Savor the festive delight of Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies, featuring a rich blend of unsalted butter, cream cheese, and a white cake mix base, highlighted by colorful sprinkles and a dusting of powdered sugar for the ultimate holiday treat.
Every Christmas, as the snowflakes start to pirouette gently down from the grey canvas above, our family kitchen transforms into a little bakery full of warmth and laughter. The recipe for Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies has a special place in our hearts and on our holiday table. It started with my grandmother, who had a knack for turning simple ingredients into something magical. These cookies, with their tender, almost melt-in-your-mouth texture and festive sprinkles, became a symbol of our family’s warmth during the holiday season. It’s not just about baking cookies; it’s about recreating the joy and comfort of my grandmother’s kitchen, where every sprinkle of sugar was mixed with love and every batch baked was a blanket of comfort to our souls. Now, as I share this recipe, I pass on a piece of that cherished tradition, hoping it brings as much joy to others as it has to our family.
Why You’ll Love These Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies
Dive into the holiday spirit with our Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies—a recipe that promises to deliver joy and delight in every bite. Here’s why this recipe stands out:
- Foolproof Simplicity: Even novice bakers will find this recipe achievable, thanks to straightforward steps and common ingredients that come together with minimal fuss.
- Customizable Flavors: With optional almond and orange extracts, you can tweak the flavor to suit your festive mood or stick with the delightful richness of butter and cream cheese.
- Visually Festive: The cookies are rolled in powdered sugar and colorful sprinkles, making them not only tasty but also a bright, cheerful addition to any holiday table.
- Perfect for Gifting: These cookies are ideal for packaging up and sharing the love, spreading holiday cheer among friends and family.
Ingredients Notes
Each ingredient in the Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies plays a pivotal role in crafting these irresistible holiday treats. Here’s a closer look at what each component brings to the table:
- Unsalted Butter & Cream Cheese: At room temperature, these ingredients ensure your cookie dough is creamy and smooth, providing a rich base for the cookies.
- White Cake Mix: Using a premade cake mix means less measuring and fewer dry ingredients, simplifying the process without sacrificing taste.
- Sprinkles & Powdered Sugar: These are not just for decoration; the sprinkles add a pop of color and a slight crunch, while the powdered sugar creates a delicate, sweet crust as it bakes.
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How To Make Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies
Ready to bake some holiday magic? Follow these detailed steps to create your own batch of Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies that everyone will adore.
- Mixing the Dough: Start by creaming together room-temperature butter and cream cheese until smooth. Incorporate the egg and extracts, if using, before gradually blending in the white cake mix. Fold in half of the sprinkles, then chill the dough to reduce stickiness and enhance flavor.
- Preparing for Baking: Once chilled, prepare your workstation with bowls of powdered sugar and remaining sprinkles. Shape the dough into small balls, coat each in sugar, then embellish with sprinkles for a festive look.
- Baking to Perfection: Arrange the dough balls on a greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for precisely ten minutes. This ensures they remain soft and gooey on the inside. Allow them to cool slightly before transferring to a wire rack.
Storage Options
Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, ensuring they stay fresh and delicious. For longer storage, you can freeze the dough balls or baked cookies for up to three months, perfect for having a stash of holiday treats ready at a moment’s notice.
Variations and Substitutions
Whether you’re looking to switch things up or adapt the recipe to dietary restrictions, here are some variations and substitutions for Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies:
- Gluten-Free Adaptation: Substitute the white cake mix for any gluten-free cake mix to accommodate those with gluten sensitivities.
- Flavor Twists: Experiment with different extracts like vanilla or lemon for a new flavor profile or add spices like cinnamon or nutmeg for a warm, spiced version.
- Vegan Options: Use vegan butter and cream cheese substitutes, and a suitable egg replacer to create a vegan version of this holiday favorite.
With these tips and variations, you can easily make the Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies uniquely yours this holiday season!
Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract optional
- 1/2 teaspoon orange extract optional
- 1 package white cake mix
- 1/2 cup sprinkles divided
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Creaming the Base: Begin by placing the unsalted butter and cream cheese in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer, cream the ingredients together until they achieve a smooth, homogenous texture.
- Incorporating Wet Ingredients: Add the egg to the creamed mixture, followed by the almond and orange extracts if desired. Continue to mix until these ingredients are fully integrated.
- Adding Dry Ingredients: Gradually introduce the white cake mix to the bowl, mixing continuously to ensure that the dry mix is completely absorbed into the wet ingredients, forming a cohesive dough.
- Incorporating Sprinkles: Fold in one-quarter cup of the sprinkles into the dough until evenly distributed.
- Chilling the Dough: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the dough. It is recommended to chill the dough for at least one hour, or up to 24 hours, which will facilitate easier handling by reducing stickiness.
- Preheating the Oven: Prior to baking, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Preparing Coatings: Place the powdered sugar in one bowl and the remaining one-quarter cup of sprinkles in another. These will be used for coating the cookies.
- Forming Cookies: Using a one-inch cookie scoop, extract portions of the chilled dough and roll them into balls. First, sprinkle each ball with a few of the reserved sprinkles, then roll them in the powdered sugar until fully coated.
- Baking: Arrange the coated dough balls on a greased cookie sheet, ensuring they are spaced apart to allow for spreading. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes.
- Cooling: Allow the cookies to cool on the cookie sheet for two minutes after removal from the oven. Subsequently, transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
