Soft, chewy, and irresistibly sweet—these Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies are the ultimate holiday treat!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe?
There’s something magical about cookies during the holiday season, and these Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies are about to become your new favorite. They’re buttery, gooey, and packed with the perfect amount of sweetness. With minimal effort and simple ingredients, you can whip up a batch of these cookies to share with family, friends, or neighbors. They’re perfect for cookie exchanges, holiday parties, or even as a special dessert to leave out for Santa on Christmas Eve. Ready to bake up some holiday cheer? Let’s go!
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make these buttery, gooey delights:
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Unsalted butter
- Cream cheese
- Granulated sugar
- Eggs
- Vanilla extract
- Powdered sugar
- A pinch of festive sprinkles (optional, for decoration!)
The full ingredient list with exact measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
Directions
- Preheat your oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Prepare the wet mixture: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, cream cheese, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs and vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla extract.
- Combine the dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add this mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
- Chill the dough: Chill the dough in the refrigerator for about 15–30 minutes to make it easier to handle.
- Portion the dough: Roll the dough into tablespoon-sized balls and place them about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake: Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are just set and the cookies are lightly golden.
- Dust with powdered sugar: Allow cookies to cool slightly, then dust with powdered sugar or add sprinkles for a festive, snow-like appearance.
Expert Tips and Tricks
- Chill your dough: Chilling the dough helps keep the cookies from spreading too much and ensures they maintain their shape.
- Don’t overmix: Overmixing can result in dense cookies instead of soft, chewy ones.
- Add a peppermint twist: Crush peppermint candies and add them to the dough or sprinkle them on top before baking for an extra festive flavor.
- Make them extra festive: Use colorful holiday sprinkles or red and green food coloring for a cheerful cookie creation.
Recipe Variations and Possible Substitutions
- Add chocolate chips: Stir in a handful of semi-sweet or white chocolate chips for extra gooey deliciousness.
- Swap the cream cheese: If you prefer, replace cream cheese with an equal amount of butter for a slightly different texture.
- Make them gluten-free: Use a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend as a substitute for all-purpose flour.
Serving and Pairing Suggestions
These Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies are perfect as-is, but they pair beautifully with:
- A steaming cup of hot cocoa topped with whipped cream.
- A warm glass of eggnog for the ultimate holiday flavor combo.
- A light cup of coffee to balance their sweetness.
They’re also great as a simple dessert for holiday dinner parties or as part of a cookie tray to share with guests.
Storage and Reheating Tips
- Storage: Keep these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
- Freezing: You can freeze them for up to 3 months! Wrap them well and store them in a freezer-safe container.
- Reheating: To make them feel freshly baked again, warm them in the oven at 325°F for 5 minutes.
FAQs
1. Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted butter?
Yes, but reduce the amount of added salt in the recipe to balance the flavors.
2. Can I make these cookies ahead of time?
Yes! You can store the dough in the refrigerator for up to 2 days before baking.
3. Can I use a different type of sweetener?
You can use brown sugar instead of white sugar for a slightly richer flavor.
4. How can I make these cookies less sweet?
Reduce the powdered sugar dusting or skip the sprinkles to balance the sweetness.
Conclusion
These Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies are everything you want in a holiday cookie—soft, buttery, sweet, and easy to make. They’re perfect for holiday parties, gifting, or just enjoying on a chilly winter afternoon. With simple ingredients and a sprinkle of festive cheer, you’ll have a batch of these cookies ready in no time.
Print
Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies are a buttery, soft, and slightly chewy delight. With a light dusting of powdered sugar and a subtle tang from cream cheese, these cookies are perfect for holiday gatherings or gift-giving. Their festive appearance and melt-in-your-mouth texture make them a must-try this season!
Ingredients
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract (optional)
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar, for rolling
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- Mix the Dough:
- In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, softened cream cheese, softened butter, egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using). Mix until smooth and well combined. The dough will be thick and sticky.
- Chill the Dough:
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to make it easier to handle.
- Shape the Cookies:
- Once chilled, scoop the dough into tablespoon-sized balls and roll them in powdered sugar. Place the coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
- Bake the Cookies:
- Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are set and slightly golden. The center will remain soft and gooey.
- Cool and Serve:
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- For a colorful twist, add a few drops of food coloring to the dough before chilling and rolling.
- These cookies freeze well! Store them in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150kcal
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 100mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 0g