Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies 

Get ready to bake the merriest, softest, and most irresistible holiday cookies ever! These Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies are melt-in-your-mouth delicious with their crackly powdered-sugar coating, festive colors, and signature buttery center. They’re the perfect quick treat for cookie exchanges, holiday parties, or cozy nights by the tree. One bowl, simple ingredients, big Christmas magic.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 (15.25-ounce) box yellow cake mix
• 1 cup powdered sugar (for rolling)
• Optional Mix-Ins: Christmas sprinkles, red/green sanding sugar, white chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Prep
   Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Cream together
   Beat the softened butter and cream cheese until smooth, fluffy, and lump-free.
3. Add wet ingredients
   Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until the mixture becomes silky and fully combined.
4. Add cake mix
   Pour in the yellow cake mix and mix on low until a thick, sticky dough forms.
5. Chill
   Refrigerate the dough for 30–60 minutes to make rolling easier and prevent overly flat cookies.
6. Form cookies
   Scoop about 1 tablespoon of dough, roll into a ball, and coat generously in powdered sugar.
   If using sprinkles, roll right after coating or mix them directly into the dough.
7. Bake
   Place on the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each cookie.
   Bake 10–12 minutes, until puffed with soft centers and lightly crackled tops.
8. Cool
   Let cookies cool on the sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to finish setting.

Variation

• Peppermint Crunch Gooey Cookies – Stir in crushed candy canes or peppermint chips for a cool, refreshing holiday twist that pairs beautifully with the buttery dough.
• Red Velvet Ooey Gooey Cookies – Swap the yellow cake mix for red velvet cake mix to create striking crimson cookies perfect for Christmas trays.
• White Chocolate Mistletoe Cookies – Fold in white chocolate chips for extra sweetness and a creamier gooey center.
• Funfetti Christmas Cookies – Add 1/3 cup of festive sprinkles inside the dough for colorful pops baked right into every bite.
• Gingerbread Spice Version – Add 1 teaspoon cinnamon + 1/2 teaspoon ginger + 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg to bring cozy holiday spice vibes.

Cooking Notes

• The dough will be very sticky before chilling this is normal and part of what makes the cookies soft and gooey.
• Powdered sugar melts slightly during baking, so give each dough ball a generous coating for the classic snowy look.
• These cookies do not brown much; don’t wait for golden edges or they’ll overbake.
• For perfectly round cookies, lightly press the tops immediately after baking while still warm.

Serving Suggestions

• Holiday Cookie Trays: Add these to mixed cookie platters for an eye-catching snowy cookie that stands out next to chocolates and gingerbread.
• Warm with Hot Cocoa: Serve slightly warm with mugs of cocoa, peppermint mocha, or chai for a cozy Christmas movie treat.
• Gift Boxes: Pack 3–4 cookies in clear bags, tie with a red ribbon, and you have a festive, homemade edible gift.
• Dessert Boards: Pair these cookies with strawberries, fudge squares, pretzels, and holiday candies for a Christmas dessert grazing board.

Tips

• Don’t Overbake: The gooey center comes from removing them while still soft. They will firm up as they cool trust the process!
• Chill for Best Shape: A well-chilled dough keeps the cookies thick and prevents spreading too thin in the oven.
• Extra Snowy Look: Roll the dough balls twice in powdered sugar for a thicker, prettier crackle effect.
• Add Sprinkles After Rolling: If you want bright sprinkles on the surface, roll them on after the powdered sugar so they don’t disappear during baking.
• Freezer-Friendly: Freeze baked cookies or freeze the dough balls (without powdered sugar) and coat/bake whenever holiday cravings hit.

Prep Time

• Prep Time: 10 minutes (plus 30–60 minutes chilling time)
• Cook Time: 10–12 minutes
• Total Time: 50–75 minutes

Nutritional Information (Per Cookie)

• Calories: ~135
• Protein: 1 g
• Sodium: 115 mg

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I use a different cake mix flavor?
   Yes! Strawberry, red velvet, or even spice cake mix work beautifully.
2. Can I skip the chilling step?
   Not recommended the dough will be too sticky and the cookies may spread too much.
3. Can I freeze the dough?
   Absolutely. Roll into balls first, freeze, then coat in powdered sugar right before baking.
4. Why did my cookies turn out flat?
   Usually from warm dough or overmixing. Make sure the dough is well chilled before shaping.

Conclusion

These Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies are everything the holiday season should taste like sweet, soft, festive, and full of cheerful magic. With simple ingredients and endless customization options, they’re sure to become a yearly favorite on your Christmas baking list. Enjoy every buttery, powdered-sugar-coated bite!

Print