When it comes to holiday baking, few treats match the sweet, chewy delight of Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies. These festive favorites are soft, melt-in-your-mouth cookies made with cake mix and a generous amount of butter and cream cheese. Whether you call them Christmas Ooey Gooey Cookies, Gooey Butter Cake Cookies, or simply your new go-to holiday dessert, this recipe is guaranteed to be a hit at every cookie swap, family gathering, and festive celebration.
Let’s unwrap the magic behind these Ooey Gooey Christmas Butter Cookies, discover how simple they are to make, and explore fun ways to customize them for your own Christmas bakesale, edible gift box, or Christmas cookie platter.
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Why You’ll Love These Christmas Ooey Gooey Cookies
The beauty of these cookies lies in their simplicity and indulgence. You’ll only need a few ingredients, and the result is a Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies recipe that delivers soft, chewy, slightly crisp-on-the-outside cookies with a creamy, buttery center. The best part? These are made from cake mix, which takes a lot of the prep work off your plate.
Here’s why they’re a favorite:
- Buttery and rich texture with a crackly sugar-dusted top
- Perfect for gifting, parties, or simply devouring by the dozen
- Easily customized with festive sprinkles or flavor swaps
- Kids and adults love them equally
- Ideal for beginner bakers
Whether you’re baking for Christmas morning, a school event, or a cozy night in, these Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies Christmas edition are always a win.
Ingredients for Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies
These cookies use simple pantry staples you might already have on hand. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 box of yellow or white cake mix
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup powdered sugar, for rolling
- Optional: Red and green sprinkles for a festive touch
Want to add a twist? Try swapping the cake mix for spice cake or red velvet for different holiday flavors. These are the easiest cake mix gooey butter cookies you’ll ever bake!
How to Make Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies
Making these cookies is as easy as mixing, chilling, rolling, and baking. Here’s the step-by-step guide:
- In a large mixing bowl, beat softened butter and cream cheese together until smooth.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract, beating until well combined.
- Slowly add the cake mix, mixing until the dough forms. It will be thick—this is normal.
- Cover the dough and refrigerate for 1 hour (or up to overnight) to firm up.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Scoop 1-inch balls of dough and roll them in powdered sugar.
- Place them 2 inches apart on the baking sheet and slightly flatten.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes or until edges are set and tops are slightly cracked.
- Let them cool on the pan for 2 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
These Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies are best enjoyed fresh, but they keep beautifully for days.
Kitchen Tools You’ll Need
This recipe doesn’t require any fancy equipment, making it even more beginner-friendly:
- Electric mixer or stand mixer
- Mixing bowls
- Rubber spatula
- Cookie scoop or spoon
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Cooling rack
If you love low-effort tools, check out our Crockpot Fajitas and Slow Cooker Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal too.
Tips for the Best Gooey Butter Cookies Christmas Style
- Chill your dough: This helps keep the cookies from spreading too much.
- Don’t overbake: They should look just set when you pull them from the oven.
- Use a cookie scoop for evenly sized cookies.
- Roll generously in powdered sugar—this helps give them that signature cracked, snowy look.
- Add sprinkles before baking for a fun, festive touch.
Easy Flavor Swaps and Festive Variations
Want to make these cookies your own? Here are some holiday-inspired twists:
- Use chocolate or red velvet cake mix
- Add crushed candy canes for peppermint flair
- Stuff with a Hershey’s Kiss or chocolate chunk
- Swap vanilla extract for almond or maple
- Roll in colored sugar instead of powdered sugar for a glittery finish
These variations turn simple homemade Christmas truffles into a show-stopping batch of holiday balls that can be part of your next Christmas edibles gift basket.
How to Store Gooey Butter Cookies
One of the best things about these cookies is how well they store.
- Room temperature: Keep them in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Freeze the unbaked dough balls or baked cookies for up to 3 months. Roll in powdered sugar again before baking from frozen.
- Fridge: While not necessary, chilling can help them last a bit longer if you live in a warm climate.
How to Serve These Christmas Cookies
These cookies shine on their own but also pair beautifully with:
- A hot cup of cocoa or Pumpkin Spice Cold Brew
- Your favorite fruit-based holiday drinks like Lavender Lemonade
- On a cookie platter alongside Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies or Muffin Tin Mini Apple Pies
They’re also perfect for gifting in clear cellophane bags tied with red ribbon—ideal for teachers, coworkers, or neighbors.
Troubleshooting Common Mistakes
Even easy cookies can go sideways. Here’s what to avoid:
- Too sticky dough: Chill longer.
- Flat cookies: Overmixing can deflate the dough.
- Overbaking: Remember, they’ll continue to cook on the hot tray after removing from the oven.
- Skipping the sugar roll: This creates the signature snowy look—don’t skip it!
FAQs About Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies
Can I make these in advance?
Absolutely! You can prepare the dough up to 3 days ahead and bake as needed.
Can I freeze the dough?
Yes, freeze shaped dough balls and bake directly from frozen. Just add 1–2 minutes to the bake time.
What cake mix works best?
Classic yellow or white cake mix is traditional, but red velvet, chocolate, or lemon also work.
Can I use low-fat cream cheese?
Full-fat is best for texture, but low-fat will work in a pinch.
Are these gluten-free?
They can be if you use a gluten-free cake mix.
More Holiday Recipes You’ll Love
Looking for more quick Christmas baking ideas or New Year baking recipes? Here are some reader favorites:
- Pumpkin Cheesecake Truffles
- Mini Pumpkin Bread with Cinnamon Swirl
- Strawberry Cloud Cake
- Halloween Brownie – great for themed winter parties!
- Pumpkin Twists
You can also explore our full dessert category for more inspiration.
Final Thoughts on the Best Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe
Whether you’re baking for a holiday party or looking for an indulgent treat to enjoy by the fire, these Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies deliver in every bite. With their chewy, rich, buttery texture and festive flair, they’re bound to become a seasonal staple in your kitchen. They also make a perfect addition to your Christmas cookie swap, holiday brunch, or cookie platter for Santa.
Try these once, and you’ll understand why they top the list of the best Christmas appetizers—especially the sweet kind.
So go ahead—dust off that cake mix box, soften your butter, and get baking. And don’t forget to share your creations with us!
Looking for more sweet treats? Browse our best cookie recipes and start planning your next batch today.
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Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies : The Ultimate Ooey Gooey Holiday Treat
- Total Time: About 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 18–24 cookies 1x
Description
Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies are soft, chewy, melt-in-your-mouth holiday treats made with cake mix, butter, and cream cheese. Simple, festive, and perfect for cookie swaps, edible gifts, and Christmas dessert platters.
Ingredients
- 1 box yellow or white cake mix
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup powdered sugar, for rolling
- Optional: Red and green sprinkles
Optional Variations:
- Use spice cake or red velvet cake mix
- Add crushed candy canes
- Stuff with chocolate
- Use almond or maple extract
- Roll in colored sugar
Instructions
- Beat softened butter and cream cheese until smooth.
- Add egg and vanilla; mix until combined.
- Slowly add cake mix and mix until dough forms (it will be thick).
- Cover dough and refrigerate 1 hour or up to overnight.
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment.
- Roll 1-inch dough balls in powdered sugar.
- Place 2 inches apart and slightly flatten.
- Bake 10–12 minutes until edges are set and tops slightly cracked.
- Cool 2 minutes on pan, then transfer to wire rack.
Notes
- Chill dough to prevent spreading.
- Do not overbake; centers should stay soft.
- Use cookie scoop for even sizing.
- Roll generously in powdered sugar.
- Add sprinkles before baking.
- Storage: 5 days at room temperature; freeze up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 1 hour (dough chill time)
- Cook Time: 10–12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies, Ooey Gooey Cookies, Cake Mix Cookies, Holiday Cookies, Christmas Baking Recipes
