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These gooey butter cookies are prepped in 5 minutes and have a perfectly addicting chewy texture making them one of our go-to cookies!

Gooey butter cookies stacked on top of each other on white plate.

Cake Mix Cookies!

We love making cookies with the kids, and these gooey butter cookies are a family favorite! This cake mix cookie is pretty much half a cookie and half a cupcake, and you really can’t go wrong with that. You may also want to try our Gooey Butter Cake!

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 Frosted Lemon Cookies, or Funfetti Cookies.

WHY WE LOVE IT:

  • Mix it up. Easily change the flavor by using your favorite flavor of cake!
  • Soft and chewy. They are made with cake mix, butter, and cream cheese and are so soft and moist.
  • Easy. Simply dump, mix, roll, and bake. The batter is prepped in only 5 minutes!
Ingredients for gooey butter cookies on white counter.

Ingredients

  • 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese – softened
  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened How to Soften Butter Quickly
  • 1 egg room-temperature incorporates best
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 (15.25-ounce) box yellow cake mix or another flavor like strawberry or chocolate cake mix
  • 1 cup powdered sugar – plus more for dusting
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How to Make Gooey Butter Cookies

  1. BATTER. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer (or a stand mixer with the paddle attachment) to beat 8 ounces cream cheese, ½ cup butter, 1 egg, and ½ teaspoon vanilla with a hand mixer until fluffy.
    • Add the cake mix powder and mix until combined. Chill for 30 minutes.
  2. PREP. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  3. BAKE. Place 1 cup 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.
  4. ENJOY! Sift more powdered sugar on top, if desired.
Gooey butter cookies recipe stacked on top of each other on white plate.
4.99 from 440 votes

Gooey Butter Cookies

By: Lil’ Luna
Made easy with a yellow cake mix, these gooey butter cookies are prepped in 5 minutes and have a perfectly addicting chewy texture!
Servings: 24 cookies
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Chill time: 30 minutes
Total: 45 minutes

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.

Video

Notes

Variations. Other cake mix flavors such as strawberry, chocolate, and Funfetti can be used. 
Store cookie dough. 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.
Store cookies. Place cooled cookies in an air-tight container on the counter for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie, Calories: 57kcal, Carbohydrates: 5g, Protein: 0.3g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 17mg, Sodium: 4mg, Potassium: 4mg, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 129IU, Calcium: 2mg, Iron: 0.04mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Recipe FAQ

How to store the dough?

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.

How to store?

Place cooled cookies in an air-tight container on the counter for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

About Kristyn

Kristyn Merkley is a published cookbook author, wife, mom of six, and major food enthusiast! For the past 15 years, she has been sharing foolproof, family-friendly recipes—each one tested in her kitchen—that anyone can master. As a seasoned recipe creator, she loves making cooking simple, stress-free, and totally doable for everyone!

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4.99 from 440 votes (332 ratings without comment)

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430 Comments

  1. Helen Maddox says:

    I’m going to make the butter gooey ones for my cookie exchange at work. They sound wonderful!

    1. Lil' Luna says:

      Let me know how they turn out. 🙂

  2. Linda Koester says:

    I’d like to make these for Christmas. I was wondering if they freeze well?

    1. Lil' Luna says:

      To be honest, I’ve never tried. :/ Wish I was more help!

      1. Linda Koester says:

        Thanks, I’ll give it a try and let you know. They look so good, I can see how they never made it to the freezer! 🙂

      2. Lil' Luna says:

        😀

    2. susan says:

      This is a few years later…but did you end up freezing these? I would like to make them and freeze for Christimas.

  3. Vanessa says:

    Doing cookie trials for upcoming holiday cookie exchange party next weekend! My son and I are getting ready to make the Gooey Butter Cookies and the Chocolate Gooey Cookies, except we are going to put little mini Reese Cups in them. Just waiting for the cream cheese and butter to come to room temp. Can’t wait as they look so delicious in the picture! Thanks for posting and sharing this recipe!

    1. Lil' Luna says:

      Curious to know how these turned out?? A mini Reeses Cup in them sounds amazing!!

      1. Vanessa says:

        5 stars
        They turned out great – big hit with my son and husband. Definitely making them for the party next weekend. My little boy has christened them “chocolate pillow cookies.” 🙂

      2. Lil' Luna says:

        SOOO cute! I love that name. Can’t wait to try that version myself. 🙂

  4. Crystal says:

    After you roll them into a ball and coat them with powdered sugar do you flatten them out? Or just put them on a baking sheet like that?

    1. Lil' Luna says:

      I like to flatten mine out just a bit using my 3 middle fingers. 🙂

  5. LoveCreations says:

    5 stars
    just made these cookies and they are lovely,
    I’ve used homemade cake mix and I’ve put some lemon zest…cant stop looking at them!
    thanks

    1. Lil' Luna says:

      YAY!! SO glad to hear you like them. 🙂

  6. Sandy says:

    5 stars
    OMG! Just took them out of the oven and tasted them….Absolutely heavenly! Thank you so much!

    1. Lil' Luna says:

      YAY!! So happy that you like them. Have a great day!!

  7. Cat says:

    These look so good! I have a box of white cake mix on hand…any chance that would work?

    1. Lil' Luna says:

      Yes, that will work but they will look more white than yellow. 🙂

      1. Cat M says:

        Thanks!!!

      2. Lil' Luna says:

        You’re welcome. 🙂

  8. izzy says:

    5 stars
    I made these cookies using holiday funfetti mix – so cute and such a hit!

    1. Lil' Luna says:

      I’ve never tried them with the Funfetti Mix but my kids would love it. Will definitely give it a try next time I make them. So glad they were a hit! ;D