Description
Delight in these Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies, a festive and easy-to-make treat featuring a soft, creamy center made with cream cheese and a vanilla cake mix base. Perfect for holiday celebrations, these cookies are coated in powdered sugar and decorated with red and green sprinkles for a joyful touch.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 box (15.25 oz) vanilla cake mix
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
For Rolling and Decorating
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- Red and green sprinkles or sanding sugar
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a large bowl, beat together the softened butter and cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract if using, mixing until well combined. Stir in the vanilla cake mix until a soft, sticky dough forms. Cover and chill the dough in the refrigerator for 30 to 60 minutes to firm up.
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Shape and Coat Cookies: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll into balls. Roll each ball in powdered sugar, then gently press into red and green sprinkles or sanding sugar if desired. Arrange the cookies on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Bake: Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes until the edges are just set but the centers remain soft. Avoid overbaking to maintain the gooey texture.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- These cookies can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
- Freeze baked cookies for up to 3 months for long-term storage.
- For festive flavor variations, try peppermint extract or lemon zest instead of almond extract.
