🎄 Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies
Soft • Festive • Melt-in-Your-Mouth Holiday Cookies
✨ Introduction
Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies are everything the holidays should be—rich, soft, colorful, and comforting. With a tender cream-cheese base, a cake-mix shortcut, and a snowy coating of confectioner’s sugar and sprinkles, these cookies come together easily yet taste like a bakery classic. They’re chewy on the edges, gooey in the center, and bursting with Christmas cheer in every bite.
Perfect for cookie trays, school parties, gifting, or cozy nights with hot cocoa, this recipe is a holiday favorite that never fails to impress.
🧾 Ingredients
For the Cookie Dough
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 box white cake mix
For Rolling & Decorating
- ½ cup holiday sprinkles, divided
- ½ cup confectioner’s sugar
🥣 Instructions (Step-by-Step)
1. Cream the Butter & Cream Cheese
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and cream cheese together until smooth, fluffy, and well combined.
2. Add Egg & Vanilla
Mix in the egg and vanilla extract, beating just until incorporated. Do not overmix.
3. Incorporate the Cake Mix
Gradually add the white cake mix, mixing until fully blended and no dry pockets remain. The dough will be soft and slightly sticky.
4. Add Sprinkles
Gently fold ÂĽ cup of the sprinkles into the dough, distributing evenly without overworking it.
5. Chill the Dough
Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or overnight). Chilling makes the dough easier to handle and helps the cookies keep their shape.
6. Preheat the Oven
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
7. Prepare the Baking Sheet
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
8. Form the Cookies
- Scoop rounded tablespoons of chilled dough
- Roll into 1-inch balls
- Roll first in the remaining sprinkles
- Then roll generously in confectioner’s sugar until fully coated
9. Bake
Place cookies 2 inches apart on the baking sheet.
Bake for 8–10 minutes, just until set but still soft in the center.
10. Cool
Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for 2 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
🍪 Methods & Baking Techniques
- Creaming Method: Ensures a smooth, rich dough and tender crumb
- Chilling Method: Prevents spreading and keeps cookies thick and gooey
- Cake Mix Shortcut: Guarantees consistent texture and saves time
Tip: Slight underbaking is the secret to that signature gooey center.
đź“ś History & Holiday Roots
Gooey butter desserts trace their roots back to St. Louis, where gooey butter cake became a beloved classic in the 1930s. Over time, bakers adapted the flavor profile into cookies—especially during the holidays—using cream cheese and cake mix for ease. The Christmas version adds festive sprinkles and powdered sugar, turning a regional favorite into a nationwide holiday staple.
🧬 Formation & Texture
These cookies get their signature texture from the fat-rich base of butter and cream cheese, which creates softness, while the cake mix provides structure. Rolling in powdered sugar forms a delicate crust, while the inside stays luxuriously gooey. As they cool, the centers settle into a melt-in-your-mouth consistency that cookie lovers crave.
❤️ Why Cookie Lovers Adore These
- Soft and gooey centers
- Bright, festive appearance
- Easy, beginner-friendly recipe
- Perfect for holiday trays and gifting
- Loved by kids and adults alike
These cookies are especially adored by cream-cheese dessert lovers, holiday bakers, and anyone who believes Christmas cookies should be soft—not crunchy.
🌟 Conclusion
Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies are proof that simple ingredients can create unforgettable holiday magic. Rich, colorful, and irresistibly soft, they belong on every Christmas cookie platter. Whether you’re baking for a crowd or just treating yourself, these cookies bring warmth, nostalgia, and joy to every bite.
🎄✨ Bake them once, and they’ll become a holiday tradition forever.