Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies: The Easiest Cake Mix Recipe
Craving a sweet treat that’s incredibly easy to make? These Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies are your answer! Made with a simple box of cake mix and a handful of other ingredients, these cookies are irresistibly soft, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. They’re perfect for any occasion, whether it’s a quick weeknight dessert, a holiday gathering, or a fun cookie swap. Get ready to impress everyone with these easy-to-make and utterly satisfying cookies!

If you’re a fan of the classic Ooey Gooey Butter Cake, you’ll absolutely adore these cookies. They capture all the rich, buttery, and gooey goodness of the cake in a convenient, bite-sized form. Plus, they’re so easy to make that even beginner bakers can whip them up in no time. Let’s dive into the recipe and discover the secrets to creating these delightful treats.
Why You’ll Love This Ooey Gooey Butter Cookie Recipe
- Unbelievably Easy: This recipe relies on a boxed cake mix, simplifying the process and minimizing the ingredients needed.
- Perfectly Soft and Gooey: These cookies have a slightly crisp edge with a rich, buttery, and wonderfully gooey center. The texture is simply divine!
- Versatile for Any Occasion: Whether it’s a holiday party, a bake sale, or a casual get-together, these cookies are always a hit.
- Customizable Flavors: Feel free to experiment with different cake mix flavors or add your favorite mix-ins, such as chocolate chips, nuts, or sprinkles.
- Kid-Friendly Baking: The straightforward steps make this a fun and easy recipe for kids to help with in the kitchen.
- Guaranteed Crowd-Pleaser: These cookies are so irresistible that they’ll disappear quickly wherever you serve them.
Key Ingredients for Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies

Here’s a breakdown of the key ingredients you’ll need to make these delightful cookies:
- Cream Cheese: Softened cream cheese is essential for adding richness and that signature soft, gooey texture to the cookies.
- Unsalted Butter: Room temperature butter blends smoothly with the cream cheese and contributes to the rich, buttery flavor of the cookies.
- Egg: The egg acts as a binder, holding the ingredients together and providing structure to the cookies.
- Pure Vanilla Extract: A touch of vanilla extract enhances the overall flavor profile and adds a warm, sweet note to the cookies.
- Yellow Cake Mix: The base of the recipe, providing sweetness, structure, and convenience.
- Powdered Sugar (for rolling): Coating the dough in powdered sugar creates the classic crackled cookie look as they bake.
- Powdered Sugar (for dusting): A light dusting of powdered sugar before serving adds a touch of elegance and extra sweetness.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Baking Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies
Follow these simple steps to create perfect Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies every time:

Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and butter. Use an electric mixer to beat them together until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

Step 2: Add the egg and vanilla extract to the cream cheese and butter mixture. Beat until well combined and the wet ingredients are fully incorporated.

Step 3: Gradually add the yellow cake mix to the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the dough.

Step 4: Once the dough is combined, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. This chilling time is crucial for preventing the cookies from spreading too much during baking.

Step 5: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Use a cookie dough scoop or your hands to form 1-inch balls of dough. Roll each ball generously in powdered sugar, ensuring they are fully coated.

Step 6: Place the powdered sugar-coated dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.

Step 7: Bake for 9-12 minutes, or until the edges are set and the tops are lightly crackled. Be careful not to overbake them, as you want the centers to remain soft and gooey.

Step 8: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the cookies cool on the sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with more powdered sugar before serving on a cookie tray.
Storage Instructions for Freshness
Here’s how to store your Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies to maintain their deliciousness:
- Room Temperature: Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. To prevent sticking, place a sheet of parchment paper between layers.
- Refrigerator: Due to the cream cheese content, you can also store the cookies in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Allow them to come to room temperature before serving for the best texture.
- Freezer: These cookies freeze exceptionally well. Store them in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
- Freezing the Dough: You can also freeze the cookie dough balls (before rolling in powdered sugar). When ready to bake, thaw slightly, roll in powdered sugar, and bake as directed.

Expert Tips for Perfect Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies
Follow these expert tips to ensure your cookies turn out perfect every time:
- Use Room Temperature Ingredients: Allow the cream cheese, butter, and egg to come to room temperature before mixing. This helps them blend together smoothly, creating a soft and even dough.
- Chill the Dough Before Baking: The dough will be quite soft after mixing, so refrigerating it is crucial. Chilling helps the dough firm up and prevents the cookies from spreading too much during baking.
- Avoid Overbaking: Remove the cookies from the oven when the edges are set, but the centers still look slightly soft. They will continue to firm up as they cool, keeping the cookies tender and gooey.
- Roll Generously in Powdered Sugar: Make sure each dough ball is well coated in powdered sugar. This creates the classic crackled look as the cookies bake.
- Use a Cookie Scoop: A cookie scoop helps ensure that the cookies are the same size, so they bake evenly.
- Line the Baking Sheet: Baking on parchment paper or a silicone baking mat prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze.
More Delicious Cake Mix Cookie Recipes
If you enjoyed this Ooey Gooey Butter Cookie recipe, be sure to check out these other fantastic cake mix cookie recipes:
- Cake Mix Snickerdoodle Cookies – A classic cookie with a cake mix twist!
- The Best Cake Mix Cookie Recipes – Discover a variety of easy and delicious cake mix cookie recipes.
- Lemon Cake Mix Cookies – Bright and zesty lemon-flavored cookies made with cake mix.
- Carrot Cake Mix Cookies – A spiced and flavorful cookie that tastes just like carrot cake.
Enjoy baking and sharing these delightful Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies! They’re a guaranteed hit with everyone who tries them. Don’t forget to leave a star rating and comment below if you enjoyed the recipe. Your feedback helps others find this recipe and lets me know how they turned out for you!

Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies Cake Mix
Prep Time: 1 hour 10 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 1 hour 20 mins
Servings: 24
Cuisine: American
Course: Dessert
Calories: 145
Author: Carrie Barnard
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 15.25-ounce box yellow cake mix
- ¼ cup powdered sugar, for rolling
- Powdered sugar, for dusting before serving
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese and butter with an electric mixer until smooth.
- Beat in egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
- Mix in yellow cake mix until a soft dough forms.
- Cover the dough and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Scoop the dough into 1-inch balls and roll each ball in powdered sugar to coat. Place 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 9–12 minutes, until the edges are set and the tops are lightly crackled.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for several minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Dust the cooled cookies with additional powdered sugar before serving.
Recipe Notes
Ensure cream cheese, butter, and egg are at room temperature for a smooth dough.
Chilling is essential; the dough is soft and will spread without it.
Do not overbake; centers should look slightly soft.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 145kcal
Carbohydrates: 18g
Protein: 2g
Fat: 8g
Saturated Fat: 5g
Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g
Monounsaturated Fat: 2g
Trans Fat: 0.2g
Cholesterol: 27mg
Sodium: 162mg
Potassium: 25mg
Fiber: 0.2g
Sugar: 11g
Vitamin A: 255IU
Calcium: 49mg
Iron: 0.4mg
