These Gooey Butter cookies are made with a yellow cake mix, butter, cream cheese, and a few additional ingredients. They are so gooey, chewy, and moist – it’s impossible to resit them!
When you need a quick and easy cookie recipe, cake mix cookies are the way to go! They’re so convenient, and you can easily switch up the flavors depending on the mix—like these Lemon Cookies, or Funfetti Cookies!
made with cake mix – so easy!
We love making cookies with the kids, and today’s recipe for Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies (aka Butter Cookies) are a family-favorite. They are made with cake mix, butter and cream cheese and are so soft and moist that I have yet to meet someone who didn’t like them.
If you’re looking for a quick cookie recipe that will be a hit – this is your treat (they’re just as good as our Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies and Sugar Cookies)! This cookie is pretty much half a cookie and half a cupcake, and you really can’t go wrong with that. 😉
Another reason why I LOVE this recipe is because it can be easily changed up. Based on whatever cake mix you use, you can change the flavor up. You can also add candy and sprinkles on top or in the cookies which can take them to a whole new level.
For this specific recipe, we always use a yellow cake mix, and just sprinkle powdered sugar on top right when they come out of the oven. The powdered sugar melts and lightly frosts the top of the cookie.
Making Yellow Cake Mix Cookies
We love simple cookies and love that these yellow cake mix cookies are just that.
To make them, beat butter, vanilla, egg and cream cheese until fluffy. Add the cake mix and mix until combined.
Chill for 30 minutes. Once chilled, roll into 1 – 1 ½ inch balls and roll in a bowl of powdered sugar. Place on cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes. Once out, sift more powdered sugar on top if desired.
Place on wax paper to cool. Before cooling and right when you take the cookies out, that is the perfect time to add candy on top. We’ve added Hershey’s kisses when we’ve made gooey butter cookies with chocolate cake mix, and they are amazing!
Flavor variations
The possibilities are endless when it comes to the different kinds of gooey butter cookies you can make. This is partially because Betty Crocker and Pillsbury and Duncan Hines are constantly releasing new cake mixes, which means there are more recipes to try.
Here are some of the other recipes we’ve tried using the same recipe but with a different cake mix, and adding a few toppings.
- Gooey Chocolate Rolo Butter Cookies – Chocolate Cake Mix with a Rolo inside
- Gooey Monster Cookies – Dyed cake mix with candy eyeballs on top – perfect for Halloween!
- Butter Pumpkin Cookies – Pumpkin Cookies using pumpkin cake mix, which is a seasonal product.
- Pink and Blue Velvet Butter Cookies – used making Pink and Blue velvet cake mixes.
Additional Tips
Storing. Once cool, place ooey gooey butter cookies into an air-tight container and place on the counter for up to 3 days. They should take soft during that time period and although they have butter and cream cheese, they do not need to be refrigerated.
Can you make a cake version of these cookies? I’m so glad you asked! You can, and it’s one of our favorites. We have a recipe for Gooey Butter Cake which uses similar ingredients and makes a delicious cake/bar version of these cookies. Check it out HERE.
I have tried so many varieties of these cake mix cookies in the past, so be sure to check them out. The Gooey Monster Cookies are especially popular with the kids, and especially around Halloween. 😉
For more favorite cookies, check out:
- Chocolate Chip Cookies
- No Bake Cookies
- Peanut Butter Cookies
- M&M Cookies
- Snickerdoodles
- Cream Cheese Cookies
Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
- Beat butter, vanilla, egg and cream cheese until fluffy.
- Mix in cake mix.
- Chill for 30 minutes.
- Roll into balls and dip in a bowl of powdered sugar.
- Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes, and sift powdered sugar on top if desired.
Video
How long can yiu store the dough? And could these be baked from frozen?
I would probably only keep in the fridge for a few days. I haven’t tried freezing the dough, so I will have to try that!
Such great and simple recipe instructions plus video! Thank you! They were delicious! Next up~ Drop sugar cookies!
That’s so nice of you to say! Thank you so much for letting me know!
These were the most delish cookies I’ve had ever! They are so quick and easy and super yummy! A great Christmas cookie for the family!
I totally agree! These are the best cookies I’ve had in AGES. My niece discovered this recipe and gave it to us, and since then, my kids beg me every week to make a batch of these cookies. Truly a life saver for anything from after school snacks to church potlucks. Love love love!!!!😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍
That makes me so happy!! Thank you, thank you for saying that!
Awe, that’s so nice of you to say! Thank you!
Hello! Do you use salted or unsalted butter for this recipe? Thanks in advance 🙂
I use unsalted when I bake 🙂
That was my question. 🙂
Yes, unsalted butter is what I used.
Softest cookies and great soft flavor.
I am so glad you thought so! Thanks for letting me know!
Yummy and easy to make
Glad you think so 🙂 Thank you!
Thank you! Sounds delicious!
They are!! Hope you try them!
I used a sugar-free cake mix.
I topped each cookie with a scant 1/2 teaspoon of sugar-free cranberry jelly.
Took them to a cookie exchange.
Outstanding!!
Perfect! Thank you for sharing what you did!
Can you freeze the cookies after you make them?
I have not tried freezing these, so I can’t say for sure how they would hold up.
Hi
I have made this so much in the last month especially the chocolate one and there is not one single person that has tried it that has not gone crazy over them. Thank you so much for the recipe. I wish you and yours a merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I have had at least 5 who have even asked for the recipe and has been passed along
Kay
Awe, thank you so much for saying that!! That makes me so happy! Merry Christmas!
These were the best of all the ones we tried, well at least that’s what I thought. They were so moist and tender. Love these.
These are AMAZING!! My kids love helping me make these!
Hi, I was wondering if you can freeze these cookies?
You know, I have not tried freezing them. I will have to try freezing a couple next time I make them.
What do you use to get them pink?
Food coloring 🙂 You can add as much or as little as you’d like.
OMG! My son put 3 pieces all at once. The moment I got one tray out of the oven, it lasted only 5 minutes and all gone before I can finish making another tray. Everyone in my family can’t get enough of this. I made with red velvet cake mix since it is Valentine’s Day today. It is amazing indeed. Shared some with the neighbors as well.
LOL!! That makes me so happy! Thank you for sharing that!
I can’t think of anything that sounds better
They really are some of my favorite cookies. Thanks for sharing!
Have not made them yet, but will definitely! Loved the video. You have great recipes and very well thought out and informative. I think we would all appreciate a video with each one in the future. I know it takes more time, but it SURE is helpful to actually see how it should be done!!!! Love your work!!!
I agree about having more videos too! They do take a lot of time and effort but we are slowly adding more and more to our video recipe collection. Thanks so much for your kind words!
This delicious recipe provided a full circus of flavors in my mouth. However, do not eat these high and on an empty stomach … I was NOT happy the entire batch lasted only 30 minutes – & that I burnt my tongue trying to eat them too early either. I wish they weren’t so fluffy and delicious, it makes them way to easy to eat – and for these reasons, I can only give this recipe a 4*.
Oh thank you for sharing! I’m so glad that you enjoyed the recipe. It is hard to just eat one of these cookies, that’s for sure! 🙂
At last, someone who knows how to make them right, with a cake mix. I make ecery year at Christmas and use other flavored cake mixes for variety. My hubby like when i use a spice cake, kids like chocolate and other flavors
Yes, there are so many variations you can make with different cake mixes! So fun and versatile and yummy. 🙂
Can this dough be frozen?
Yes – it sure can!