Description
These Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies are soft, buttery, and delightfully sweet treats perfect for the holiday season. Made with a box of vanilla cake mix and rich cream cheese, they have a unique gooey texture that melts in your mouth. Decorated with festive red and green sanding sugar, these cookies bring a cheerful touch to any holiday cookie platter.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough Ingredients
- 1 box (15.25 oz) vanilla cake mix
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
For Rolling and Decorating
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar (for rolling)
- Red and green sanding sugar or sprinkles (optional, for decorating)
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until the mixture is smooth and creamy, ensuring there are no lumps. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract if using, mixing thoroughly until all ingredients are combined evenly.
- Add the cake mix: Gradually incorporate the vanilla cake mix into the wet mixture, mixing continuously to form a thick and cohesive dough. Make sure the dough is well combined without overmixing.
- Chill the dough: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the dough for at least 1 hour to firm up, which helps prevent excessive spreading when baking.
- Preheat oven and prepare baking sheet: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and for easy cleanup.
- Shape and coat cookies: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of the chilled dough and roll each into a smooth ball. Roll each ball first in powdered sugar to coat evenly, then if desired, gently press into red and green sanding sugar or sprinkles to add festive decoration.
- Arrange and bake: Place the coated dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow room for slight spreading. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are set but centers remain soft and gooey.
- Cool the cookies: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, enabling them to firm up slightly, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before serving or storing.
Notes
- Chilling the dough is essential to prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking.
- If you prefer a purely vanilla flavor, you can omit the almond extract.
- For an extra festive look, roll the cookies in red and green sprinkles after coating with powdered sugar.
- Make sure to use softened cream cheese and butter for easier mixing and smoother dough texture.
