Description
Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies are a quick holiday dessert with a soft cream cheese center, a crackly powdered sugar finish, and cheerful red and green sprinkles. This easy recipe is perfect for Christmas cookie trays, holiday dessert boards, easy baking days, sweet snack ideas, party treats, and festive food ideas when you want a simple homemade cookie everyone loves.
Ingredients
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
15.25 oz yellow cake mix
1/2 cup powdered sugar, plus more if needed for rolling
2 tbsp red and green holiday sprinkles
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth and fluffy.
3. Add the egg and vanilla extract, then mix until fully combined.
4. Add the yellow cake mix and stir until a thick, sticky dough forms.
5. Cover the bowl and chill the dough for 30 minutes so it is easier to handle.
6. Scoop the dough into tablespoon-sized portions and roll into balls.
7. Roll each dough ball generously in powdered sugar.
8. Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
9. Sprinkle the tops with red and green holiday sprinkles, pressing very lightly so they stick.
10. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges are set and the tops are beautifully cracked.
11. Let the cookies cool on the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Chill the dough well so the cookies stay thick and are easier to roll.
Coat the dough balls heavily in powdered sugar for the best crinkled finish.
Do not overbake or the centers will lose their soft gooey texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 145
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 160mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 28mg