This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
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 resist 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 1/2 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.
For more favorite cookies, check out:
- Chocolate Chip Cookies
- No Bake Cookies
- Peanut Butter Cookies
- M&M Cookies
- Snickerdoodles
- Cream Cheese Cookies
- Butter Cookies
Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe
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 degrees 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.
Video
Notes
embellishments. A few of our favorite combos include:
o Chocolate Rolo Cake Mix Cookies: Chocolate cake mix with a Rolo candy enclosed in each dough ball
o Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies: Red velvet cake mix with white chocolate chips
o Funfetti Cake Mix Cookies: Funfetti cake mix with extra sprinkles
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I havent made this yet bUt am wondering why the recipe says 1/2 cup of buttervabd the video looks like you used 1 cup
It is 1/2 cup 🙂 Enjoy!
The video shows 2 sticks of butter but the recipe only calls for 1 stick. Can you clear up this confusIon?
It is one stick 🙂
Your recipe says 1/2 cup butter which is one stick but on youR video you sHow two sticks of butter along with the cream cheese??♀️
Hi ? no need to reply, seems like as soon as I Commented, all these same issues popped up. Thanks
Can these be made without the cream cheese? Looking for more of a butter cookie and don’t want the cream cheese or sugar to over power the butter from it since the recipe doesn’t call for a lot butter. Tried a butter cookie recipe for Christmas eve and there were terrible, trying to redeem myself. Thank you.
I have not tried making them without the cream cheese, so I am not sure how’d they turn out. You could find a substitute if you google cream cheese substitutes in cookies?
I have a Batch in the oven as We speak . The recipe says 1/2 cup of butter but your video shows two sticks and that woukd be a full cup . So which is it . I only put one stick i hope i didNt ruin this
Nope, one it is 🙂 I sure hope you liked them!
I made these tonight for work tomorrow. I have a friend who is vegan so I altered the recipe:
Vegan butter
Vegan cream cheese
1/4 apple sauce for the EGG
I am not Vegan, and most vegan food I have tried I haven’t really cared for, but these turned out really delicious!
Since It is Christmas time, I used red velvet cake mix. Very festive!
I also made the cookies using your recipe with chocolate cake mix. So yummy!!
Thanks for sharing your recipe!!
Sounds perfect!! I am so glad to share 🙂 Thank you for letting me know!
i’D LIKE TO MAKE THESE COOKIES FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN. iS THE CREAM CHEESE TASTE OVERPOWERING?
Not to me 🙂 These are one of my most popular cookies. I hope you try them 🙂
I plan on making these early next year. I’ll let you know what my grandson and granddaughter think of them. Thank you for such a quick response. Have a Happy Holiday.
Has any tried these with GLUTEN free cake mix? Id like to try them but dont want to wast3 gf cake mix! $$$
these are some of the most tasty cookies I have ever had!
I took these to a church function & the ladies couldn’t get enough! i had so many wanting the recipe. I am usually a chocolate person, but these are right up there with them. they are super soft & melt in your mouth!