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Homemade gooey butter cookies stacked on a plate, dusted with powdered sugar, with one broken open to reveal a soft, creamy center. Warm, cozy kitchen vibes in the background.

Gooey Butter Cookies

4 from 1 vote
Soft, cakey, and decadently rich, these Gooey Butter Cookies are inspired by St. Louis’s iconic gooey butter cake. Whether made from scratch or with a cake mix shortcut.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chill Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 145
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

Classic Gooey Butter Cookies
  • 8 oz Cream cheese - Softened
  • ½ cup Unsalted butter - Room temperature
  • 1½ cups Granulated sugar
  • 2 Eggs
  • 2 teaspoon Vanilla extract
  • 2¼ cups All-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoon Baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon Salt
  • 1 cup Powdered sugar - For rolling
Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies with Cake Mix
  • 8 oz Cream cheese - Softened
  • ½ cup Unsalted butter - Room temperature
  • 1 Egg
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
  • 1 box Yellow cake mix - (15.25 oz), any brand
  • 1 cup Powdered sugar - For rolling

Equipment

  • Large mixing bowl (For creaming butter & sugar)
  • Electric mixer (Hand or stand mixer)
  • Measuring cups (For dry/wet ingredients)
  • Measuring spoons
  • Baking sheets (Lined with parchment)
  • Parchment paper (To prevent sticking)
  • Cookie scoop (Or tablespoon for dough balls)
  • Cooling rack (For cooling cookies)
  • Small bowl (For rolling in powdered sugar)

Method
 

Gooey Butter Cookies (From Scratch)
  1. Beat softened cream cheese and butter until smooth; beat in sugar until fluffy.
  2. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla.
  3. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
  4. Gradually mix dry into wet ingredients until combined.
  5. Cover and refrigerate dough for at least 2 hours.
  6. Preheat oven, prep baking sheets, and prepare powdered sugar.
  7. Scoop and roll dough balls in powdered sugar.
  8. Bake 10–12 mins until edges are set and centers are soft.
  9. Cool cookies on tray, then transfer to wire rack.
Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies (With Cake Mix)
  1. Beat cream cheese and butter, add egg and vanilla.
  2. Mix in cake mix until combined.
  3. Refrigerate dough for 1 hour.
  4. Preheat oven, prep trays and powdered sugar.
  5. Scoop, roll in sugar, and place on trays.
  6. Bake 9–11 mins until edges are set.
  7. Cool on tray, then transfer to rack.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 cookieCalories: 145kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 1.5gFat: 7.5gSaturated Fat: 4.5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 110mgPotassium: 25mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 230IUCalcium: 25mgIron: 0.5mg

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be considered an approximation. Actual values may vary based on specific ingredients used and portion sizes.

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