There’s nothing quite like the soft, buttery melt-in-your-mouth magic of my Holiday Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe to bring warm cozy vibes during the festive season. These cookies strike the perfect balance of rich cream cheese and buttery cake flavor, making them a standout on any holiday dessert table!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I can honestly say this Holiday Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe quickly became a holiday favorite in my kitchen. It’s ridiculously simple to make, yet feels so indulgent and special – just what you want around the holidays when you need a little sweet comfort.
- Unbelievable Texture: The cookies come out soft and gooey inside with just the right edges for bite-worthy contrast.
- Easy Ingredients: You probably already have most items in your pantry, including cake mix and cream cheese.
- Festive and Fun: Rolling them in holiday sprinkles and powdered sugar instantly makes them feel like a treat made for celebration.
- Reliable Crowd-Pleaser: I’ve brought these to holiday parties and family gatherings, and they disappear fast every time.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Each element in this Holiday Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe plays a key role to create that luscious, melt-in-your-mouth texture and delightful flavor. Here’s what to know when gathering your ingredients:
- Yellow cake mix: I prefer classic yellow for a buttery taste, but feel free to experiment with other flavors if you want a twist.
- Softened butter: Make sure it’s softened but not melted to blend smoothly with cream cheese for that rich base.
- Vanilla extract: Adds depth and warmth—never skip the vanilla, it ties flavors beautifully.
- Softened cream cheese: Key to that ooey gooey center, softened helps it integrate perfectly.
- Egg: Binds everything together and helps with the cookie’s delicate structure.
- Powdered sugar: For rolling, it creates a pretty, snow-dusted finish and a touch of extra sweetness.
- Holiday sprinkles: Not just for looks—they add a festive crunch and joy to every bite.
Make It Your Way
I love how flexible this Holiday Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe is! You can easily tailor it to your taste or occasion. I often swap in different cake mix flavors or add chopped nuts for some extra texture. It’s all about making these cookies your own festive delight.
- Variation - Chocolate Cake Mix: Using chocolate cake mix turns these into a cocoa lover’s dream—a rich and decadent treat perfectly balanced with the cream cheese.
- Dietary tweak: Try a gluten-free cake mix and you’ll still get that ooey gooey magic without missing a beat.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Holiday Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Whip Up the Creamy Base
Start by beating together the softened butter, vanilla extract, egg, and softened cream cheese until the mixture is fluffy and smooth. I use a hand mixer here because it’s faster and helps get that light, airy texture that makes these cookies special. Take your time—this part sets the foundation for that melt-in-your-mouth feel.
Step 2: Add Cake Mix and Blend Well
Next, add the entire box of your chosen cake mix to the creamy base and mix until just combined. The batter will be a bit thick but still pliable, kind of like cookie dough. Don’t overmix—it keeps the cookies tender and perfect.
Step 3: Chill for Easier Handling
Pop the dough into the fridge for 30 minutes to an hour. This chilling step makes the dough easier to handle and helps the cookies keep their shape during baking, plus it amps up the flavors as everything melds together. I find that even a quick 30-minute chill works wonders!
Step 4: Roll, Dip, and Bake
When you’re ready, roll the chilled dough into balls, then roll each ball in holiday sprinkles to coat. After that, dip each sprinkled ball in a bowl of powdered sugar and roll until completely covered. These layers of coating give the cookies their signature snowy look and extra sweetness.
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10-12 minutes—that’s just enough for the edges to turn a lovely light golden brown while the centers stay tender and gooey. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling. This step helps them set up without losing that ooey gooey charm.
Top Tip
After making the Holiday Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe several times, I’ve learned a few key tricks to get the best results and avoid common pitfalls. These little touches truly make a difference!
- Softening is Key: Don’t rush the butter and cream cheese softening—they should be pliable but not melted for smooth mixing.
- Don’t Overbake: Keep a close eye around the 10-minute mark; overbaking dries out these delicate cookies.
- Chilling Makes Handling Easy: The dough is sticky until chilled—don’t skip this or you’ll struggle rolling those balls.
- Sprinkle Variety: Using colorful holiday sprinkles adds not just fun, but also a tiny crunch and festive personality.
How to Serve Holiday Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
I usually keep it simple with classic red and green holiday sprinkles, but powdered sugar dusted on top right after baking adds such a pretty finishing touch. Sometimes I’ll sprinkle a few edible glitter flakes on top for that extra festive sparkle when serving to guests.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair beautifully with a hot cup of coffee or rich hot chocolate—perfect for cozy afternoons by the fire. For gatherings, I sometimes arrange them alongside spiced nuts or a cream cheese fruit dip for a celebratory cookie platter.
Creative Ways to Present
I’ve had fun presenting these cookies in festive tins wrapped with ribbon for gifting, or arranged on tiered dessert trays with holiday greenery and ornaments around. A clear jar filled with these cookies makes an inviting center snack that everyone can’t resist!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
For leftovers, I store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay soft and delicious for up to 4 days, though in my house they rarely last that long! Allowing them to cool fully before storing is key to avoid sogginess.
Freezing
If I want to make these ahead of time, I freeze the baked cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer them to a freezer bag once solid. They freeze beautifully for up to 3 months and thaw quickly at room temperature without losing texture.
Reheating
To refresh cookies from the freezer or a day old, I pop them in a warm oven (about 300°F) for 5 minutes. This brings back that fresh-baked softness and warmth that makes these cookies pure joy to eat.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! While I usually stick to a yellow cake mix for classic flavor, experimenting with chocolate, spice, or even red velvet cake mixes can give these cookies a fun twist without changing the texture too much.
Chilling the dough before baking is essential. It firms up the mixture, so the cookies keep their shape better. Also, avoid over-softening the butter or cream cheese to keep the dough from becoming too runny.
For dairy-free, look for a vegan cream cheese alternative and a dairy-free butter substitute. Make sure your cake mix is also dairy-free. Vegan options can work well, but texture might slightly differ, so a few trials might be needed to perfect it.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature after the cookies have fully cooled. Avoid stacking while warm, and layer parchment paper if stacking to prevent sticking. For long-term, freezing baked cookies works best.
Final Thoughts
This Holiday Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe holds a special place in my heart because it perfectly captures the spirit of simple comfort with a festive twist. Sharing these with friends and family always brings smiles and happy memories. I hope you’ll enjoy making and savoring them as much as I do—truly a small batch of holiday magic!
Print
Holiday Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 22 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Delight in these festive Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies, featuring a soft, velvety texture with a buttery cream cheese center, rolled in holiday sprinkles and powdered sugar for a perfect holiday treat.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- ½ cup softened butter
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 ounces softened cream cheese
- 1 egg
Coating
- Powdered sugar (for rolling)
- Holiday sprinkles (for rolling)
Instructions
- Prepare the batter: Beat together the softened butter, vanilla extract, egg, and softened cream cheese until the mixture is fluffy and well combined.
- Add cake mix: Gradually add the yellow cake mix into the cream cheese mixture and blend until fully incorporated.
- Chill the dough: Place the dough in the refrigerator and chill for 1 hour to firm up for easier handling.
- Roll the cookies: Roll the chilled dough into balls, then dip each ball into the holiday sprinkles, followed by rolling in a bowl of powdered sugar until fully coated.
- Bake: Arrange the coated balls on a baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned.
- Cool: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Ensure the cream cheese and butter are fully softened for a smooth dough.
- Chilling the dough helps prevent spreading during baking.
- Use any cake mix flavor to customize the cookie flavor.
- Store cookies in an airtight container to keep them soft.
- For a festive look, use colored holiday sprinkles according to the season.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 130 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: 25 mg
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