Quick Gooey Butter Cookies with Yellow Cake Recipe
These Quick Gooey Butter Cookies with Yellow Cake Mix offer a delightfully soft and rich treat perfect for holiday celebrations. Combining the tangy cream cheese with moist yellow cake mix, these cookies are coated with festive sprinkles and powdered sugar for a sweet, festive finish. Easy to prepare and quick to bake, they make a perfect cozy dessert for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 27 minutes
- Yield: About 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
For the 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
For the 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 softened unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 large egg, and 8 ounces of softened cream cheese until the mixture is fluffy and well combined. Use a hand mixer or stand mixer on medium speed for best results.
- Add the Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the yellow cake mix to the wet ingredients bowl. Continue blending until all ingredients are fully incorporated and a smooth, consistent dough forms. The dough will be thick but manageable.
- Chill the Dough: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour. This chilling step firms up the dough, making it easier to handle and shape.
- Shape and Coat the Dough: Remove the chilled dough from the refrigerator. Roll the dough into small balls roughly 1 inch in diameter. First, roll each ball in festive sprinkles to evenly coat, then dip and roll each in powdered sugar until fully covered.
- Bake the Cookies: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the coated dough balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the cookie edges are lightly browned. Avoid overbaking to retain gooey texture.
- Cool and Serve: After baking, let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to set. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.
Notes
- Ensure the cream cheese and butter are softened to room temperature for easier mixing.
- Chilling the dough is important to prevent cookies from spreading too much during baking.
- You can use any flavor of yellow cake mix, but classic vanilla works best.
- For festive occasions, use colorful holiday sprinkles or nonpareils for decoration.
- Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerated for up to one week.
Keywords: gooey butter cookies, yellow cake mix cookies, holiday cookies, cream cheese cookies, festive cookies, easy cookies, quick cookies
