Celebrate the season with Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies, a holiday favorite known for their melt-in-your-mouth texture and festive pops of color. These cookies are soft, sweet, and utterly irresistible.
Perfect for cookie exchanges or cozy winter evenings, they combine rich cream cheese and buttery sweetness with cheerful sprinkles to instantly lift holiday spirits.
Key Players in Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies
- Salted butter – Brings richness and a savory edge to balance the sweetness.
- Cream cheese – Adds creamy tang and gives the cookies their signature gooey texture.
- Granulated sugar – Sweetens the dough and helps create a crisp edge.
- Egg – Binds everything together while keeping the cookies soft.
- Vanilla extract – Enhances the holiday flavors with a warm, aromatic depth.
- All-purpose flour – Provides structure and just the right bite.
- Confectioners’ sugar – Adds a delicate finish and coats each cookie in festive snow-like sweetness.
- Baking powder – Gives a light lift for that pillowy texture.
- Christmas sprinkles – Add holiday cheer and playful crunch.
Let’s Bake: How to Make Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies
Start by creaming together the butter, cream cheese, and sugar until fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla to bring in warmth and moisture.
Slowly mix in the dry ingredients—flour, baking powder, and part of the confectioners’ sugar—until the dough forms. Fold in those merry sprinkles for a festive touch.
Scoop the dough, roll it in sugar like a snowball, and slightly flatten before baking. Watch for that moment when the tops are just set but not browned—pure ooey gooey perfection.
Cookie Magic: Tips and Twists for Festive Success
To get the perfect texture, don’t overbake—pull the cookies out when they still look slightly underdone. They’ll firm up as they cool, maintaining that gooey center.
Chilling the dough for 15–20 minutes before rolling can make handling easier and help keep the cookies from spreading too much.
Want a flavor twist? Swap vanilla extract for almond extract or peppermint for a holiday surprise. You can even mix in white chocolate chips or crushed candy canes for extra festivity.
Keep the Cheer Going: Storing Your Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies
Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days to maintain their soft, tender texture.
To freeze, place cooled cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet to harden before transferring to a freezer bag. Reheat gently in the microwave or enjoy them as a chilled treat straight from the freezer.
Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup 1 stick / 113 g salted butter, softened
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 ¼ cups 282 g all-purpose flour
- 1 package 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup 126 g confectioners’ sugar, divided
- 1 large egg room temperature
- 1 ½ cups 300 g granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup Christmas sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter, cream cheese, and granulated sugar using a hand mixer until the mixture is smooth and well-combined.
- Incorporate the egg and vanilla extract into the creamed mixture, mixing until fully blended.
- Gradually add the flour, baking powder, and ½ cup of the confectioners’ sugar with the mixer set to low speed, ensuring all ingredients are well integrated.
- Carefully fold in the Christmas sprinkles until just mixed throughout the dough.
- Using a cookie scoop that holds approximately 2 tablespoons, portion the dough and roll each scoop in the remaining ½ cup of confectioners’ sugar.
- Place about 6 dough balls per prepared baking sheet, spacing them evenly, and gently flatten each with the bottom of a glass or your hand.
- Bake for 8 to 11 minutes, or until the tops appear set and no longer glossy.
- Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
