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.
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This recipe was originally published July 2010.
So these are just like Paula Deen’s gooey butter cookies, huh?
Okay, I do not bake much. I need to take cookies to church carnival. I assume you do not mix the cake mix up as the directions on the package. Do you add it dry to the cream cheese mixture?
Yes, you add it dry. 🙂
Just made these! Sooo yummy. Thanks for the recipe. One of my new favorites ☺️
So glad they were a hit. It’s definitely in our cookie rotation. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
I know this post was a long time ago but I just had to comment that this is really a great recipe. We have used different flavor cake mixes and added different things in the middle of the cookies (peanut butter, marshmallow fluff, nuts, chocolate chips etc. depending on the cake mix we choose) I love that this recipe is super easy for my 7yr old to make as it doesn’t use tons of liquid ingredients. We use the recipe exactly as written and just change up the cake mix for a different flavor each time. Our grocery store was out of cream cheese last time so I grabbed the Neufchâtel cheese and it still came out perfect! Thank you so much for a great recipe that has become a family favorite!
Your comment totally made my day. So glad I could share a family favorite recipe that could become a family favorite for you too!! Thank you for stopping by!!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! These are so good!! I love that they are easy. My daughter who is 3 loves to make cookies. I love that she want to bake but I am legally blind so most of the time it is had for me to measure out everything that is needed. We made these without any trouble!! So thank you again!!
SO glad you liked them. They are one of our favorites. 🙂
HI! I wanted to tell you I made these cookies this weekend and they are to die for! I made them with gluten free cake mix, though. You would never know it is gluten free. They are still soft and gooey. Thank you so much for this recipe. I will be reblogging this recipe with the gluten free changes this week.
So glad it was a success. You will have to send me the link when you’ve posted your gluten free version so that I can add it to the post and direct people your way for the recipe. 🙂
Made these last week for work, huge hit! They taste just like old fashioned glazed doughnuts! When you bake them with the powdered sugar it turns into a glaze like texture! Making them again this week, and the chocolate rolo ones! Thanks for a great recipe!
You’re welcome, Becky! So glad they were a hit. You’ll love the chocolate version too!
Which brand of cake mix and cream cheese do you use?
I’ve used all different brands of Yellow cake mix, but almost always use Philadelphia Cream Cheese. 🙂
Do you use pure vanilla or vanilla extract? Just checking because it just says vanilla. Thanks! 🙂 I’m excited to make these!
I use vanilla extract. 🙂