Ooey Gooey Christmas Cookies Recipe
Introduction
These Ooey Gooey Christmas Cookies are a festive treat that’s soft, rich, and loaded with holiday sprinkles. With a tender cream cheese base and a melt-in-your-mouth texture, they’re perfect for sharing at your seasonal gatherings or enjoying with a cup of hot cocoa.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter (unsalted, softened)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1 egg
- 1 cup confectioner’s sugar
- ½ cup Christmas sprinkles
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with a silpat liner or parchment paper and set aside.
- Step 2: In a medium mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, vanilla, egg, and cream cheese until the mixture is fluffy and well combined.
- Step 3: Stir in the yellow cake mix until fully incorporated, then add ¼ cup of Christmas sprinkles and mix to distribute evenly.
- Step 4: Chill the cookie batter in the refrigerator for 30 to 40 minutes to firm up for easier shaping.
- Step 5: Remove the batter from the refrigerator and roll it into 1-inch balls. Roll each ball first in the remaining sprinkles, then coat completely with confectioner’s sugar.
- Step 6: Arrange the coated balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them evenly.
- Step 7: Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the bottoms are just golden brown but the tops remain soft.
- Step 8: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Tips & Variations
- For extra festive flair, try using different colored sprinkles or mixing in mini chocolate chips.
- If you don’t have a silpat liner, parchment paper works just as well to prevent sticking.
- Chilling the dough is important to prevent spreading and to keep the cookies thick and chewy.
Storage
Store the cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. They can also be frozen for longer storage; thaw at room temperature before serving. To refresh the cookies, warm briefly in the microwave for a few seconds to bring back their gooey texture.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I use a different cake mix flavor?
Yes, you can substitute yellow cake mix with white or even funfetti cake mix to change the flavor or add more color to your cookies.
Do these cookies need to be refrigerated?
No, once fully baked and cooled, these cookies can be kept at room temperature in an airtight container. Refrigeration is not necessary and might dry them out.
Print
Ooey Gooey Christmas Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
Description
These Ooey Gooey Christmas Cookies are delightfully soft and cheesy, featuring a rich cream cheese and butter base combined with a sweet yellow cake mix. Rolled in festive sprinkles and confectioner’s sugar, they offer a festive and fun treat perfect for holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1/4 cup Christmas sprinkles (plus additional for rolling)
Topping
- 1 cup confectioner’s sugar
- 1/4 cup Christmas sprinkles (for rolling)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it’s ready for baking the cookies at the correct temperature.
- Prepare Baking Sheet: Line a baking sheet with a silpat liner or parchment paper to prevent sticking and ease cleanup.
- Cream Ingredients: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, vanilla extract, egg, and softened cream cheese until the mixture is fluffy and well combined. This creates the moist base for your cookies.
- Mix Cake Mix and Sprinkles: Add the yellow cake mix to the creamed mixture and stir until fully combined. Then, fold in 1/4 cup of Christmas sprinkles to add festive color and texture.
- Chill Batter: Cover and chill the cookie dough in the refrigerator for 30-40 minutes. Chilling helps the dough firm up, making it easier to roll and shape.
- Form Cookie Balls: Remove the chilled dough and roll into 1-inch balls. Roll each ball first in the remaining Christmas sprinkles, then in confectioner’s sugar, ensuring each ball is fully coated.
- Bake Cookies: Place the coated cookie balls on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes or until the bottoms are just golden brown. The cookies will remain soft and gooey inside.
- Cool Cookies: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the cookies cool on the sheet for 2 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Ensure both butter and cream cheese are softened to room temperature for easier creaming and a smoother dough.
- Do not overbake; cookies should be just golden on the bottom to stay soft and gooey inside.
- Rolling the cookie dough balls in sprinkles and confectioner’s sugar gives a festive look and adds a sweet outer texture.
- Use a silpat or parchment paper to prevent sticking and help cookies bake evenly.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Christmas cookies, cream cheese cookies, holiday cookies, soft cookies, festive cookies, easy holiday recipe
