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Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies

Christmas gooey butter cookies are soft-centered cake mix cookies with a snowy powdered sugar coating and festive red and green jimmies. Chill the creamy dough until firm, then bake until the edges are set and the centers remain soft.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Chilling 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 32 minutes
Servings: 24 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 180
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 block (8 oz) cream cheese softened
  • 0.5 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 egg large
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 box (15.25 oz) yellow cake mix
  • 0.5 cup jimmies red and green
  • 1 cup powdered sugar

Equipment

  • 1 electric mixer
  • 1 large baking sheet

Method
 

  1. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter with an electric mixer until smooth.
  2. Beat in the egg and vanilla.
  3. Mix in the cake mix on low speed until no dry patches remain.
  4. Fold in the jimmies.
  5. Cover and chill the dough for 1 hour, until firm.
  6. Heat the oven to 350°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  7. Scoop the dough into 1 1/2-tablespoon portions and roll each into a ball.
  8. Coat each dough ball generously in powdered sugar.
  9. Arrange the dough balls about 2 inches apart on the baking sheet.
  10. Bake in batches for 10–12 minutes, until the edges are set and the centers remain soft.
  11. Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.

Notes

For the softest centers, remove the cookies when the edges are set even if the centers still look soft. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days; freeze yes, in an airtight container for up to 2 months. For a gluten-free option, use a gluten-free yellow cake mix.