Name: Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 1 h 17 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 box yellow cake mix (or any preferred flavor); 1/2 cup softened butter; 8 ounces softened cream cheese; 1 egg; 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract; Powdered sugar (for rolling); Holiday sprinkles (for rolling)

Nothing quite says festive comfort like the rich, buttery delight of these cookies fresh from the oven. The Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe delivers exactly that—soft centers, slightly crisp edges, and an irresistible sweetness that feels like a warm holiday hug.

A stack of four round cookies sits on a white plate, each cookie covered in thick, colorful sprinkles in red, green, and white colors. The cookies show a soft yellow dough underneath the sprinkles, with a slightly rough texture. One cookie leans against the stack, fully showing its sprinkle-covered top. The plate is on a white marbled surface, with a silver baking tray holding a similar cookie blurred in the background. A white cloth with red stripes is partially visible on the bottom right. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I've baked countless holiday cookies, but this Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe has a little something extra. It’s so simple yet comforting—perfect for sharing during those chilly December afternoons. Once you try it, you'll see why I keep coming back for more.

Effortlessly delicious: Uses just a few ingredients but tastes like you’ve been slaving away all day.
Perfect texture: Ooey gooey centers with a delicate crunch on the outside, exactly what holiday cookies should be.
Versatile and festive: Easily customized with your favorite sprinkles or cake flavor to suit your holiday mood.
Great for gifting: They hold up well, making them ideal for cookie exchanges or holiday gifts.

The image shows three round cookies on a white plate, each covered with red, green, and white sprinkles. The cookies are soft and light yellow in color, with one cookie placed on top of another, broken in half to show the soft inside texture. The sprinkles are spread evenly all over the top and around the edges of each cookie. The plate sits on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe plays a role in balancing flavor and texture, creating cookies that are soft, buttery, and just sweet enough. The combination of cake mix and cream cheese keeps things light but rich—a trick I love for fuss-free baking.

Flat lay of a small box of yellow cake mix partially opened showing the dry mix inside, a small white ceramic bowl with softened pale yellow butter, a small white bowl with creamy white cream cheese, one whole uncracked brown egg, a small white bowl holding clear vanilla extract, a small white bowl filled with fine white powdered sugar, a small white bowl of colorful holiday sprinkles, all arranged symmetrically and balanced on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Cake Mix: Using a yellow cake mix gives a tender crumb and sweet backdrop; feel free to swap in any flavor to customize your cookies.
Butter: Softened butter adds richness and helps create that tender, melt-in-your-mouth center.
Vanilla: A splash of vanilla deepens the flavor and adds warmth.
Cream Cheese: This is the secret to the "ooey gooey" texture—bring it to room temperature for the best mix.
Egg: Acts as a binder and adds a bit of structure without toughening the dough.
Powdered Sugar: Coats the cookies in a snowy finish which is both beautiful and adds a delicate sweetness.
Holiday Sprinkles: For that festive pop of color and extra crunch—I always like mine bright and cheerful.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love tossing in holiday sprinkles to brighten these cookies up, but honestly, you can get creative! I’ve tried swapping the cake mix flavor for red velvet or even funfetti—it’s such a forgiving recipe that lets your personality shine through.

Variation: Once, I added a bit of cinnamon and nutmeg to the batter for a cozier, spiced version—perfect around the fire with a cup of cocoa.
Dairy-Free Option: Replace cream cheese with a dairy-free alternative to make these friendly for lactose intolerance; they still turned out wonderfully tender.
Sprinkle Swap: Use crushed peppermint candies instead of sprinkles for a cool minty crunch.
Mini Cookies: Making smaller cookies reduces bake time and makes them great party bites!

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Whip up the creamy base

Start by beating together the softened butter, vanilla, egg, and cream cheese until everything is silky and smooth. This is key for that melt-in-your-mouth texture. I usually use an electric mixer on medium speed to get a fluffy, lump-free blend—no one wants cream cheese chunks in their cookies!

Step 2: Mix in the cake mix

Next, add your chosen cake mix and blend until fully incorporated. The mixture will thicken into a dough. If it feels too sticky to roll—don’t panic—that chilling step coming up is your friend.

Step 3: Chill for perfect rolling

Pop the dough into the fridge for at least 30 minutes, up to an hour. This step is a game changer. Chilling firms up the dough and makes rolling easier, plus it helps the cookies hold their shape during baking.

Step 4: Roll, coat, and bake

Roll dough into balls, then dip them first in your holiday sprinkles, followed by a generous roll in powdered sugar. This two-step coating adds waterproofing so the sprinkles stick and the sugar melts slightly in the oven, creating a crackled, soft shell. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10–12 minutes until the edges just turn golden.

Step 5: Cool then savor

Let the cookies cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes after baking. This moment is crucial to allow the gooey centers to set slightly. Then, dive in! These taste heavenly warm, but even cooled, they keep their charm.

Top Tip

After making the Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe several times, I’ve picked up a few tricks that really help these cookies turn out perfectly every time—and I want you to have them too.

Use room temperature cream cheese and butter: This ensures smooth blending and a consistent dough texture.
Don’t skip chilling the dough: It makes rolling easier and helps you avoid spreading too thin during baking.
Watch the bake time closely: 10-12 minutes is perfect—edges lightly browned, centers soft. Overbaking dries them out.
Store in an airtight container: Keeps cookies soft and flavorful for several days.

How to Serve Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe

Garnishes

I’m a sucker for the classic red, green, and white holiday sprinkles—they make the cookies look festive and inviting. Sometimes I add a tiny dusting of cinnamon sugar on top for a subtle extra layer of flavor that pairs beautifully with the cream cheese base.

Side Dishes

Pair these cookies with a warm drink like hot cocoa or spicy mulled cider to balance sweetness. These bites are also excellent alongside a fruit salad offering some fresh brightness during busy holiday spreads.

Creative Ways to Present

For family gatherings, I arrange them on rustic wooden boards layered with pine branches and cinnamon sticks—it amps up the holiday feeling immediately. I’ve also wrapped batches in pretty cellophane bags tied with twine as charming homemade gifts that everyone raves about.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. I’ve noticed that they actually taste even better the next day once the flavors have settled a bit, and they stay tender without getting dry.

Freezing

These cookies freeze beautifully! I usually store them in a freezer-safe container separated by parchment paper to prevent sticking, then defrost overnight in the fridge before enjoying. They nearly taste freshly baked afterwards.

Reheating

Warm them in a 300°F oven for 5 minutes or pop them in the microwave for 10 seconds for that fresh-baked, ooey gooey magic. Just be careful not to overheat, or they’ll lose their tender texture.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I substitute different cake mix flavors in this recipe?

Absolutely! The Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe is very flexible—you can use chocolate, strawberry, or even spice cake mix. Just expect the flavor and color to shift accordingly.

How do I prevent cookies from spreading too much?

Chilling the dough is key to preventing cookies from spreading too much. Also, make sure to bake at 350°F and avoid lowering the temperature, which can cause excess spreading.

Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?

You can use salted butter, but I recommend reducing any additional salt in other recipes since salted butter adds extra sodium. For this recipe, since there’s no added salt, salted butter works just fine.

Are these cookies suitable for freezing?

Yes! The texture holds up very well. Freeze the baked cookies in an airtight container with parchment between layers, then thaw at room temperature or warm briefly before serving.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe has become a beloved staple in my holiday baking lineup because it’s simple, satisfying, and full of warmth. I hope you enjoy making them as much as I do—there’s something so special about sharing these tender, buttery cookies with friends and family, especially around the holidays. Give it a go and watch these ooey gooey delights disappear faster than you can say merry Christmas!