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 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!

Gooey Butter Cookies on plate


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.

Cake Mix Cookies with Cream cheese process pics

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!

Yellow Cake Mix Cookies process pics

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 Butter Cookie Variations

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.

Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies on plate

For more favorite cookies, check out:

4.99 from 432 votes

Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna
Whether you call them butter cookies or cake mix cookies, you know they are ultra yummy! These 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!
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 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

Make Ahead: Store cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3–4 days.
Variations: Change this up by using your favorite cake mix and adding your own
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

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.

Additional Info

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Making this recipe? Tag us!
Share it with us on Instagram using the hashtag #lilluna, so we can see what you’re creating in the kitchen!


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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417 Comments

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

  2. 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. 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!

    1. 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.

  3. 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. 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!

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

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

  6. 5 stars
    I just made these yesterday. My husband’s verdict – he’s leaving me for them. Beyond buttery, gooey and delicious!

  7. 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. 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.