Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies

Every Christmas, I make these gooey butter cookies. They’re soft, sweet, and covered in powdered sugar. One bite, and they melt in your mouth.

I remember the first time I made them—just a cake mix and a few simple things. I was shocked at how good they were. Now they’re a holiday must in my house.

They’re chewy in the middle, a little crisp on the edges, and oh-so gooey. Perfect for cookie swaps, gift boxes, or just sneaking from the tray when no one’s looking.

Wanna bake some with me? I’ll show you my easy steps. They’re fun, festive, and always a hit.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Holiday Favorite: These cookies feel like Christmas. The dough is soft, and the flavor is rich and buttery—perfect for holiday cookie platters, neighbor gifts, or school parties. They look great with red and green sprinkles and a dusting of powdered sugar, like snow.
• Melt-in-Your-Mouth Texture: The combination of softened cream cheese and butter creates a dough that bakes into cookies with a light, pillowy middle and a just-barely-firm edge. No dry crumbs here—each bite is soft and sweet all the way through.
• Minimal Ingredients, Big Flavor: Because we use yellow cake mix as the base, you cut down on prep time without giving up quality. The mix provides built-in flavor, structure, and sweetness. You don’t even need to measure flour or sugar.
• Great for All Skill Levels: There’s no dough chilling overnight, no special equipment, and no fancy decorating. If you can stir and roll, you can bake these cookies. And they come out looking like bakery-quality holiday treats.

What You Need to Know Before You Start

Prep Time & Cook Time:

• Prep Time: 15 minutes to mix, plus 30 minutes chill time in the fridge (very important for texture)
• Bake Time: 10 to 12 minutes, depending on your oven and how large you roll your dough
• Total Time: Just under an hour from start to finish

Servings:

• You’ll get around 24 cookies, maybe a few more or less depending on how much dough you use per cookie. Using a 1.5 tablespoon scoop is perfect for even sizing and consistent baking.

Difficulty:

• Very easy. This is a great recipe to make with kids or beginner bakers. The dough is thick and easy to roll, and the cookies bake quickly. No special techniques, just a few simple steps.

Key Tip Before Starting:

• Soften your cream cheese and butter completely before mixing. This helps create a smooth dough that blends evenly and keeps the cookies soft. Cold ingredients will clump and make your dough harder to mix and shape.

Required Kitchen Tools

You don’t need anything fancy, but having these tools ready will make the process go smoothly:

• Electric Mixer: A hand or stand mixer is helpful for creaming the butter and cream cheese until fluffy.
• Mixing Bowls: One medium and one large bowl.
• Measuring Cups & Spoons: For accuracy.
• Rubber Spatula: For scraping the sides of the bowl and folding in sprinkles.
• Cookie Scoop (1.5–2 tbsp size): Ensures even-sized cookies and more consistent baking.
• Baking Sheets: Use two so you can bake in batches.
• Parchment Paper or Silicone Baking Mat: Prevents sticking and keeps the bottoms of your cookies soft.
• Cooling Rack: To allow the cookies to firm up slightly as they cool without overbaking.

Ingredients for Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies

Here’s a closer look at what goes into this festive cookie dough:

• Cream Cheese (8 oz, full fat): This is the key to the “gooey” texture. The fat content keeps the cookies soft and slightly chewy. Make sure it’s at room temperature so it blends smoothly into the butter.
• Unsalted Butter (½ cup): Softened butter adds flavor, richness, and helps the dough spread slightly during baking. If using salted butter, reduce or skip any added salt.
• Egg (1 large): Binds the dough and gives structure. A room temperature egg incorporates more easily than a cold one.
• Vanilla Extract (1 tsp): Just a touch adds warmth and rounds out the flavor of the dough.
• Yellow Cake Mix (1 box, 15.25 oz): This shortcut ingredient provides the flour, sugar, leavening, and base flavor all in one. The mix saves time while still giving the cookies that bakery-style taste.
• Holiday Sprinkles (½ cup): Adds color and fun to every bite. Red, green, and white jimmies or nonpareils work best. Avoid sugar crystal sprinkles, which can melt or bleed in the dough.
• Powdered Sugar (½ cup): For rolling the cookie dough balls before baking. This creates the classic crinkle-top look and a light, sweet finish.

Variations for Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies

• Citrus Zest: Add a bit of lemon or orange zest to the dough to brighten the flavor and add subtle holiday aroma.
• Peppermint Crunch: Fold in crushed peppermint candies for a cool, minty contrast to the rich dough.
• Chocolate Center: Place a chocolate kiss or caramel candy in the center of each dough ball before baking for a gooey surprise.
• Birthday Version: Use rainbow sprinkles instead of holiday ones and skip the powdered sugar for a funfetti-style butter cookie.
• Double Vanilla: Use vanilla cake mix instead of yellow, and double the vanilla extract for a smoother, deeper flavor.

How to Make Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies (Step-by-Step Instructions)

These cookies come together quickly, but every step matters to get that perfect soft, gooey center with just the right sugary coating. Here’s how to make them from start to finish:

1. Soften Cream Cheese and Butter

Start by leaving your cream cheese and butter out on the counter until they’re fully softened. This may take 30–45 minutes at room temperature. Soft, room-temp ingredients ensure a smooth, well-blended dough. If they’re too cold, the batter may be lumpy or overly thick.

2. Mix Wet Ingredients

In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the cream cheese and softened butter together until completely smooth—about 1–2 minutes on medium speed. The mixture should look pale and fluffy.

Next, add in the egg and vanilla extract. Beat again until fully combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to make sure everything mixes evenly.

3. Add Cake Mix

Turn the mixer to low speed and gradually add in the dry yellow cake mix. Mix just until combined—no dry patches, no overmixing. The dough will be thick and a bit sticky at this point, which is exactly what you want.

4. Fold in Holiday Sprinkles

Using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, gently fold in the holiday sprinkles. Stir just enough to evenly distribute the color without breaking up the sprinkles too much. Avoid overmixing or the color from the sprinkles might bleed into the dough.

5. Chill the Dough

Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Chilling helps firm up the dough, making it easier to roll into balls. It also helps the cookies hold their shape and prevents spreading too much in the oven.

6. Preheat Oven and Prep Baking Sheets

While the dough chills, preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. This helps prevent sticking and gives your cookies a soft bottom texture.

7. Scoop and Roll the Dough

Once chilled, scoop the dough into balls using a 1.5 to 2 tablespoon-sized cookie scoop or your hands. Roll each ball between your palms until smooth and round.

Next, roll each dough ball generously in powdered sugar. You want a full coating—don’t be shy here. This gives the cookies their signature crinkle top and sweet, snowy finish.

8. Bake

Place the dough balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake in the preheated oven for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are just set and the tops look puffed with light cracks. The centers should still look soft and slightly underbaked—that’s what makes them gooey.

9. Cool

Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. This helps them firm up a bit but still stay soft inside. If you move them too soon, they might fall apart.

Serving and Decoration

Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies are already festive thanks to the sprinkles and powdered sugar, but here are a few ideas to make them even more special:

• Add a Drizzle: Once cooled, drizzle with white chocolate for extra sweetness and decoration.
• Dust Again: Right before serving, give another light dusting of powdered sugar for a fresh snowy look.
• Holiday Plates: Serve on a red or green holiday platter or wrap in cellophane for easy gifting.
• Cookie Tray Favorite: Include with peppermint bark, gingerbread cookies, or classic sugar cookies for a complete Christmas assortment.

How to Store Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies

Proper storage keeps these cookies soft and gooey for days.

• Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4–5 days. Keep a piece of bread in the container to help retain moisture.
• Refrigerator: Not necessary unless your kitchen is warm, but they can be stored in the fridge for up to a week. Let them come to room temperature before serving.
• Freezing the Dough: Scoop and roll the dough into balls, freeze on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag. When ready to bake, roll in powdered sugar and bake straight from frozen—just add 1–2 minutes to the bake time.
• Freezing Baked Cookies: Let cookies cool completely, then freeze in a single layer. Reheat at 300°F for 4–5 minutes to restore softness.

Tips and Tricks for Success

• Use Room Temperature Ingredients: Cream cheese, butter, and egg should all be softened and room temp. This makes blending smooth and helps the cookies bake evenly.
• Chill the Dough: Chilling is non-negotiable. It firms up the dough so it’s easier to handle and prevents over-spreading in the oven.
• Powdered Sugar Coating: Don’t skimp on rolling the dough in powdered sugar. A thick coating helps create that signature crinkle top. You can even re-roll lightly just before baking.
• Avoid Overbaking: These cookies are best when slightly underdone in the center. The edges will firm up as they cool, but the middle stays gooey and tender.
• Use the Right Sprinkles: Stick to jimmies or nonpareils. Sugar sprinkles or sanding sugars can melt and bleed into the dough.

Nutrition Information (per cookie)

Nutrient	Amount
Calories	140 kcal
Total Fat	7g
Saturated Fat	4g
Cholesterol	25mg
Sodium	115mg
Total Carbohydrates	18g
Sugars	11g
Protein	1g

Nutrition data is an estimate based on typical ingredients and serving size.

Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies FAQs

Can I use a different cake mix flavor?
Yes! White, vanilla, or even lemon cake mix work well. Chocolate will change the flavor completely but is still delicious.

Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes. The dough can be made 1–2 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Let it sit at room temperature for 10–15 minutes before scooping.

Do these cookies spread much?
Not much. That’s why chilling is important. If you skip chilling, they may flatten too much and lose their soft center.

How do I keep them soft after baking?
Store in an airtight container. You can also add a slice of bread to the container to maintain moisture.

Conclusion

These Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies are a holiday go-to in our kitchen every year. The buttery richness, festive color, and gooey centers make them a standout on any dessert table—without a lot of work. Whether you’re baking with kids, prepping for a party, or just need a cozy treat, these cookies are reliable, pretty, and always crowd-pleasing.