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Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies

The GOOIEST Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies

These Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies are soft, chewy, and irresistibly gooey in the center with a crackled powdered sugar crust and festive holiday sprinkles. A semi-homemade treat made with cake mix, butter, and cream cheese — the ultimate holiday cookie recipe for busy bakers.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 22 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Course: Cookies, Dessert
Cuisine: American, Christmas
Calories: 160
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 8 ounces full-fat cream cheese, softened (block style only)
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 (15.25 oz) box yellow cake mix
  • 1/2 cup holiday sprinkles (red and green)
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar, for rolling

Equipment

  • Electric hand mixer for blending cream cheese and butter
  • mixing bowls for combining wet and dry ingredients
  • Cookie scoop for portioning dough evenly
  • baking sheet lined with parchment paper
  • cooling rack for cooling cookies evenly

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper. In a large bowl, beat softened cream cheese, butter, egg, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy using an electric mixer.
  2. Add the dry cake mix and stir until a thick sticky dough forms. Do not overmix. Gently fold in the holiday sprinkles until evenly distributed.
  3. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This step helps firm the dough for easier handling and prevents over-spreading.
  4. Scoop 1½-inch balls of dough and roll each thoroughly in powdered sugar until completely coated. Arrange on prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
  5. Bake for 10–12 minutes, until the edges are set but the centers remain soft and slightly underbaked. The cookies will continue to cook as they cool.
  6. Cool cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Dust with additional powdered sugar if desired once cooled.

Notes

Use full-fat block cream cheese for the perfect gooey texture. Be sure to chill the dough before baking, and underbake slightly to achieve that signature soft center. Roll the dough generously in powdered sugar to create the beautiful crackled exterior.