Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe

Magical Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe

Magical Christmas ooey gooey butter cookies dance between childhood nostalgia and festive sweetness.

Soft clouds of powdered sugar blanket these delectable treats like fresh snowfall.

Memories flood back with each tender, melt-in-your-mouth bite of pure holiday comfort.

Baking becomes an intimate celebration connecting generations through simple ingredients and love.

Warm kitchen aromas promise delightful moments shared around plates piled high with these irresistible cookies.

Crisp edges and pillowy centers create a perfect texture that makes everyone smile.

Whip up a batch and watch faces light up with pure joy.

Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies Details

  • Capture Holiday Magic: These Christmas cookies bring instant festive cheer with bright, cheerful sprinkles that dance across each delightful bite, transforming ordinary baking into a celebration of seasonal joy.
  • Master Simple Baking: Perfect for beginner bakers, this recipe requires minimal technical skills, uses basic kitchen tools, and delivers professional-looking results that will impress family and friends without complex techniques.
  • Delightfully Indulgent Treat: Soft, gooey centers combined with powdered sugar coatings create an irresistible texture that melts in your mouth, offering a rich and decadent dessert experience that feels luxurious yet comfortingly familiar.

Ingredients for Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies

Main Ingredients:
  • Cream Cheese: A soft and creamy ingredient that provides richness and a smooth texture to the cookies.
  • Butter: Adds a rich, buttery flavor and helps create a soft, tender cookie base.
  • Yellow Cake Mix: The primary dry ingredient that gives structure and sweetness to the cookies.
  • Egg: Binds the ingredients together and helps create a soft, cohesive dough.
Flavor Enhancers:
  • Vanilla Extract: Provides a warm, sweet flavor that complements the other ingredients.
  • Holiday Sprinkles: Adds a festive touch and a bit of crunch to the cookies.
Coating and Finishing:
  • Powdered Sugar: Creates a beautiful crinkle top and adds a sweet, delicate coating to the cookies.

How to Bake Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Get your oven toasty at 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat to keep cookies from sticking sneakily.

Step 2: Create a Creamy Base

Grab your mixing bowl and blend:
  • Softened cream cheese
  • Butter

Whip these together until they’re smooth as silk. Toss in the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until everything dances together perfectly.

Step 3: Introduce the Cake Mix Magic

Slowly fold in the yellow cake mix. Stir until the dough becomes thick and sticky – this is where the magic happens!

The dough will feel wonderfully soft and gooey.

Step 4: Sprinkle Some Holiday Cheer

If you’re feeling festive, gently fold in holiday sprinkles.

They’ll add a pop of color and excitement to your cookies.

Step 5: Roll in Sweet Powdery Goodness

Pour powdered sugar into a small bowl.

Scoop the dough and roll into cute little balls. Then give each ball a luxurious bath in the powdered sugar, making sure they’re completely coated.

Step 6: Bake to Perfection

Place sugar-covered dough balls on the baking sheet, giving them some breathing room. Slide them into the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes.

You’re looking for set edges and a crinkled top. The centers should stay gloriously soft.

Step 7: Cool and Celebrate

Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for a few minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Grab a glass of milk or hot cocoa, and enjoy your holiday masterpiece!

Tips for Gooey Butter Cookies

  • Let cream cheese and butter sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes before mixing to ensure smooth, lump-free blending.
  • Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to create uniform cookies that bake evenly and look professionally made.
  • Mix ingredients just until combined to keep cookies tender and avoid developing tough gluten structures.
  • Roll cookies generously in powdered sugar right before baking to create beautiful crinkle tops and prevent sugar absorption.
  • Keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days, separating layers with parchment paper to maintain their delicate texture.

Variations on Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies

  • Gluten-Free Holiday Cookies: Replace yellow cake mix with gluten-free cake mix and ensure all ingredients are certified gluten-free for celiac or sensitive individuals.
  • Chocolate Lovers' Version: Swap yellow cake mix with chocolate cake mix, add cocoa powder, and mix in chocolate chips for an intense chocolate experience.
  • Low-Sugar Alternative: Use sugar-free cake mix, replace powdered sugar with a monk fruit or stevia-based sweetener, and reduce overall sugar content for diabetic-friendly cookies.
  • Festive Flavor Fusion: Incorporate seasonal spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or peppermint extract into the dough for a unique holiday flavor profile that elevates the traditional recipe.

Pairing Suggestions for Gooey Butter Cookies

Create a creamy, bourbon-spiked holiday milk punch that complements the rich, sweet butter cookies with its smooth, spiced undertones.

Enhance the cookie’s gooey texture by pairing it with a thick, creamy vanilla bean eggnog that echoes the dessert’s indulgent sweetness.

Combine the buttery cookie with a warm mug of peppermint hot chocolate, creating a delightful contrast between the cool mint and the rich, soft cookie.

Elevate the dessert experience with a light, effervescent vanilla cream cocktail that adds a sophisticated touch to the holiday treat.

Storage Advice for Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies

  • Store cookies in an airtight container layered between parchment paper for up to 5 days. Keep them cool to maintain their soft, gooey texture and prevent staleness.
  • Roll cookie dough balls and place on a baking sheet. Freeze for 1 hour, then transfer to a freezer bag. Dough can be stored frozen for 2-3 months. Bake directly from frozen, adding 1-2 extra minutes to baking time.
  • Wrap individual cookies tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for 30-45 minutes before serving.

FAQs

  • Can I use a different cake mix flavor?

Yes, you can experiment with other cake mix flavors like white, chocolate, or funfetti to create unique variations of these cookies.

  • How do I know when the cookies are done baking?

The cookies are ready when the edges are set and the tops look crinkled. They should still be soft in the center, which takes about 10-12 minutes of baking.

  • Why are my cookies not turning out gooey?

Make sure you’re not overbaking the cookies. They should look slightly underdone when you remove them from the oven, as they’ll continue to set while cooling. Also, follow the recipe measurements exactly to maintain the right consistency.

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Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe

Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe


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4.6 from 38 reviews

  • Total Time: 27 minutes
  • Yield: 36 1x

Description

Festive Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies deliver pure holiday magic in one delightful bite. Rich cream cheese and powdered sugar create a melt-in-your-mouth experience you’ll crave all season long.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 1 box (15.25 ounces / 432 grams) yellow cake mix
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 (8 ounces / 226 grams) package cream cheese, softened

Binding and Flavor Ingredients:

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Coating and Decoration:

  • 1/2 cup (60 grams) powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup holiday sprinkles (red and green, optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat the oven to 350°F and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper to ensure easy cookie removal and prevent sticking.
  2. Blend cream cheese and butter in a mixing bowl until achieving a smooth, uniform consistency, using an electric mixer for best results.
  3. Incorporate the egg and vanilla extract into the creamy mixture, stirring until fully integrated and creating a uniform base.
  4. Gradually introduce the yellow cake mix to the bowl, mixing thoroughly until a soft, tacky dough develops with a characteristic gooey texture.
  5. Gently fold holiday sprinkles into the dough, distributing them evenly to add festive color and subtle crunch throughout the mixture.
  6. Create powdered sugar coating by placing sugar in a separate bowl, then use a cookie scoop to form dough balls and roll each completely in the white sugar.
  7. Arrange sugar-coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them approximately 2 inches apart to allow proper spreading during baking.
  8. Bake for 10-12 minutes, watching for set edges and characteristic crinkled tops while maintaining a soft, tender center.
  9. Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for several minutes to stabilize, then transfer to a wire cooling rack for complete cooling.
  10. Serve at room temperature, pairing with milk or hot cocoa for a delightful holiday treat that showcases their signature ooey-gooey texture.

Notes

  • Choose room temperature cream cheese and butter to ensure smooth, lump-free mixing and better incorporation of ingredients.
  • Avoid overmixing the dough to prevent tough cookies; stop mixing once ingredients are just combined for a tender texture.
  • Chill the dough for 30 minutes before rolling if it feels too sticky, which helps control shape and prevents excessive spreading during baking.
  • Swap yellow cake mix with gluten-free alternatives for celiac-friendly version, maintaining the same gooey consistency and delightful flavor profile.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 36
  • Calories: 162 kcal
  • Sugar: 10 g
  • Sodium: 109 mg
  • Fat: 8 g
  • Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
  • Trans Fat: 0.2 g
  • Carbohydrates: 20 g
  • Fiber: 0.5 g
  • Protein: 2 g
  • Cholesterol: 27 mg
Mike Reynolds

Mike Reynolds

Founder & Recipe Developer

Expertise

Farm-to-table cuisine, Seasonal recipe development, Sustainable cooking techniques, Food photography

Education

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (A-B Tech)
Associate Degree in Culinary Arts

Mike studied culinary arts with a strong focus on farm-to-table principles and sustainable cooking. His training emphasized the importance of fresh, local ingredients and environmentally responsible practices in the kitchen.


Mike’s food journey began deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where weekends at farmers’ markets and home-cooked meals sparked a lifelong obsession with simple, seasonal eating.
After earning his Associate Degree in Culinary Arts from Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, he set out to bring farm-to-table cooking into everyday kitchens, without the fuss.
Mike’s philosophy is all about keeping it fresh, unfussy, and full of heart. When he’s not crafting new single-serving recipes, he’s hiking mountain trails, chatting with local farmers, or experimenting with wild ingredients in his backyard kitchen.

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