Description
These Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies are rich, soft, and irresistibly festive treats perfect for the holiday season. Made with a simple vanilla cake mix base combined with cream cheese and butter, these cookies feature a delightfully gooey center and a tender crumb. Finished with red and green sprinkles and a powdered sugar coating, they’re as cheerful to look at as they are delicious, making them ideal for holiday parties or gift-giving.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 box (15.25 oz) vanilla cake mix
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Red and green sprinkles, a few tablespoons
Coating
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar, for rolling
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth and fluffy. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using) and mix until well combined. Gradually add the vanilla cake mix and salt, mixing until a soft dough forms. Fold in a few tablespoons of red and green sprinkles for a festive touch.
- Chill the Dough: Cover the dough with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 30 to 60 minutes until firm enough to handle easily.
- Preheat the Oven: Set the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Form and Coat Cookies: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll each into a ball. Generously coat the dough balls by rolling them in powdered sugar until well covered.
- Arrange and Bake: Place the coated dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading during baking. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are set but the centers remain soft and gooey.
- Cool the Cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to set before transferring them carefully to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Press a few extra sprinkles on top of each dough ball before baking for extra festive decoration.
- To maintain their gooey texture, avoid overbaking as this will dry out the centers.
- These cookies freeze well, so you can bake ahead and thaw when ready to enjoy.
