There’s something incredibly comforting about the soft, buttery center of a freshly baked cookie that just melts in your mouth. That’s exactly what you get with this Christmas Gooey Cake Mix Cookies Recipe — a delightful spin on classic holiday treats that’s as easy as it is irresistible.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This Recipe
This Christmas Gooey Cake Mix Cookies Recipe quickly became one of my go-to holiday sweets because it’s not only super simple but also downright addictive. It feels like you’re biting into a little cloud of buttery goodness with that perfect hint of vanilla and holiday cheer from the sprinkles.
- Effortless Prep: You’ll love how minimal the ingredients and steps are, making baking fun and stress-free even during the busiest season.
- Incredibly Gooey Center: The cream cheese and butter combo creates a luscious, melt-in-your-mouth texture that’s pure cookie bliss.
- Festive and Fun: Rolling the dough balls in sprinkles and powdered sugar not only adds flavor but also gives a gorgeous holiday sparkle.
- Customizable Flavor: Whether you pick a vanilla, yellow, or even spice cake mix, you can easily tailor these cookies to fit your holiday mood.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Each ingredient in the Christmas Gooey Cake Mix Cookies Recipe plays a key role in achieving that soft, gooey texture and rich flavor you’re after. The cake mix gives the cookie base a tender crumb, while the butter and cream cheese keep it moist and melt-in-your-mouth perfect.
- Yellow cake mix: It forms the foundation for the cookie and provides sweetness and structure—plus, easy to find in any store.
- Softened butter: Adds richness and that lovely buttery flavor essential to a holiday cookie.
- Vanilla extract: Just a splash intensifies all the other flavors and adds warmth.
- Softened cream cheese: This is the secret weapon for gooeyness — it keeps the cookies incredibly soft and moist.
- Egg: Helps bind all the ingredients together and adds a little fluff.
- Powdered sugar: Coating the cookies in this adds a subtle sweetness and pretty snow-dusted effect.
- Holiday sprinkles: These bring that perfect pop of festive color to make them feel special for the season.
Make It Your Way
I love mixing things up with this Christmas Gooey Cake Mix Cookies Recipe depending on the season or mood. You can swap the cake mix flavor or add your own special touches, which makes these cookies extra fun to bake and share.
- Variation: One holiday, I tried a cinnamon swirl cake mix and sprinkled a little ground cinnamon on top before baking—it brought such a cozy spice twist everyone asked for seconds.
- Dietary Mods: You can experiment with gluten-free cake mixes if you want to keep these treats allergy-friendly without sacrificing texture.
- Extras: Toss in some mini chocolate chips or chopped nuts for a bit of crunch and extra chocolate hit.
- Seasonal Sprinkles: Change up your sprinkles to match birthdays or other festive occasions if you want to use this recipe year-round.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Gooey Cake Mix Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Cream Together the Wet Ingredients
Start by beating together the softened butter, cream cheese, vanilla extract, and egg until the mixture is smooth and fluffy. This step is crucial because it ensures your cookies will have that ultra-soft texture and rich flavor. I usually use a hand mixer to make this easier, but a sturdy whisk and a little elbow grease work too!
Step 2: Add the Cake Mix
Next, add in your cake mix and blend until everything is nicely combined into a soft dough. It might look a bit sticky; that’s exactly what you want for those irresistibly gooey cookies.
Step 3: Chill for Best Results
I pop the dough into the fridge for about 30 minutes to an hour. This helps the dough firm up so it’s easier to roll and prevents the cookies from spreading too much while baking.
Step 4: Roll in Sprinkles and Powdered Sugar
Roll the chilled dough into balls, then dip them first into your holiday sprinkles for a festive crunch, followed by a generous coating of powdered sugar, which gives these cookies their classic snowy look. You’ll want to make sure each cookie is well coated.
Step 5: Bake to Gooey Perfection
Bake your cookies at 350°F (175°C) for about 10 to 12 minutes until the edges just barely start to brown. Be careful not to overbake because you want them soft and gooey in the middle—not dry and crumbly. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before moving them to a wire rack.
Top Tip
After making these cookies a dozen times, I’ve picked up some small tricks that make all the difference—especially when you want that perfect gooey bite every time. These tips will help you avoid common pitfalls and get your cookies just right.
- Softening Ingredients: Make sure your butter and cream cheese are truly softened to room temperature before mixing, so they blend smoothly without lumps.
- Chilling Dough: Don’t skip the chilling step! It reduces spreading and makes rolling easier, which means prettier cookies.
- Aim for Edges Browning: Watch closely towards the end of baking—the edges should be lightly golden, but the centers will still look slightly underdone, which is perfect.
- Rolling Technique: Use slightly damp hands when rolling so the dough doesn’t stick to your fingers, making the process smoother and less messy.
How to Serve Christmas Gooey Cake Mix Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
I like to keep things simple but magical by using classic red and green holiday sprinkles that peek through the powdered sugar. For a grown-up twist, sometimes I add a tiny sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top right after baking—it balances the sweetness beautifully.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair wonderfully with a warm cup of spiced cider or a rich hot chocolate topped with whipped cream. I also like serving them alongside a cheese and charcuterie board for family holiday parties, where they bring a sweet contrast.
Creative Ways to Present
For our Christmas cookie exchange last year, I arranged these gooey cookies in a colorful tiered tray with fresh evergreen sprigs and tiny ornaments scattered around. It made the display festive and inviting—and the cookies disappeared faster than I could refill the tray!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Once fully cooled, store your Christmas Gooey Cake Mix Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay soft and delicious for up to 4 days—I usually hide a few on the top shelf so they last longer!
Freezing
I’ve successfully frozen unbaked dough balls by separating them on a tray and then transferring into a freezer bag. When ready to bake, just thaw for 10-15 minutes before rolling in sprinkles and powdered sugar. This is perfect for prepping ahead during busy holiday weeks.
Reheating
To reheat leftovers, pop the cookies into a 300°F oven for about 5 minutes. This warms them through without drying them out, giving you that gooey texture all over again.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes! You can use yellow, vanilla, spice, or even chocolate cake mix depending on your flavor preference. Just keep in mind that some flavors might change the cookie color and taste slightly.
While it’s not absolutely required, chilling the dough helps make rolling easier and prevents the cookies from spreading too much in the oven, resulting in a better shape and texture.
The combination of cream cheese and butter creates a moist and tender dough that doesn’t dry out as it bakes, which keeps the cookies soft and gooey inside.
Absolutely! Store fully cooled cookies in an airtight container or freezer bag, and they’ll keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before enjoying.
Final Thoughts
This Christmas Gooey Cake Mix Cookies Recipe has quickly won a spot in my holiday baking traditions—and I’m sure you’ll love it just as much as I do. It’s simple to make, endlessly adaptable, and delivers that cozy, buttery goodness that makes any festive gathering feel a little more special. Give it a try this season, and I promise your cookie jar will never be empty for long!
Print
Christmas Gooey Cake Mix Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 47 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies are soft, rich, and bursting with festive flavors. Made with cake mix, cream cheese, and buttery goodness, they're rolled in holiday sprinkles and powdered sugar for the perfect sweet holiday treat. Easy to prepare and bake, these cookies will delight your family and guests during the festive season.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1 box yellow cake mix (or any flavor cake mix)
- ½ cup softened butter
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 ounces softened cream cheese
- 1 large egg
Coating
- Powdered sugar (for rolling)
- Holiday sprinkles (for rolling)
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter, vanilla extract, egg, and softened cream cheese until the mixture is fluffy and well combined.
- Add Cake Mix: Gradually blend in the entire box of cake mix until the dough is mixed thoroughly and uniform in texture.
- Chill the Dough: Cover the dough and place it in the refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes to 1 hour, allowing it to firm up for easier handling.
- Form and Coat: Once chilled, roll the dough into small balls. Dip each ball first into holiday sprinkles, then roll it around in powdered sugar until fully coated.
- Bake the Cookies: Arrange the coated dough balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 minutes or until the edges turn lightly brown.
- Cool: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Make sure the cream cheese and butter are softened to room temperature to ensure smooth mixing.
- Chilling the dough helps the cookies keep their shape and makes rolling easier.
- Use nonpareils or colorful holiday sprinkles for festive presentation.
- You can substitute yellow cake mix with other cake flavors like vanilla, almond, or spice for different tastes.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
Leave a Reply