Gooey Butter Cookies

Your favorite Ooey Gooey Butter Cake in a little bite, these Gooey Butter Cookies are made completely from scratch. Crispy on the outside, soft, buttery and chewy on the inside, they just about melt in your mouth.

Made with whole ingredients you have in your kitchen already, no cake mix needed!

Buttery Perfection in Every Bite

I’ve been wracking my brain lately trying to remember all the holiday cookies my family used to make. I remember whole days spent baking up batches of different cookies with piles of cookie tins stacked in the pantry waiting to be delivered to friends and family.

Little spritz cookies, fudgy Chocolate Crinkle Cookies, candy cane shaped shortbread, Christmas Crack. I feel like we used to make like 37 different varieties and my mom would always manage to give away my favorites like these super sweet and crunchy Magic Bars.

But now, I have a new favorite in the lineup and I wouldn’t care if this was the only cookie I baked all season long. These Gooey Butter  Cookies are inspired by everyone’s favorite Gooey Butter Cake. Rich, buttery, sweet with a crispy top, these cookies are everything and more in just one little bite.

And unlike the famous cake recipe, these Gooey Butter Cake Cookies are made completely from scratch. So, you won’t have to go hunting for a box of cake mix because you, most likely, have all the ingredients right in your kitchen.

How To Make Gooey Butter Cookies

I’ve been playing around with the recipe for these Gooey Butter Cake Cookies for years and perfected it a few years ago. I used my Chocolate Crinkle Cookie recipe as the starting point for this recipe omitting the cocoa powder and switching up the eggs so they get that nice yellow hue with the tender, chewy center.

1. Make the Cookie Dough. Whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Beat the butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add the sugar and continue beating until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time incorporating completely after each addition. Add the vanilla and blend well. Add the dry ingredients to the mixer bowl at low speed gradually until combined.
2. Chill the dough for 2 hours or until firm.
3. Prep the cookies for baking. Scoop a rounded spoonful of dough and form into a ball using your hands. Roll the ball in the confectioner’s sugar until completely covered and place on the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
4. Bake the cookies. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 10-12 minutes.
5. Cool for 2 minutes on the baking sheet and then move to a wire rack to cool completely.

How To Freeze Gooey Butter Cookies

I love that I can prep ahead and make the dough in advance. It’s easy to freeze, just wrap in plastic wrap and transfer to a zip top bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.

You can also freeze the cookies after they’ve been baked but I much prefer to freeze the dough before baking. Freshly baked cookies are always best enjoyed right out of the oven!

How To Store Leftovers

You can make Gooey Butter Cookies up to 5 days in advance. Just store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature until ready to serve. Honestly, they won’t last that long because we usually polish them off in a day or two.