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.
Hi I have a box of macaron mix. Can I use that?
Also, wat if I want to add Nutella, when do I add it in? Thx
To be honest, I’ve never tried macaron mix and would suggest waiting til you had cake mix. And I would add just a little bit of nutella at the very end. 🙂
Have you tried this with carrot cake mix? My husband loves carrot cake and I was wondering how that would turn out…
Just wondering add the cake/powder mix dry? Don’t make it beforehand?
Yes. add the cake mix dry. 🙂
I’m not seeing the recipe on here either. I’ll try to go to one of the other gooey cookie recipes you have.
Me too!!! I’d love to make them but don’t see the recipe either. 🙂
Not sure why it wasn’t showing up, but it’s there now. 🙂
Would love to make them, but there is no recipe? Well, I can’t see one :(. Can you help me? please?
Just found this on line and want you to know at Weight Watchers last fall one of the members shared something similar. We used a spice cake mix (or carrot cake or similar) with one can of pumpkin and that’s all. It was very good and so low in WW points. Thanks for your version, I will try it next time!
That’s a great idea for a lighter version! Thanks, Janet. 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing! Saw this recipe earlier today just had to make them today! Hubby loved them and I thought this would be a great base for Strawberry shortcake and it was absolutely amazing! My new go to recipe!
YAY!! Your comment made my day, Bianca!! I’m all about finding more go-to recipes. Glad you liked the Gooey Butter Cookies. 🙂
I made these cookies today using lemon cake mix. I have made other versions of cake mix cookies before but this is by far the best one yet. They are fresh tasting, deliciously lemony and slightly tangy. This will now be one of my go to recipes and I look forward to trying other flavours of cake mix soon.
It’s definitely so fun to try new versions of this recipe with new cake mixes! I have yet to try lemon but will have to do that soon. So glad you liked them. 🙂
My family liked them so well that they are already gone! Next time I’ll have to make a double recipe. Lemon is definitely a winner.