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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.
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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

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.

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4.99 from 439 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

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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4.99 from 439 votes (332 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




429 Comments

  1. Sandy says:

    How many cookies does the recipe make? So excited….using devils food cake & making them for a cookie party tomorrow!!

    1. Lil' Luna says:

      It makes close to 3 dozen 🙂 Those will be delish with devils food!! Have fun!

  2. Kelly says:

    How do you tell when they’re done?? I put three trays in the oven at the same time (I made the monster cookies, so cute!), which at least in my oven always slows down the baking time. But I can’t tell when to pull them out….

    1. Lil' Luna says:

      If they are still jiggling in the middle, you know they aren’t done. The bottoms get a little brown, but I like mine at the lowest amount of time, rather than longer. I prefer soft cookies, over crispy. Now, since three trays are in, it may take a little longer! Hope that helps!

  3. Linda says:

    Its Look Amazing …!!! I will Try Next Week ..!!

    1. Lil' Luna says:

      Thanks Linda!! They are a favorite!! Hope you like them!!

  4. Nikki says:

    Wondering if I could freeze them?

    1. Lil' Luna says:

      I haven’t personally done that, so I wish I knew for sure how’d they turn out. You could possibly freeze the dough and not the cookies. Let me know what you do, I’d love to know.

  5. Kathy G says:

    5 stars
    My daughter is a junior in high school and the juniors put on the prom for the seniors and this weekend is prom. I volunteered to make cookies. I wanted something other than your run of the mill cookie but I also wanted easy, so of course I turned to pinterest where I found this recipe. Last night I did a trial run and I have to say they are delicious and they turned out perfectly!! I used the funfetti mix to make them look fun for prom. We ate some right from the oven and knew we found the right cookie. I do have to say that we had one this morning before school and it was even better after it had set up. They are not overly sweet and they are so delicate and pretty. Tonight when I make the cookies I may add more sprinkles to the batter for more color. I am so glad that I found this recipe and I know I will be making them again and again in many variations!

    1. Lil' Luna says:

      Thank you so much Kathy!! These would be perfect for prom!! We love these cookies so much and you’re right, they taste even better after they have set. They stay so soft! Thanks for sharing and hope they’re a hit!

  6. Shari says:

    Trouble with lumpy not fluffy batter???

  7. Kendal Forman says:

    5 stars
    I just made these cookies and followed the exact recipe except added white chocolate chips and macadamia nuts and they were a hit by all who ate them! Very happy I found this recipe!!

    1. Lil' Luna says:

      Hi Kendal!! White Chocolate chips and macadamia nuts sound like a great addition. Glad they were loved! Thanks for stopping by. 😉

  8. cookingrecipes says:

    Hi, cant wait to make these, but I do have a question. Should the cream cheese and butter be at room temperature or out of the fridge and still firm?

    1. Lil' Luna says:

      GOOD QUESTION!! I just updated the recipe. It does help to have both the butter and cream cheese softened. 😉

  9. Elena says:

    5 stars
    I just made these yesterday. My husband’s verdict – he’s leaving me for them. Beyond buttery, gooey and delicious!

    1. Lil' Luna says:

      LOL!!! I’m so glad they were a hit!! Thanks for stopping by. 😉

  10. Sarah says:

    Is is possible to turn this cookie into a mini cupcake.. I’m suggesting going through all the steps down to the rolling in the powdered sugar and then instead of putting them on a cookie sheet, put them into mini muffin (or tea cake) pans.. any thoughts.. I have everything read to go but would like to make a little teacake rather than a cookie.. thanks.

    1. Sarah says:

      4 stars
      I actually did it.. in Mini-Cupcake/Teacake tins. and it worked.. not really gooey.. but made the process much simpler than regular cupcakes.. used a small scoop but really likely not small enough just to do a teacake, so they look like mini- big top muffins. I used a vanilla cake mix and a lemon cake mix combined.. added a little Lemon essence (as well as the vanilla) and the powedered sugar made a nice crust on top.