Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies

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Soft, tender, and dusted in sparkling sugar with festive red and green sprinkles, these Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies are everything you love about holiday baking in one easy bite. They’re rich and buttery on the inside with crinkly edges, a little bit chewy, and just gooey enough to feel indulgent.

The best part? They start with a simple box of cake mix, so you get that bakery-style flavor and texture without any fuss. Mix, chill, scoop, and bake—before you know it, you’ve got a plate piled high with cookies that look like they came straight from a Christmas bakery window.

Why You’ll Love These Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies

These cookies check all the boxes for a festive treat:

• Ridiculously easy. Using cake mix keeps the ingredient list short and foolproof, even for beginner bakers.
• Ultra-soft and gooey. Cream cheese and butter create a tender, melt-in-your-mouth center.
• Perfectly festive. Red and green sprinkles add instant Christmas charm without complicated decorating.
• Make-ahead friendly. The dough chills beautifully, so you can prep it early and bake fresh cookies whenever you’re ready.
• Crowd-pleasers. Kids love the sprinkles, adults love the rich buttery flavor—everyone wins.

Can I Use Different Cake Mix Flavors for These Cookies?

Absolutely! Classic yellow cake mix gives these cookies that nostalgic buttery vanilla flavor, but you can swap in other flavors if you want to play. White cake mix will keep the color extra pale and pretty, while a butter or French vanilla mix will deepen the richness. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even try a strawberry or funfetti mix for a playful twist.

Just keep in mind that chocolate cake mix will darken the dough and hide the Christmas sprinkles a bit more. Whatever you choose, stick with a standard-size cake mix so the dough sets up with the right gooey-yet-soft texture.

Ingredients

Before you start mixing, it helps to know what each ingredient is doing in the dough. Here’s what you’ll need and why it matters.

• Yellow cake mix – Forms the base of the cookies, adding sweetness, structure, and classic buttery vanilla flavor with almost no effort.
• Cream cheese (softened) – Adds tang and richness while keeping the centers ultra-gooey and soft instead of cakey.
• Unsalted butter (softened) – Brings buttery flavor and tenderness, helping the cookies stay soft for days.
• Large egg – Binds everything together and adds structure so the cookies hold their shape while baking.
• Vanilla extract – Enhances the cake mix flavor and gives the cookies a warm, bakery-style aroma.
• Almond extract (optional) – A tiny bit adds a subtle holiday bakery flavor that pairs beautifully with the sprinkles.
• Fine sea salt – Balances the sweetness so the cookies taste rich instead of overly sugary.
• Powdered sugar – Coats the dough balls to create that classic crinkle look and adds a delicate sweetness on the outside.
• Granulated sugar – Adds sparkle and a little crunch on top, helping the cookies glisten on the tray.
• Red and green Christmas sprinkles – Bring festive color and a fun crunch in every bite; use jimmies or nonpareils.

How To Make the Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies

This recipe comes together quickly with a mixer and a bit of chill time. Here’s exactly how to get those soft, gooey centers and crinkly tops every time.

Step 1: Cream the Butter and Cream Cheese

In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until the mixture is completely smooth, creamy, and fluffy. This step is important—any lumps of cream cheese will show up in your cookies, so keep mixing until everything looks uniform.

Step 2: Add the Egg and Flavorings

Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using) until fully combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed so everything is evenly mixed. The mixture should look silky and thick.

Step 3: Mix in the Dry Ingredients

Sprinkle the cake mix and fine sea salt over the wet ingredients. Start mixing on low speed to keep the dry mix from flying out of the bowl, then increase to medium just until no streaks of dry mix remain. The dough will be thick and slightly sticky—that’s exactly what you want for gooey cookies.

Step 4: Chill the Dough

Cover the bowl and refrigerate the dough until it’s firm enough to scoop and roll easily. This chill time helps the butter firm up so the cookies don’t spread too much in the oven, keeping them thick, soft, and gooey in the middle.

Step 5: Prep the Coating and Baking Sheets

Line your baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats for easy release and even browning. Place the powdered sugar and granulated sugar in separate shallow bowls so they’re ready for rolling and sprinkling once the dough comes out of the fridge.

Step 6: Scoop, Roll, and Sprinkle

Scoop the chilled dough into even portions and roll each one into a smooth ball with your hands. Roll each dough ball generously in powdered sugar, coating it on all sides. Place the coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them a couple of inches apart. Lightly sprinkle the tops with granulated sugar and Christmas sprinkles for a festive finish.

Step 7: Bake Until Just Set

Bake the cookies until the edges look set and the tops are puffed and crinkly, but the centers still look slightly soft. They’ll continue to firm up as they cool on the baking sheet. Overbaking will make them less gooey, so it’s better to pull them out a minute early than a minute late.

Step 8: Cool and Serve

Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes to set, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cool, they’ll have a delicate sugary crust, soft centers, and a pretty crinkled top that holds onto every sprinkle.

How to Serve Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies

These cookies are perfect for any holiday moment, from cozy weeknights to Christmas Eve dessert tables. Arrange them on a platter with a few extra sprinkles scattered around for color, or tuck them into cookie tins for gifting.

The recipe makes about two dozen cookies, depending on how large you scoop them. That’s usually enough to serve 10–12 people if everyone has two cookies, or more if you’re offering them as part of a larger dessert spread with other treats.

Serve them slightly warm for the ultimate ooey gooey texture, or at room temperature when you’re packing them up for parties, cookie exchanges, or school events.

How to Store Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies

These cookies keep beautifully, which makes them ideal for holiday prep.

• Room temperature: Store completely cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. Layer them with parchment paper so the powdered sugar and sprinkles stay neat.
• Refrigerator: If your kitchen runs warm, you can refrigerate the cookies in an airtight container for up to a week. Let them sit at room temperature for 10–15 minutes before serving so the centers soften again.
• Freezer (baked cookies): Freeze baked, cooled cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer them to a freezer bag or container. They’ll keep for about 2 months. Thaw at room temperature and dust with a bit more powdered sugar if needed.
• Freezer (unbaked dough balls): For fresh-baked cookies on demand, freeze the coated dough balls on a tray until solid, then store them in a freezer bag. Bake from frozen, adding a couple of extra minutes to the baking time until the edges are set and the centers are still soft.

Keeping the cookies well-sealed prevents them from drying out and helps preserve that signature gooey, buttery texture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my cookies spreading too much?

If your cookies spread more than you’d like, it’s usually because the dough wasn’t chilled long enough or the butter and cream cheese were very soft to start. Make sure the dough feels cold and firm when you scoop it. Using parchment-lined baking sheets and avoiding greased pans also helps keep them from sliding and spreading.

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, this dough is very make-ahead friendly. You can store it covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days before baking. If it becomes very firm, let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes so it’s easier to scoop, then roll, coat, and bake as usual.

Do I have to use powdered sugar on the outside?

Powdered sugar gives these cookies their signature crinkly look and a soft, sweet outer layer, but you can skip it if you prefer a simpler finish. If you omit the powdered sugar, roll the dough balls lightly in granulated sugar instead to add a bit of sparkle and crunch.

Can I add mix-ins like chocolate chips or white chocolate?

Definitely. You can gently fold in a small handful of mini chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, or even crushed peppermint candies for extra flavor and texture. Just keep the additions modest so the dough stays soft and scoopable and the cookies keep their gooey center.

How do I keep the cookies soft for several days?

Store the cookies in an airtight container and add a slice of fresh bread or a tortilla to the container. The cookies will absorb a bit of moisture and stay soft while the bread dries out. Replace the bread slice as needed. Avoid leaving the cookies uncovered for long periods, which can make them dry and crumbly.

Want More Christmas Cookie Ideas?

If you’re building a whole holiday cookie tray, these Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies pair perfectly with other festive treats.

• Try a batch of Small Batch Almond Joy Cookies when you’re craving coconut, chocolate, and almond in one bite.
• Add some crunch with Chocolate Hazelnut Crunch Cookies for a rich, nutty contrast to these gooey butter cookies.
• Roll up a plate of Christmas Truffles to bring a bite-sized, no-bake treat to your dessert table.
• For something extra special, slice and serve Sugar Cookie Cheesecake alongside these cookies for the ultimate Christmas dessert spread.

Save This Pin For Later

📌 Save these Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies to your holiday baking or dessert board so you can find them quickly when you’re planning your cookie trays and gift boxes.

When you make a batch, I’d love to hear how you put your own spin on them—did you try a different cake mix flavor, swap in new sprinkle colors, or add chocolate chips?

For even more festive baking inspiration and everyday meal ideas, follow along on Pinterest at Life With Livia.

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