Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies

These Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies are the ultimate soft, chewy, melt-in-your-mouth holiday treat. They’re incredibly tender, dusted with snowy powdered sugar, and filled with colorful Christmas sprinkles that make every bite feel festive. If you need a quick, reliable, crowd-pleasing Christmas cookie recipe, this one always delivers.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 8 ounces full-fat cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 box (15.25 ounces) yellow cake mix
• 1/2 cup holiday sprinkles
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Prep

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper so the cookies bake evenly and release cleanly once cooled. Proper preparation ensures the cookies maintain their soft center without overbaking around the edges.

Step 2: Mix the wet ingredients

Beat the softened cream cheese, softened butter, egg, and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl using an electric mixer until completely smooth. This mixture forms the creamy base that keeps the cookies soft and gooey. Make sure the ingredients are truly softened to avoid lumps and to ensure even mixing.

Step 3: Add the cake mix

Stir the yellow cake mix into the wet mixture until a thick dough forms. The dough will be sticky at first, which is exactly what makes the cookies turn out soft after baking. Continue mixing until no dry pockets of cake mix remain.

Step 4: Fold in the sprinkles

Gently fold in the Christmas sprinkles. Overmixing can cause the colors to bleed, so fold only until the sprinkles are evenly distributed. The colorful bits give the cookies their festive Christmas look.

Step 5: Chill

Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes. Chilling makes the dough firmer and easier to scoop. It also helps the cookies maintain their shape and achieve that perfectly soft, gooey center.

Step 6: Roll the dough

Scoop the dough into 1.5-inch balls and roll them generously in powdered sugar. The powdered sugar melts slightly as the cookies bake, creating the classic crinkled appearance and sweet coating.

Step 7: Bake

Place the dough balls 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. The edges should look set but the centers should remain slightly soft. This is the key to the gooey texture.

Step 8: Cool

Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for several minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack. This resting period prevents them from falling apart and allows the centers to finish setting.

Pro Tips

• Use full-fat brick cream cheese for the best texture
• Allow the dough to chill fully so the cookies do not spread too much
• Roll generously in powdered sugar for a striking crackled look

Serving Suggestions and Pairings

• Serve with hot cocoa or warm spiced cider
• Pair with coffee or a holiday latte
• Add to a holiday dessert board alongside chocolate crinkle cookies and sugar cookies
• Wrap in clear treat bags with ribbon for a beautiful edible gift

Nutrition Table

Serving Size	Calories	Protein	Carbs	Fat	Fiber	Sugar
1 cookie	103	2g	16g	4g	0.2g	10g

Disclaimer: Nutrition values are estimated and may vary.

FAQs

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