Description
These Quick Gooey Butter Cookies with Yellow Cake are irresistibly soft, rich, and perfect for holiday celebrations. Made with cream cheese, butter, and a yellow cake mix, these cookies are coated in festive sprinkles and powdered sugar for a delightful sweet coating. Easy to prepare, chilled for better handling, and baked until just lightly browned, they offer a gooey texture with a buttery flavor in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookies
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 package yellow cake mix (about 15.25 oz)
- 1 large egg
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened at room temperature
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
Coating
- Festive sprinkles (optional, for decoration)
- Powdered sugar (for dusting)
Instructions
- Prepare the Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, beat together 1/2 cup of softened butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 large egg, and 8 ounces of softened cream cheese until fluffy and well combined. Use a hand mixer or stand mixer on medium speed for best results.
- Add the Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the entire package of yellow cake mix to the wet mixture. Continue blending until the dough is smooth and consistent, ensuring all dry ingredients are fully incorporated, even if the dough seems thick.
- Chill the Dough: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour. This step firms up the dough, making it easier to shape.
- Shape and Coat the Dough: Remove the chilled dough and roll into 1-inch diameter balls. First, roll each ball in festive sprinkles to evenly coat, then dip and roll in powdered sugar until fully covered.
- Bake the Cookies: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the coated dough balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges begin to lightly brown. Avoid overbaking to keep them gooey.
- Cool and Serve: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to set, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before serving. Enjoy these festive and gooey delights!
Notes
- Be sure to soften the cream cheese and butter to room temperature for smooth mixing.
- Chilling the dough is important to prevent spreading during baking and make shaping easier.
- Use festive sprinkles for a holiday-appropriate look, or omit for a simpler cookie.
- Do not overbake; cookies should remain soft and gooey inside.
- Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: gooey butter cookies, yellow cake mix cookies, holiday cookies, cream cheese cookies, soft cookies, festive cookies, powdered sugar cookies
