December, and they always disappear faster than I can stack them on the plate.
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They're simple to make, cozy to share, and guaranteed to bring that homemade holiday magic to your kitchen. Ready to bake a batch that smells like Christmas morning? Let's get started.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Made with simple pantry staples you probably already have
- Soft, chewy, and melt-in-your-mouth texture
- Bright and festive with colorful holiday sprinkles
- Quick to make, plus a short chill for perfect shape
- Ideal for cookie swaps, gifts, or cozy evenings
- Freezer-friendly for easy make-ahead baking
Ingredients
- 8 ounces full-fat cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 (15.25-ounce) box yellow cake mix
- ½ cup holiday sprinkles
- ½ cup powdered sugar
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Cream Cheese: Use full-fat cream cheese for the creamiest texture. Low-fat options can make the dough too soft.
- Cake Mix: Yellow cake mix gives a buttery vanilla flavor, but white cake mix works too.
- Sprinkles: Choose jimmies or confetti-style sprinkles. Avoid nonpareils since they can bleed color into the dough.
- Powdered Sugar: Sift it first for an even, snowy coating.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter, egg, and vanilla extract with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
- Add the cake mix and stir until a thick dough forms.
- Fold in the holiday sprinkles gently so the colors stay bright.
- Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes to make it easier to shape.
- Scoop the dough into 1 ½-inch balls and roll each one in powdered sugar until coated.
- Place the dough balls on the baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges look set but the centers still appear soft.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Pro Tips for Success
Top Tip
- Chill the dough for the best soft and chewy texture.
- Do not overbake; the centers should look slightly underdone when you pull them out.
- Use a cookie scoop for even sizes and consistent baking.
- Roll generously in powdered sugar for a beautiful snowy finish.
- Cool completely before storing to preserve the sugar coating.
Storage and Reheating
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
- Keep refrigerated for up to a week.
- Freeze baked cookies for up to 2 months; thaw at room temperature before serving.
Make Ahead and Freezing
- Prepare the dough and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking.
- Scoop and freeze unbaked dough balls on a tray, then transfer them to a freezer bag. Bake from frozen, adding about 2 minutes to the baking time.
Tips and Variations
- Flavor Twist: Add ½ teaspoon almond extract for a sweet, nutty touch.
- Chocolate Option: Use chocolate cake mix and white sprinkles for a fun variation.
- Lemon Version: Use lemon cake mix and skip the sprinkles for a bright flavor.
- Valentine's Version: Swap in pink and red sprinkles.
- Serving Idea: Sandwich two cookies with vanilla frosting for a festive treat.
FAQs
You can, but the cookies will spread more and lose their soft, gooey texture.
That happens if the dough is overmixed or too warm. Chill it before rolling.
Yes, you can use buttercream or cream cheese frosting for a richer treat.
Store them in an airtight container with a small piece of bread to keep moisture in.
📖 Recipe
Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 52 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Soft, buttery, and coated in snowy powdered sugar, these Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies taste like pure holiday joy. Made with cake mix and cream cheese, they're easy to bake, beautifully soft, and perfect for holiday gifting or cookie swaps.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces full-fat cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 (15.25-ounce) box yellow cake mix
- ½ cup holiday sprinkles
- ½ cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter, egg, and vanilla extract with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
- Add the cake mix and stir until a thick dough forms.
- Fold in the holiday sprinkles gently so the colors stay bright.
- Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes to make it easier to shape.
- Scoop the dough into 1 ½-inch balls and roll each one in powdered sugar until coated.
- Place the dough balls on the baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges look set but the centers still appear soft.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Notes
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days or refrigerate for up to a week. Freeze baked cookies for up to 2 months. Add almond extract or try variations with chocolate or lemon cake mix for different flavors.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 85mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 19g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Serving Suggestions
These cookies pair perfectly with hot cocoa, peppermint lattes, or spiced tea. I love serving them after dinner while the lights twinkle and carols play softly. They also make wonderful gifts-wrap a few in clear bags with ribbon for a thoughtful homemade surprise.
Nutrition and Notes
- Yield: About 24 cookies
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Chill Time: 30 minutes
- Skill Level: Easy
Each cookie is buttery, tender, and about 150 calories. I tested this recipe several times to make sure it bakes up with that signature gooey center and soft sugar-dusted edges.
Related Recipes
You may also like my White Chocolate Cranberry Tart or Pumpkin Pie Cookies.
For a cozy main dish before dessert, try my Apple Crumble Cheesecake
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