Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies – Soft, Sweet, Melt-In-Your-Mouth Holiday Magic

Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies – Soft, Sweet, Melt-In-Your-Mouth Holiday Magic

These Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies are the softest, sweetest, most irresistible holiday cookies you’ll ever bake — a melt-in-your-mouth treat with a crackly powdered-sugar top and a delightfully gooey, buttery center. They taste like the lovechild of a gooey butter cake and a soft sugar cookie, with festive holiday sprinkles baked right in. Perfect for Christmas cookie platters, dessert boards, gift tins, or cozy evenings with a mug of hot cocoa, these cookies come together quickly and deliver sky-high holiday cheer with minimal effort. If you want a cookie that screams Christmas, this is it.

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 27

Servings: 20 Cookies

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

Gooey Cookie Dough

8 oz cream cheese softened
½ cup unsalted butter softened
1 large egg
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 box 15.25 oz yellow cake mix
¾ cup powdered sugar for rolling
½ cup Christmas sprinkles jimmies recommended

Equipment

Mixing bowls
Hand or stand mixer
Baking sheets
Parchment paper
Cookie scoop
Cooling rack

Method

Step 1: Beat Cream Cheese & Butter

Beat until smooth and creamy:
cream cheese
butter
Mix 1–2 minutes until no lumps remain.

Add:

egg
vanilla
Beat again until fully combined.
Step 2: Add Cake Mix
Add the dry cake mix and mix on low until a thick, sticky dough forms.

Fold in:

Christmas sprinkles
Cover and chill 30 minutes — this helps the cookies stay thick and gooey.

Step 3: Scoop, Roll & Bake

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Line baking sheets with parchment.
Scoop dough into 1.5 tbsp balls.
Roll each in powdered sugar generously.
Place 2 inches apart and bake 10–12 minutes until:
edges are set
tops crackly
centers still look soft
Do not overbake — gooey is the goal.
Cool 5 minutes on the tray before transferring.

Notes

🧊 Storage & Freezing

Room Temperature: 3–4 days
Fridge: 1 week

Freeze Baked Cookies: 2 months
Freeze Dough Balls: 2 months (roll in sugar after thawing slightly)

🥄 Variations

Peppermint Gooey Cookies
Add ½ tsp peppermint extract + crushed candy canes.

Red Velvet Gooey Cookies
Use red velvet cake mix.

Funfetti Christmas Cookies
Use funfetti cake mix + holiday sprinkles.

Chocolate Gooey Cookies
Use chocolate cake mix + chocolate chips.

Lemon Christmas Gooey Cookies
Use lemon cake mix + white chocolate chips.

White Chocolate Chip Version
Fold in white chocolate chips for richness.

Gingerbread Gooey Cookies
Use spice cake mix + extra cinnamon.

Grinch Gooey Cookies
Tint dough green + add one red heart sprinkle.

Cream Cheese Frosted Version
Add a swirl of cream cheese icing on top.

Chocolate-Dipped Gooey Cookies
Dip half of each cookie in melted white chocolate.

❓ 10 FAQs

Why is my dough so sticky?
Gooey dough is normal — chilling solves it.

Can I skip chilling?
Cookies will spread more but still taste amazing.

Why powdered sugar?
Creates the signature crackly, snowy top.

Can I use a different cake mix?
Yes — almost any flavor works.

Do these taste like cake?
More like gooey, soft cookies with subtle cake flavor.

Can I double the recipe?
Easily.

Why are my cookies flat?
Dough too warm — chill longer.

Can I make them smaller?
Yes — reduce baking time.

Are they chewy or cakey?
Soft, gooey, tender — slightly chewy edges.

Can I add extract flavors?
Yes — almond, orange, peppermint, etc.

🏁 Conclusion

These Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies are soft, buttery, festive, and unbelievably addictive. With their gooey centers, powdered-sugar crackle, and colorful sprinkles, they’re the perfect holiday treat — simple to make, beautiful to serve, and guaranteed to disappear fast.

Whether you’re baking for a crowd or whipping up something cozy for yourself, these cookies deliver holiday magic in every bite.