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Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies: Easy, Soft, and Melt-in-Your-Mouth Holiday Treats

A stack of soft, yellow Christmas gooey butter cookies heavily dusted with white powdered sugar on a white plate.
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Make these easy Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies for your holiday baking. They feature a soft, chewy center and a sweet powdered sugar coating, perfect for cookie exchanges and festive trays.

Ingredients

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  • 1 box (15.25 oz) yellow cake mix
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 large egg
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, plus extra for coating
  • 1/4 cup red and green sprinkles (optional, for festive look)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine the yellow cake mix, 1/2 cup melted butter, and 1 large egg. Mix until a soft dough forms. This is your base layer.
  3. In a separate bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Add the second egg, vanilla extract, almond extract, and 1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar. Mix until completely combined and creamy. This is your gooey layer.
  4. Roll the base dough into small balls, about 1 inch in diameter. If using sprinkles, gently roll the dough balls in the sprinkles now to coat lightly. Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, leaving 2 inches between them.
  5. Place about 1 teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture on top of each dough ball, spreading it slightly to cover the top surface.
  6. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. The edges should be set, but the center will look slightly underdone and gooey. Do not overbake.
  7. Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
  8. Once cooled slightly, generously dust the tops of the cookies with extra powdered sugar for a snowy, festive finish.

Notes

  • For the best melt-in-your-mouth texture, do not chill the cream cheese layer mixture before topping the dough balls.
  • These cookies freeze well. Store cooled cookies in an airtight container between layers of wax paper before freezing.
  • If you skip the sprinkles in the dough, you can press a few decorative sprinkles onto the cream cheese topping before baking for a colorful look.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://dishicious.com/christmas-gooey-butter-cookies/