These gooey butter cookies are a handheld version of the famous cake. They’re soft, gooey and totally irresistible! Roll them in sprinkles for a fun and festive look.
I make gooey butter cookies, along with stained glass cookies, Grinch cookies and peppermint bark cookies, every year around the holidays. They’re great for cookie exchanges and take just minutes to put together. You can’t stop at just one cookie!
You’ve probably heard of gooey butter cake, but have you ever tried gooey butter cookies? They are SO very delicious and couldn’t be any easier to make. I’ve rolled these cookies in sprinkles to dress them up for the holidays!
These cookies are some of my favorites for Christmas. If you make these for Christmas, take a look at some of my other favorite Christmas recipes like Christmas cookie dough dip, chocolate spritz cookies and eggnog cookies!
Table of Contents
Gooey Butter Cookies Ingredients
For these gooey butter cookies make sure you have cream cheese, butter, an egg, vanilla extract, cake mix and sprinkles.
How Do You Make Gooey Butter Cookies?
This gooey butter cookies recipe starts with beating cream cheese and butter together with a stand mixer or an electric mixer in a large bowl. Add an egg, vanilla and white cake mix to the bowl and mix everything together. You will get a soft and sticky dough. Chill the dough until firm and make 1 inch balls out of the dough. Roll the balls in colorful sprinkles. Place them on a sheet pan or baking sheet and bake them. Place them on a wire rack to cool and enjoy the cookies!
Tips For The Perfect Cookies
- Your cookies will form some cracks as they bake. This is normal and part of the charm of these rustic looking cookies.
- Don’t over bake your gooey butter cookies! They’re meant to be soft and gooey.
- If you have any issues with the dough sticking to your hands, you can coat your hands in a little cooking spray to make the process go smoother.
- If you feel like your balls of dough are too soft after you’ve rolled them, you can always put them back in the fridge to chill before you add the sprinkles.
Quick Tip
Make sure your box of cake mix is 15 1/4 oz. Some boxes are smaller and will not work well with this recipe.
Recipe FAQs
Gooey butter cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. You can also store them in a freezer for up to 2 months.
Gooey butter cake is known for being made in Missouri. This cookie recipe takes the flavors and softness of the cake and turns them into a delectable cookie!
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Gooey Butter Cookie Flavor Variations
This gooey butter cookie recipe makes delicious, soft cookies as written. However, you can change the flavors to fit your taste.
- Cake Mix: I use white cake mix, but yellow cake mix or chocolate cake mix would also be great options.
- Powdered Sugar: Try rolling your cookies in confectioners’ sugar instead of sprinkles.
- Flavoring: Try a little peppermint extract, rum extract or almond extract for more flavor!
- Sprinkles: Use any color sprinkles that you like for any holidays or any time of the year.
Gooey butter cookies are a super unique treat and they’re great for parties, holiday cookie exchanges and gift giving. I like to package up gooey butter cookies in gift tins and pass them out to family, friends and teachers during the holidays. Everyone is always so pleased to have a homemade gift. It is one of my most requested cookie recipes.
More Holiday Treats
Peppermint Patties Recipe
11 mins
Crock Pot Candy
1 hr 35 mins
Reindeer Chow
11 mins
Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies
30 mins
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Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.
Gooey Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 15 1/4 ounce box white cake mix
- 1 cup sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat.
- Place the cream cheese and butter in the bowl of a mixer and beat until fluffy and thoroughly combined, 2-3 minutes.
- Add the egg, vanille and white cake mix to the bowl. Beat on low speed until just combined.
- Cover the bowl and chill for 30 minutes.
- Roll the dough into 1 inch balls, then coat each ball in sprinkles. Place 2 inches apart on the sheet pan. You will need to work in batches.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges are just set. Cool for 5-7 minutes then carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Repeat the process with the remaining cookie dough.
- Serve, or store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Notes
- Make sure your box of cake mix is 15 1/4 oz. Some boxes are smaller and will not work well with this recipe.
- Your cookies will form some cracks as they bake. This is normal and part of the charm of these rustic looking cookies.
- Be sure not to over bake your cookies! They’re meant to be soft and gooey.
- Traditional gooey butter cookies are rolled in powdered sugar, so you can try it that way if you prefer instead of using sprinkles.
I have a white cake mix that is 17oz. Will it drastically change the recipe? Or should I not use it?
That’s fine to use!
Im having a hard time deciding whether my cookies are done. I just then cool but they are still very very gooey inside. Is that how they are supposed to be? I just don’t want to under cook them but don’t want to over bake either. Thanks!
The edges should be set and firm, only the center should be soft. I hope that helps!
If I decide to roll them in powered sugar, do you do that before you bake them or after? Thanks!
You roll the cookies before you bake them!
What can you use to substitute the egg?
I have not made these with an egg substitute, but here’s an article with some great ideas on how to omit eggs in cookie recipes: https://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/955371/baking-without-eggs/
This is a great post. They look delicious, such a great holiday treat. Would be great for a Xmas party. Thank for sharing!
These look delicious. I think Santa will be getting new cookies this year.
I want to call in merry for the rest of December! Baking, present wrapping, all things Christmas! These look so yummy, and perfect for us to share in our cookie swap.
Butter cookies are MY FAVORITE! I will definitely give it a try during the next few days.
Kids will definitely love this gooey butter cookies for sure. Such a perfect Christmas treat for them.
Pinning this recipe to recreate for Christmas!! I think my family will enjoy these!!
I’m making these for my kids. They look so good.
I love gooey butter cakes! I am going to have to give these a try when we do our cookie exchange baking this season!
My family and I love cookies this colorful one is perfect for holiday desserts. Knowing its so easy to make something that I prefer to.
Soft cookies are my favorite. These look holiday delicious!
The recipe looks great! I’m excited to try making these with my son. I was wondering if you could substitute a gluten free cake mix though? Have you tried it before? Thanks!
-Erica
I have not tried it but I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t work!
If you were making these cookies for say a family reunion and not Christmas, what else can be substituted for the holiday sprinkles? Could the cookies just be rolled in sugar?
You can roll them in powdered sugar or coarse sanding sugar!
I love butter and butter cookies would be awesome for this xmas party dessert and snacks. I also love how colorful the cookies are.
Oh my goodness…you had me at butter!!! These look so delicious. I bet they taste amazing!!!
These are so pretty! Printed. Can’t wait to try!
I just had gooey butter bars the other day and they were to die for! your recipe for Gooey butter cookies looks wonderful . I’m going to have to try this recipe out