Name: Holiday Ooey Gooey Cake Mix Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 1 h 17 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 box yellow cake mix (or any flavor of cake mix); 1/2 cup softened butter; 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract; 8 ounces softened cream cheese; 1 egg; Powdered sugar (about 1 cup for rolling); Holiday sprinkles (1/2 cup or enough to coat)

There’s something downright magical about these **Holiday Ooey Gooey Cake Mix Cookies Recipe**—they’re soft, buttery, and bursting with festive charm. The perfect blend of cake mix and cream cheese give these cookies a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture that simply makes you smile with every bite.

A stack of four round cookies sits on a white plate, each cookie covered in thick, colorful sprinkles in red, green, and white colors. The cookies show a soft yellow dough underneath the sprinkles, with a slightly rough texture. One cookie leans against the stack, fully showing its sprinkle-covered top. The plate is on a white marbled surface, with a silver baking tray holding a similar cookie blurred in the background. A white cloth with red stripes is partially visible on the bottom right. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Holiday Ooey Gooey Cake Mix Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Holiday Ooey Gooey Cake Mix Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Holiday Ooey Gooey Cake Mix Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I honestly can’t get enough of how effortless these cookies come together, yet they taste like you’ve spent hours crafting a treat only for special occasions. Plus, their gooey, buttery texture is the kind of cookie hug that brightens any holiday gathering.

Simple Ingredients: You only need a few pantry staples, including cake mix and cream cheese, making it a quick and fuss-free recipe.
Deliciously Soft & Gooey: Unlike your usual cookie, these stay wonderfully soft in the center, giving you that perfect “ooey gooey” effect everyone raves about.
Festive Fun: Rolling them in powdered sugar and holiday sprinkles turns cookie-making into a joyful, colorful holiday activity.
Customizable Flavor: You can switch up the cake mix flavors to match your holiday theme or personal favorites – chocolate, red velvet, you name it!

The image shows three round cookies on a white plate, each covered with red, green, and white sprinkles. The cookies are soft and light yellow in color, with one cookie placed on top of another, broken in half to show the soft inside texture. The sprinkles are spread evenly all over the top and around the edges of each cookie. The plate sits on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

This recipe is a clever marriage of simple ingredients that create an irresistibly soft and flavorful cookie. The combination of cake mix and cream cheese is what gives the texture that famous ooey gooey feel, while the butter adds richness and moisture.

Flat lay of a small box of yellow cake mix partially opened showing the dry mix inside, a small white ceramic bowl with softened pale yellow butter, a small white bowl with creamy white cream cheese, one whole uncracked brown egg, a small white bowl holding clear vanilla extract, a small white bowl filled with fine white powdered sugar, a small white bowl of colorful holiday sprinkles, all arranged symmetrically and balanced on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Cake Mix: The base of the cookie, cake mix provides flavor, structure, and sweetness all in one — yellow cake mix works beautifully, but feel free to experiment.
Butter: Softened butter is essential for richness and helps create that tender crumb you want.
Vanilla Extract: Just a touch for warmth and depth in flavor – a little goes a long way here.
Cream Cheese: This little secret ingredient is what transforms these cookies from ordinary to outrageously soft and moist.
Egg: Helps bind the dough and gives the right structure to hold its shape during baking.
Powdered Sugar: Coating the cookies in powdered sugar adds a pretty, festive look and a sweet outer layer.
Holiday Sprinkles: For that extra pop of color and a bit of fun — perfectly festive and inviting.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

Personally, I love tweaking this recipe to fit the mood of the season or whatever flavors I’m craving. This recipe is a fantastic canvas so get creative and make it your own!

Variation: I’ve had great results swapping yellow cake mix for red velvet during Christmas or chocolate cake mix for a richer holiday cookie. Each one changes the vibe but keeps that ooey gooey magic.
Diet-Friendly Swap: For a dairy-free twist, try coconut oil instead of butter and vegan cream cheese—you’ll still get that luscious texture.
Seasonal Add-Ins: Stir in chopped nuts, dried cranberries, or mini chocolate chips for extra texture and flavor bursts.
Decorations: Beyond sprinkles, use edible glitter or cinnamon sugar to dress them up for holiday parties.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Holiday Ooey Gooey Cake Mix Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Cream the Butter, Cream Cheese & Vanilla

Start by beating the softened butter, cream cheese, vanilla, and egg together until the mixture is creamy and fluffy. This usually takes about 2-3 minutes and ensures your cookies develop that smooth, rich base texture.

Step 2: Fold in the Cake Mix

Add your cake mix to the wet ingredients and stir just until everything is combined. You want the dough to be smooth but don’t overmix—it should feel soft and slightly sticky.

Step 3: Chill the Dough

Pop the dough into the fridge for at least 30 minutes. This step is crucial because it firms up the dough, making it easier to roll and preventing spreading while baking.

Step 4: Roll in Sprinkles & Powdered Sugar

Shape the dough into small balls, then roll them in holiday sprinkles for a festive touch. Dip each sprinkled ball into powdered sugar until fully coated. Trust me, this double coating gives the cookies their signature sweet and snowy appearance.

Step 5: Bake to Perfection

Bake your cookies at 350°F (175°C) for 10-12 minutes. You’re aiming for lightly browned edges with soft centers. Let them cool on a wire rack for about 5 minutes before serving—they firm up slightly but stay irresistibly gooey inside.

Top Tip

Having made these cookies dozens of times now, these tips helped me perfect the texture and flavor—and I want you to have the best baking experience possible!

Don’t Skip Chilling: The fridge time is key for easy rolling and cookie shape—they bake up beautifully without too much spreading.
Use Room Temperature Ingredients: Softened butter and cream cheese blend smoothly, giving you that dreamy, silky dough without lumps.
Watch Your Bake Time: Cookies can go from gooey to dry fast, so keep an eye near the end and pull them out when edges just start to brown.
Cool Before Moving: Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for a couple minutes to firm up before transferring—they’re delicate fresh from the oven.

How to Serve Holiday Ooey Gooey Cake Mix Cookies Recipe

Holiday Ooey Gooey Cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually stick with colorful holiday sprinkles and powdered sugar because they add just the right festive sparkle. Sometimes I’ll dust a little cinnamon sugar on top for warmth, especially if I’m serving them with hot cocoa.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair beautifully with a simple glass of milk, coffee, or a cozy cup of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream. For holiday parties, I also love setting them alongside fruit platters or cheese boards for a fun sweet and savory combo.

Creative Ways to Present

For celebrations, I’ve arranged these cookies on tiered cake stands with twinkling fairy lights around and scattered pine branches for a charming centerpiece. You could also package them in cute holiday tins or clear bags tied with ribbons for thoughtful edible gifts!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They keep soft for about 4-5 days if the container is sealed well. If you forget them, just a quick toast in the oven revives that fresh-baked softness.

Freezing

These cookies freeze wonderfully! I freeze the dough rolled into balls on a baking sheet first, then transfer to a zip-top bag. When I want cookies, I bake straight from frozen—just add a minute or two to the baking time.

Reheating

To freshen up leftover cookies, I like to warm them in a 300°F oven for about 5 minutes. They soften right back up, making them taste freshly baked. Just be careful not to overheat or they’ll dry out.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use a different flavor of cake mix for this recipe?

Absolutely! This recipe is super flexible. Yellow cake mix is classic, but I’ve had success with red velvet, chocolate, or even spice cake mix to fit the season or flavor you want.

What if I don’t have cream cheese?

Cream cheese is key to the cookie’s ooey gooey texture, but you can try adding extra butter or even sour cream as a substitute—though the texture will be slightly different. I recommend cream cheese for best results.

How do I prevent my cookies from spreading too much?

Chilling the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking does wonders to prevent spreading. Also, make sure your butter and cream cheese aren’t too soft or melted when mixing, as that leads to flatter cookies.

Can I make these cookies ahead of time?

Yes! You can prepare the dough a day ahead and store it chilled in the fridge. Form and bake the cookies when you’re ready. They also freeze well if you want to save some for later holiday treats.

Final Thoughts

Making this Holiday Ooey Gooey Cake Mix Cookies Recipe has genuinely become a cherished tradition in my home. They’re simple enough to whip up during your busiest days but impressive enough to wow anyone who tastes them. I hope you’ll enjoy these soft, buttery cookies as much as I do—they really are the sweetest way to spread holiday cheer!