Nora
There is something magical about a holiday cookie tray piled high with soft, snowy cookies, and these Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies absolutely belong in the center of it all. They bake up with a delicate crackled top, a rich buttery base, and a generous coating of powdered sugar that makes every bite feel festive and cozy.
What I love most about these cookies is how simple they are to make while still looking like something special. With a tender cream cheese cookie dough and cheerful red and green sprinkles on top, they are perfect for cookie swaps, family gatherings, gifting tins, or a quiet afternoon with coffee while the tree lights glow.
Why You’ll Love This Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies
These cookies are soft, rich, and beautifully festive without requiring a complicated dough or hours in the kitchen. The cream cheese and butter create a melt-in-your-mouth texture, while the powdered sugar coating gives them that signature crinkled finish.
They are also a great holiday baking choice because the dough comes together quickly and the cookies stay tender for days. You get a bakery-style look with a homemade feel, which is exactly what I want during the Christmas season.
What Makes Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies So Soft and Crinkly?
The magic comes from the combination of butter, cream cheese, and cake mix, which creates a dough that is both rich and easy to handle after chilling. Rolling the dough in powdered sugar before baking helps form those beautiful snowy cracks on top as the cookies spread and puff in the oven.
That contrast between the creamy cookie center and the sweet powdery coating is what makes this treat so irresistible. Add holiday sprinkles, and they instantly look ready for every Christmas table.
Ingredients for the Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies
Each ingredient in this cookie recipe plays an important part in building that soft, buttery texture and festive flavor. Keeping the ingredient list simple is one reason this holiday favorite is so easy to make again and again.
Cream cheese
Cream cheese gives the cookies their signature soft, rich texture and adds a gentle tang that balances the sweetness.
Unsalted butter
Butter adds richness, flavor, and that tender melt-away bite that makes these cookies feel extra special.
Egg
The egg helps bind the dough together and supports the soft, pillowy structure.
Vanilla extract
Vanilla rounds out the flavor and gives the cookies a warm bakery-style aroma.
White cake mix
Cake mix keeps the recipe easy and dependable while creating a light, tender cookie crumb.
Powdered sugar
Powdered sugar is essential for the iconic snowy coating and crinkled finish.
Christmas sprinkles
Red and green sprinkles bring a playful holiday look and a little crunch on top.
How To Make the Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies
This cookie dough is simple to prepare, but chilling it makes all the difference. Once the dough is cold, the cookies are easy to roll, coat, and bake into soft holiday treats with beautiful crackled tops.
Step 1: Beat the cream cheese and butter
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter until the mixture looks smooth, creamy, and fully combined.
Step 2: Add the egg and vanilla
Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until the dough base is silky and evenly blended.
Step 3: Stir in the cake mix
Add the white cake mix and mix just until a thick, sticky dough forms. Do not overmix.
Step 4: Chill the dough
Cover the bowl and refrigerate the dough for at least 1 hour. This helps the cookies keep their shape and makes rolling much easier.
Step 5: Shape and coat the cookies
Scoop the chilled dough into small balls, then roll each one generously in powdered sugar until fully coated.
Step 6: Add the festive topping
Place the dough balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet and gently add red and green sprinkles over the tops.
Step 7: Bake until crackled
Bake the cookies until they are puffed, lightly set, and beautifully cracked on top. They should still look soft in the center.
Step 8: Cool and serve
Let the cookies cool on the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. Finish with a little extra powdered sugar if you want an even snowier look.
Serving and Storing Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies
This recipe makes about 24 cookies, which is enough to feed 8 to 10 people depending on how many sweets are on the table. They are lovely on a holiday dessert platter, tucked into cookie boxes, or served with hot chocolate, coffee, or peppermint tea.
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. For longer storage, keep them in the refrigerator for up to 1 week and let them come to room temperature before serving. You can also freeze the baked cookies in a sealed container for up to 2 months.
What to Serve With Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies?
Hot Chocolate
A mug of rich hot chocolate makes these buttery cookies feel even more festive and comforting.
Peppermint Mocha
The cool mint and chocolate flavors pair beautifully with the sweet vanilla cookie base.
Fresh Coffee
A simple cup of coffee balances the sweetness and makes these cookies perfect for afternoon sharing.
Vanilla Ice Cream
Serve the cookies with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an easy holiday dessert plate.
Christmas Frost Fairy Punch
A bright, party-style holiday drink turns these cookies into a fun dessert spread for gatherings.
Want More Christmas Dessert Ideas?
If these Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies made your holiday baking list, you might also enjoy Christmas Breakfast Casserole for a cozy holiday morning, Christmas Cookie Pinwheels for another festive cookie tray favorite, No-Bake Preacher Cookies when you want a quick sweet treat, and Whipped Shortbread Cookies Recipe for a classic buttery cookie everyone loves.
These recipes bring the same warm, celebratory energy to the table and fit right into the season when everyone is craving homemade treats.
Save This Pin For Later
📌 Save this recipe to your Pinterest dessert board so you can come back to it any time.
And let me know in the comments how yours turned out. Did you go extra heavy on the powdered sugar, or keep the sprinkles light and simple? Did you bake them for a softer center or let them go a little longer for a firmer edge?
I love hearing how these holiday bakes become part of someone else’s traditions. Questions are always welcome too, especially if you are making them ahead for a party or cookie exchange.
For more beautiful recipe inspiration, visit Nora Nosh on Pinterest and discover even more cozy favorites to save for later.
Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies
- Total Time: 1 hour 27 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies are the kind of festive treat that instantly makes a holiday dessert table feel complete. Soft, buttery, and coated in a snowy layer of powdered sugar, they bake up with beautiful crackled tops and a rich melt-in-your-mouth center. This easy recipe is perfect for holiday baking, cookie swaps, Christmas parties, quick dessert ideas, easy recipe planning, and homemade food ideas when you want something simple but special.
Ingredients
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 box white cake mix, 15.25 oz
1 cup powdered sugar, plus more if needed for rolling
2 tbsp red and green Christmas sprinkles
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy.
3. Add the egg and vanilla extract, then mix until fully combined.
4. Add the white cake mix and stir just until a thick sticky dough forms.
5. Cover the bowl and chill the dough for 1 hour.
6. Scoop the chilled dough into 1-inch balls.
7. Roll each dough ball generously in powdered sugar.
8. Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
9. Top each cookie with a pinch of red and green Christmas sprinkles.
10. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the cookies are puffed and crackled but still soft in the center.
11. Let the cookies cool on the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Do not skip chilling the dough, because warm dough will spread too much and you will lose the thick soft center and the pretty powdered sugar cracks.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 145
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 170mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 21g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 22mg