Description
These Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies combine cream cheese, butter, and cake mix to create soft, sweet, and festive treats perfect for holiday celebrations. Rolled in powdered sugar and colored sanding sugar or sprinkles, they bring a delightful holiday twist to classic buttery cookies with a gooey texture that melts in your mouth.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 box (15.25 ounces) white or yellow cake mix
Coating
- ½ cup powdered sugar (for rolling)
- Red and green sanding sugar or sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy. Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat until fully combined. Gradually mix in the cake mix until a thick dough forms. Cover the bowl and refrigerate the dough for at least 1 hour or until firm enough to handle.
- Preheat and prepare baking sheet: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and aid in even baking.
- Form and coat the dough balls: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll each into a ball using your hands. Roll each ball in powdered sugar to coat completely. If desired, roll again or sprinkle with red and green sanding sugar or holiday sprinkles for a festive look. Place the coated balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet to allow room for spreading.
- Bake the cookies: Bake the dough balls in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges become set and the centers remain slightly soft to retain their gooey texture. Avoid overbaking to keep the softness inside.
- Cool the cookies: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before serving or storing.
Notes
- Any flavor of cake mix can be used for variations, such as red velvet or chocolate, to create different festive flavors.
- Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to maintain freshness.
- These cookies freeze well; you can freeze baked cookies or the dough balls for future baking.
