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These gooey butter cookies are prepped in 5 minutes and have a perfectly addicting chewy texture making them one of our go-to cookies!

Gooey butter cookies stacked on top of each other on white plate.
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Cake Mix Cookies!

We love making cookies with the kids, and these gooey butter cookies are a family favorite! This cake mix cookie is pretty much half a cookie and half a cupcake, and you really can’t go wrong with that. You may also want to try our Gooey Butter Cake!

When you need a quick and easy cookie recipe, cake mix cookies are the way to go! They’re so convenient, and you can easily switch up the flavors depending on the mix—like these Frosted Lemon Cookies, or Funfetti Cookies.

WHY WE LOVE IT:

  • Mix it up. Easily change the flavor by using your favorite flavor of cake!
  • Soft and chewy. They are made with cake mix, butter, and cream cheese and are so soft and moist.
  • Easy. Simply dump, mix, roll, and bake. The batter is prepped in only 5 minutes!
Ingredients for gooey butter cookies on white counter.

Ingredients

  • 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese – softened
  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened How to Soften Butter Quickly
  • 1 egg room-temperature incorporates best
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 (15.25-ounce) box yellow cake mix or another flavor like strawberry or chocolate cake mix
  • 1 cup powdered sugar – plus more for dusting

How to Make Gooey Butter Cookies

  1. BATTER. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer (or a stand mixer with the paddle attachment) to beat 8 ounces cream cheese, ½ cup butter, 1 egg, and ½ teaspoon vanilla with a hand mixer until fluffy.
    • Add the cake mix powder and mix until combined. Chill for 30 minutes.
  2. PREP. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  3. BAKE. Place 1 cup powdered sugar in a shallow bowl. Scoop and roll dough into 1½-inch cookie dough balls then roll in powdered sugar until well coated. Place onto a lightly greased baking sheet.
    • Bake for 10–12 minutes.
    • Let cookies sit on the cookie sheet for a few minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool.
  4. ENJOY! Sift more powdered sugar on top, if desired.
Gooey butter cookies recipe stacked on top of each other on white plate.

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4.99 from 439 votes

Gooey Butter Cookies

By: Lil’ Luna
Made easy with a yellow cake mix, these gooey butter cookies are prepped in 5 minutes and have a perfectly addicting chewy texture!
Servings: 24 cookies
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Chill time: 30 minutes
Total: 45 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 egg
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 (15.25-ounce) box yellow cake mix
  • 1 cup powdered sugar, plus more for dusting

Instructions 

  • In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, butter, egg, and vanilla with a hand mixer until fluffy.
  • Mix in cake mix until combined, and chill for 30 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • Place powdered sugar in a bowl. Scoop out and roll dough into 1½-inch balls and roll in powdered sugar until well coated. Place onto a lightly greased cookie sheet.
  • Bake for 10–12 minutes.
  • Let cookies sit on the cookie sheet for a few minutes, then remove to a rack to cool.
  • Sift more powdered sugar on top, if desired.

Video

Notes

Variations. Other cake mix flavors such as strawberry, chocolate, and Funfetti can be used. 
Store cookie dough. Place the dough in an airtight container or wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 3 days or see How to Freeze Cookie Dough.
Store cookies. Place cooled cookies in an air-tight container on the counter for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie, Calories: 57kcal, Carbohydrates: 5g, Protein: 0.3g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 17mg, Sodium: 4mg, Potassium: 4mg, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 129IU, Calcium: 2mg, Iron: 0.04mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Recipe FAQ

How to store the dough?

Place the dough in an airtight container or wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 3 days or see How to Freeze Cookie Dough.

How to store?

Place cooled cookies in an air-tight container on the counter for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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4.99 from 439 votes (332 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




426 Comments

  1. joann rudolph says:

    Cookies were very very good. And delicious and 3asy

  2. Penny says:

    5 stars
    Soft fluffy & delicious! I used lemon cake mix.

  3. Sierra says:

    They are just okay, I agree with a reviewer below that that just taste like yellow cake mix cookies kinda on the dry side. I’ve had “Butter Bars” before that they have more of a buttery ooey gooey filling and these are not the same. Going to stick with traditional Butter Bars. I would like to try this with a chocolate cake mix though, that would be tasty.

  4. Eleanor Blystone says:

    5 stars
    Absolutely delicious and super easy!

  5. Spencer! says:

    could I use salted butter with this recipe?

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      Yes you can.

  6. Jodi Barnes says:

    5 stars
    Terrific recipe! Turned out so soft, chewy, and delicious. Because I ended up being asked last ,minute to bake cookies for a friend’s party, I also did the lemon and the chocolate stuffed with rolos variations you gave. Huge hits with everyone who ate them and shared the link to your recipes many times. .

  7. Ang Bee says:

    5 stars
    These have easily become my favorite cookies to make. The cream cheese makes them so good and I like to add Rainbow jimmies or non parell’s to my dough for color and fun! I don’t even like to share them!

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      Oh I’m so glad to hear you love the cookies! The addition of the sprinkles sounds so fun!

  8. Susan Sims says:

    5 stars
    This recipe is fantastic as is but you can also add flavor extra. I made half plain and 1/2 strawberry. Both turned out delicious and they freeze great! In fact, I’m sitting here eating a few right now that I just took out of the freezer. That prompted me to look up which recipe I used, and it’s this one. Just wanted to say how much we have enjoyed them. Great recipe! Easy and yummy.

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      Thanks for sharing! I’m so glad the cookies have been a hit! And they do freeze beautifully, don’t they?

  9. Next says:

    These turn out exactly as yellow cake. You’d think 8oz of cream cheese & 4oz of butter would make some difference, but they don’t. If you like plain unfrosted yellow cake mix in baked rounded blobs, go for it!

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      Sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy the cookies. Thanks for giving the recipe a try!

  10. Stephanie says:

    5 stars
    These vanilla chewy cookies are so decadent and scrumptious! Thank you so much, I can’t wait to feed them to my friends.

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      Oh you’re welcome!! I hope they enjoy the cookies too.