Name: Christmas Ooey Gooey Cake Mix Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 1 h 22 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 box yellow cake mix; 1/2 cup softened butter; 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract; 8 ounces softened cream cheese; 1 egg; Powdered sugar (for rolling); Holiday sprinkles (for rolling)

There’s something magical about cookies that are soft, rich, and just a little bit sticky in all the right places. The Christmas Ooey Gooey Cake Mix Cookies Recipe hits that sweet spot perfectly—rich cream cheese and butter combine with a cake mix base, then you roll them in powdered sugar and festive sprinkles for a bite of holiday happiness. Trust me, these cookies will disappear faster than you can say “Santa’s snack!”

The image shows a stack of four round cookies on a white plate. Each cookie is light yellow with a rough texture and is covered in red, green, and white sprinkles that stick out in small rod shapes, giving the cookies a festive look. One cookie leans against the stack, showing its full round shape and colorful sprinkle topping. In the background, there is another cookie on a metal baking tray, slightly out of focus, resting on a white marbled surface. A white and red striped cloth is partly visible at the bottom right corner. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Ooey Gooey Cake Mix Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Ooey Gooey Cake Mix Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Ooey Gooey Cake Mix Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This Christmas Ooey Gooey Cake Mix Cookies Recipe is a go-to for me every holiday season—I love how it transforms simple pantry staples into a melt-in-your-mouth treat that feels like a warm hug. Plus, it’s incredibly easy to whip up, even when you’re juggling all the holiday chaos!

Super Simple: Uses a boxed cake mix as the base, so no complex measuring or mixing required.
Ooey and Gooey Texture: Thanks to the cream cheese and butter combo, these cookies stay soft and luscious.
Beautiful Presentation: Rolled in powdered sugar and festive sprinkles, they’re perfect for gifting or your holiday cookie spread.
Flexibility: You can swap the cake mix flavor or sprinkles to match any holiday or personal preference.

A close-up of three soft, round cookies on a white plate, each covered in red, green, and white sprinkles that add texture and color. One cookie is slightly broken, showing its light yellow soft inside with a crumbly texture. The cookies have a slightly bumpy surface from the thick layer of sprinkles that cover the entire top and edges. The plate sits on a white marbled surface, making the bright colors of the sprinkles stand out. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient in this Christmas Ooey Gooey Cake Mix Cookies Recipe plays a crucial role to create that perfect chewy, buttery texture with a subtle cake flavor. Here's what you need and why each component is important to nail that holiday vibe.

Flat lay of a small mound of fine yellow cake mix, a half cup of soft pale yellow butter shaped into a smooth square, a small white bowl of clear vanilla extract, an 8-ounce block of creamy white cream cheese, a single whole brown egg with a clean shell, a small white bowl filled with powdered sugar, and a handful of festive holiday sprinkles in red, green, and white colors scattered artistically around, all arranged with perfect symmetry on simple white ceramic bowls and plates, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Yellow Cake Mix: Using a cake mix gives you an instant base with wonderful flavor and structure—pick your favorite flavor to mix things up.
Softened Butter: Butter adds richness and tenderness, helping the dough come together beautifully.
Vanilla Extract: A splash of vanilla elevates the taste and rounds out the sweetness perfectly.
Softened Cream Cheese: This is the secret to the ooey gooey texture—the cream cheese keeps the cookies wonderfully moist and tender.
Egg: Helps bind the dough and add a bit of lift for the perfect cookie shape.
Powdered Sugar: Dipping the cookies in powdered sugar not only adds sweetness but also gives a snowy, festive look.
Holiday Sprinkles: These are the fun touch—colors and shapes that make your cookies festive and visually irresistible.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love tweaking this Christmas Ooey Gooey Cake Mix Cookies Recipe by swapping sprinkles or trying different cake mix flavors. It’s so forgiving and fun to customize — once you have the basics down, the sky’s the limit!

Variation: For my peppermint lover friends, adding crushed candy canes into the sprinkles takes the cookies to a whole new festive level.
Dairy-Free Version: Try using dairy-free cream cheese and vegan butter to make these cookies accessible for more diets without compromising gooeyness.
Flavor Swaps: Chocolate or red velvet cake mixes work wonderfully if you want a twist on the classic yellow cake base.
Extra Rich: Some folks add a handful of mini white chocolate chips into the dough—delicious if you want pockets of melty sweetness.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Ooey Gooey Cake Mix Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Cream the Butter, Cream Cheese, Egg, and Vanilla

Start by beating together the softened butter, cream cheese, egg, and vanilla extract until the mixture is fluffy and smooth. I find using a stand or hand mixer helps here—don’t rush, as getting it fully creamy makes a huge difference in the cookie texture.

Step 2: Mix in the Cake Mix

Next, sprinkle the entire box of cake mix into the wet mixture. Blend at medium speed until everything is well combined. Your dough should be soft but not too sticky—we want it to hold together nicely so it’s easy to roll.

Step 3: Chill the Dough

Chill the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes up to an hour. This step firms up the dough which helps prevent spreading when baking. Plus, it gives you time to get other holiday prep done—win-win!

Step 4: Roll, Dip, and Coat

Roll the chilled dough into small balls, then roll each in holiday sprinkles followed by a dip in powdered sugar, making sure each cookie is completely coated. This double coating makes the cookies look festive and adds a lovely sugary crust.

Step 5: Bake and Cool

Bake the cookies at 350°F (175°C) for 10–12 minutes, until the edges are just turning golden. Remove from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. This cooldown time helps them set without losing softness.

Top Tip

Over the years, I’ve learned a few tricks to get this Christmas Ooey Gooey Cake Mix Cookies Recipe just right—here are my favorite tips so your cookies come out perfect every time!

Don’t Skip Chilling: The chilling step is key to controlling spread and achieving that soft center everyone loves.
Use Room Temperature Ingredients: Soft butter and cream cheese blend more easily, giving you a smooth dough and better texture.
Measure Powdered Sugar Generously: A thorough coating on the outside creates a beautiful crackled look and adds delightful extra sweetness.
Watch Your Oven Time: These cookies bake fast and go from perfect to overdone quickly—check at 10 minutes and adjust as needed.

How to Serve Christmas Ooey Gooey Cake Mix Cookies Recipe

Christmas ooey gooey cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

My favorite garnish for these cookies is simple: holiday sprinkles in red, green, and white. They add a cheerful pop of color that makes the cookies irresistible. Sometimes, I add a pinch of edible glitter for an extra festive sparkle—great for parties!

Side Dishes

I like serving these alongside a rich hot chocolate or a warm mug of spiced eggnog—both drinks complement the buttery sweetness perfectly. If you’re hosting a cookie swap, pair them with some salty nuts or a sharp cheese platter to balance the flavors.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday gatherings, I love arranging these cookies on a festive platter lined with evergreen sprigs and a few cinnamon sticks—instantly makes the kitchen smell amazing and the table look inviting. Gift them in mason jars tied with red ribbon for an easy, heartfelt present.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once cooled completely, these cookies store best in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. I usually layer them between sheets of parchment paper to keep the powdered sugar coating intact and prevent sticking.

Freezing

I’ve frozen the dough itself successfully by rolling it into balls and freezing them on a tray before transferring to a freezer bag. When ready to bake, just pop them straight onto the baking sheet (add a couple minutes to baking time) for fresh cookies anytime during the holidays.

Reheating

To warm up leftover Christmas Ooey Gooey Cake Mix Cookies, I pop them in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds or briefly in a warm oven. This refreshes their soft, gooey texture beautifully without drying them out.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use any flavor cake mix for this recipe?

Yes! One of the best parts of this Christmas Ooey Gooey Cake Mix Cookies Recipe is its versatility. You can use yellow, chocolate, red velvet, or even funfetti cake mix to give your cookies different flavors and colors. Just pick what you love or what fits the occasion.

Why do the cookies need to be chilled before baking?

Chilling the dough helps firm it up, reducing how much the cookies spread in the oven. This results in thicker, softer cookies with that classic ooey-gooey texture. Plus, it makes the dough easier to roll and coat in powdered sugar and sprinkles.

Can I make these cookies vegan or dairy-free?

Absolutely! You can substitute dairy-free cream cheese and a vegan butter alternative to make this Christmas Ooey Gooey Cake Mix Cookies Recipe vegan or dairy-free. Just be sure to use a vegan cake mix or check the ingredients to keep it fully plant-based.

How long do these cookies stay fresh?

When stored properly in an airtight container at room temperature, these cookies stay fresh and soft for up to 4 days. For longer storage, freezing the dough or baked cookies works well and maintains their quality when reheated gently.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Ooey Gooey Cake Mix Cookies Recipe holds a special place in my heart—not just because they’re absolutely delicious but because they bring everyone together. Whether it’s the kids helping roll cookies or friends gathering around the kitchen, these treats spark joy and cozy memories. I hope you enjoy making and sharing them as much as I do. Grab your ingredients, roll up your sleeves, and let’s get baking for the sweetest season!