Description
These Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies are rich, soft, and full of festive flavor. Made with cream cheese, butter, and yellow cake mix, these cookies have a delightful gooey center and a buttery crust. Sprinkled with holiday sprinkles and rolled in powdered sugar, they’re perfect for holiday celebrations and gifting.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 8 ounces full-fat cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 (15.25 ounce) box yellow cake mix
- 1/2 cup holiday sprinkles
Coating
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent the cookies from sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened cream cheese, unsalted butter, egg, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and creamy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add Cake Mix: Gradually stir in the yellow cake mix until a thick dough forms. Be sure to mix just until combined for the best texture.
- Fold in Sprinkles: Gently fold in the holiday sprinkles, careful not to overmix so the colors don’t bleed into the dough, preserving the festive look of your cookies.
- Chill Dough: Cover the dough and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This step makes the dough easier to handle and helps maintain the cookie shape during baking.
- Form Dough Balls: Scoop the chilled dough into 1 1/2-inch balls. Roll each ball thoroughly in powdered sugar so it is completely coated.
- Arrange and Bake: Place the coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart to allow spreading. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, until the edges are set but the centers remain slightly soft and gooey.
- Cool Cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This helps them set without breaking.
Notes
- Ensure the cream cheese and butter are softened to room temperature for easier mixing.
- Do not overbake the cookies; they should have soft centers for the signature gooey texture.
- Chilling the dough helps prevent spreading and keeps the cookies thick and soft.
- Use holiday sprinkles that do not bleed color to maintain a bright, festive appearance.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or freeze for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Christmas cookies, Gooey butter cookies, Festive cookies, Holiday baking, Cream cheese cookies, Easy Christmas treat
