We LOVE making cookies with the kids, and these gooey butter cookies are a family favorite! They are soft, sweet, and irresistibly chewy. They also have that signature buttery flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture that makes them absolutely addictive.
Made with just a few simple ingredients, including cake mix and cream cheese, these cookies come together quickly and always turn out perfectly. They’re a family favorite for holidays, parties, or any time you need a quick dessert that everyone will love.
When you need a quick and easy cookie recipe, cake mix cookies are the way to go! You only need a handful of ingredients, and they prep in 5 minutes!
They’re so convenient, and you can easily switch up the flavors depending on the mix, like these Frosted Lemon Cookies or Funfetti Cookies.
Why we think you’ll love it:
- Mix it up with a flavor change. Easily change the flavor by using your favorite flavor of cake!
- Extra soft and chewy. They are made with cake mix, butter, and cream cheese and are so soft and moist.
- Unbelievably easy. Simply dump, mix, roll, and bake. The batter uses a handful of ingredients and is prepped in only 5 minutes!
Gooey Butter Cookie Ingredients
- Cream cheese (8 ounces, softened): Adds richness and a creamy texture.
- Unsalted butter (½ cup, softened): Gives the cookies their signature buttery flavor.
- Egg (1): Helps bind everything together. Room temp eggs work best.
- Vanilla extract (½ teaspoon): Adds warmth and flavor depth.
- Yellow cake mix (1 box, 15.25 ounces): The base that keeps the recipe simple and gives the cookies light texture. One reason we love this recipe is that you can easily use another flavor, like strawberry or chocolate cake mix.
- Powdered sugar (1 cup, plus more for dusting): Creates that classic sweet coating and crackled finish.
How to Make Gooey Butter Cookies
BATTER. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer (or a stand mixer with the paddle attachment) to beat cream cheese, butter, egg, and vanilla with a hand mixer until fluffy.
- Add the cake mix powder and mix until combined. Chill for 30 minutes.
PREP. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
BAKE. Place powdered sugar in a shallow bowl. Scoop and roll dough into 1½-inch cookie dough balls then roll in powdered sugar until well coated. Place onto a lightly greased baking sheet.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes.
- Let cookies sit on the cookie sheet for a few minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool.
ENJOY! Sift more powdered sugar on top, if desired.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips.
- We make sure the butter and cream cheese (full-fat) are at room temperature for a smooth batter and to prevent lumps.
- To keep the cookies from spreading too thin while in the oven, we always chill the dough for the full 30 minutes.
- These cookies are meant to be soft and slightly underbaked. They will still look soft in the center but will continue to set as they cool on the baking sheet.
- Roll generously in powdered sugar for that pretty crackled top.
- Add extra powdered sugar after baking for a bakery-style look.
Gooey Butter Cookie Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 egg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 (15.25-ounce) box yellow cake mix
- 1 cup powdered sugar, plus more for dusting
Instructions
- In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, butter, egg, and vanilla with a hand mixer until fluffy.
- Mix in cake mix until combined, and chill for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Place powdered sugar in a bowl. Scoop out and roll dough into 1½-inch balls and roll in powdered sugar until well coated. Place onto a lightly greased cookie sheet.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes.
- Let cookies sit on the cookie sheet for a few minutes, then remove to a rack to cool.
- Sift more powdered sugar on top, if desired.
Notes
- Easily change the flavor by using a different cake mix, like strawberry or chocolate cake mix.
- The butter and cream cheese should be at room temperature for a smooth batter and to prevent lumps.
- The 30-minute chill is important for preventing the cookies from spreading too thin.
- These cookies are meant to be soft and slightly underbaked. They will still look soft in the center but will continue to set as they cool on the baking sheet.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Place the dough in an airtight container or wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 3 days, or see How to Freeze Cookie Dough.
Place cooled cookies in an air-tight container on the counter for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
More Like This
Cake Mix Cookies
Cookies
Italian Cookies
1 hr 20 mins
Butter Cookies
18 mins
Snickerdoodle Recipe
20 mins
Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
15 mins
Collections
This recipe was originally published July 2010.
These cookies are super yummy and make the perfect dessert! I could eat them all the time!
I want to make the gooey butter cookies without using a cake mix. Do you have any suggestions?
Hmm..I have never tried without a cake mix. I’m not sure if it would be the same as the dry ingredients in a homemade cake. It would take some experimenting 🙂
your video shows beating two sticks of butter with the cream cheese. the recipe calls for l/2 cup butter which is one stick.???????????
It’s the one. That was doubled. Sorry, for the confusion! Thank you!
I am making the butter cookies tomorrow
What did you think? I hope you liked them! They are some of our favorites!
Can I use all purpose flour for this recipe?
There isn’t flour in this recipe. I haven’t tried adding it before. I’m not sure how they would turn out if you added it.
Hi there! I just found these Gooey Butter Cookies and this will work well for family grad parties and weddings coming up. Anyway can you tell me if these can be frozen well or should I make them closer to the parties? I am not a great baker and this looks like one I can make quickly. Thanks so much for your help! 🙂 Patty
They are perfect for everything!! They are the best! I have not tried freezing them. I would make a batch & test them out, to see how well they are after freezing them. They really are easy to make, so maybe you could make them when you need them, then freeze some?
The recipe says 1/2 cup butter but the video shows 2 sticks going in making it. So is it 2 sticks or 1 stick of butter?
Never mind, I see the previous comments
What size cake mix box do i use? I used 15.25 oz. And it seemed to be too much. Thank you
Nope, that is the right one. Did you make the cookies?
Thank you for responding. Yes I made the cookies and they were delicious and gooey just the way i like them.
OMGeeeee! These r the bomb! I agree, they taste like a glazed donut. Can’t wait to try different cake flavors! Thank you for the recipe ????✌????
You are so welcome!! They are one of my favorite cookies!
Looking to make the Gooey butter cookies. The FB video shows 2 sticks of butter, isn’t that 1 cup and the recipe calls for 1/2 cup.
Is the video a double batch?
Just saw the previous question and reply, Thanks