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Every holiday season I can't wait to whip up these delicious Gooey Butter Cookies. They've got everything you want in a Christmas treat - super soft, puffy and downright addictive. What makes them so special? The cream cheese that creates an incredibly soft bite while the holiday sprinkles bring that festive flair. At cookie exchanges, these vanish faster than any other treat.
Why These Cookies Stand Out
Anyone who enjoys gooey butter cake will fall in love with these treats. They bring all that wonderful melt-in-your-mouth texture in a handy cookie shape. The cream cheese creates that soft, delicate bite, and the Christmas sprinkles add that holiday sparkle. They're also super quick to make, which is perfect when you're rushing through your Christmas baking list.
Your Required Ingredients
- Cream Cheese: You'll need a solid brick of full-fat cream cheese, as the tub variety won't deliver the same wonderful texture.
- Unsalted Butter: This delivers that luxurious melt-in-your-mouth quality we're after.
- Egg: Just one large egg will bind all your ingredients perfectly.
- Vanilla Extract: A little pure vanilla takes the flavor to another level.
- Yellow Cake Mix: This time-saving component makes your cookies incredibly soft and tasty.
- Powdered Sugar: This forms that beautiful crackly outer layer everyone craves.
- Christmas Sprinkles: Choose your most festive colors to brighten up these holiday treats.
Baking Instructions
- Prep Work
- Start by heating your oven to 350°F and put parchment on your cookie sheets to keep things from sticking.
- Combine Wet Ingredients
- Mix your softened cream cheese, butter, egg and vanilla until you've got a nice smooth mixture.
- Add Dry Ingredients
- Mix in the cake mix and watch as it turns into a wonderful thick, tacky dough.
- Add Some Color
- Carefully mix those festive sprinkles in - you want to keep them intact.
- Cool Down
- Let your dough chill in the fridge for about 30 minutes so it's easier to handle.
- Form Cookies
- Make 1 1/2 inch balls from your dough, then roll them around in powdered sugar.
- Bake Them
- Place them on your cookie sheets with room between and bake for 10-12 minutes - you want set edges but soft middles.
- Finishing Touch
- Let them sit on the hot pan for a couple minutes before moving them to a cooling rack.
Custom Variations
You can switch these cookies up in so many ways. Maybe try white or vanilla cake mix for something different, or add some lemon, almond or peppermint flavoring. Throw in mini chocolate chips or crushed candy canes if you want. Looking for extra holiday spirit? Add a tiny bit of food coloring gel or swap the powdered sugar for colored sugar - they'll look amazing.
Pro Baking Advice
Want my tricks for the best gooey butter cookies? Let your cream cheese and butter come to room temp first and they'll mix up so much better. Don't overmix or you'll lose that airy texture. Don't skip that cooling time in the fridge - it really helps when you're shaping the cookies. Keep a close eye while they bake - you need those firm edges with gooey centers for the perfect bite.
Storage Suggestions
These treats will stay nice and soft for up to three days when kept in a sealed container at room temp. Need to make them early? They freeze really well for up to three months. Just stack them carefully in a freezer container or bag and let them come to room temp naturally when you want them. They'll taste just as good as when they first came out of the oven.
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Common Questions
- → Why do I need to chill the dough?
Cooling the dough for 30 minutes reduces stickiness and makes forming balls much simpler. This step also stops the cookies from flattening too much during baking time.
- → Can I freeze these cookies?
Absolutely, store them frozen up to 3 months in sealed containers or bags. Just let them sit at room temperature before you eat them.
- → Why use full-fat cream cheese?
Regular cream cheese gives you the best gooey texture that makes these cookies so special. The lower-fat kinds won't work as well for that soft center.
- → Can I use different cake mix flavors?
Sure thing, yellow cake mix is the standard choice, but you can try chocolate or vanilla mixes for something different.
- → How do I know when they're done baking?
Look for set edges but slightly soft middles after about 10-12 minutes. Don't worry, they'll firm up more as they cool down.