Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies are a delightful holiday treat that brings together the comforting sweetness of butter cookies with a magically gooey center, perfect for festive gatherings or a cozy evening. This recipe offers a wonderfully easy way to create a crowd-pleasing dessert that embodies the spirit of Christmas with its rich flavor and irresistible texture.
Key Ingredients for Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
How to Make Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies
Get ready for a truly magical baking experience! These Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies are a dream to make, offering a delightful balance of crisp edges and a luxuriously soft, gooey center that melts in your mouth. With a preparation time of just 25 minutes, you can whip up these festive delights quickly, making them perfect for last-minute holiday baking or satisfying those sweet cravings.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prepare the Butter and Cream Cheese Base: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and softened cream cheese until smooth and well combined. This forms the rich foundation of our cookies.
- Add Sweetness and Flavor: Gradually beat in the granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. Stir in the vanilla extract, ensuring it’s evenly distributed.
- Incorporate the Egg: Add the large egg to the mixture and beat until thoroughly incorporated, creating a cohesive base.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. This ensures an even distribution of leavening and seasoning.
- Marry Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in the large mixing bowl. Mix on low speed or by hand until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; this is crucial for a tender cookie.
- Chill the Dough: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the dough for at least 1 hour, or until firm enough to handle. This chilling step is essential for preventing the cookies from spreading too much during baking.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking.
- Form and Bake: Once chilled, scoop rounded tablespoons of dough and roll them into balls. Place the balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
- The Magic Touch: Lightly dust the tops of the dough balls with granulated sugar. This creates a beautiful, slightly caramelized crust as they bake.
- Bake to Perfection: Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers appear slightly underbaked. The cookies will continue to set as they cool.
- Cool and Dust: Allow the Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, generously dust with powdered sugar.
Why You’ll Love This Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies
You’ll adore these Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies for their incredibly rich, buttery flavor and that signature, utterly irresistible gooey center that truly lives up to its name. Unlike a traditional crisp butter cookie, these offer a delightful textural contrast, with slightly firm edges giving way to a melt-in-your-mouth softness that’s pure bliss. The cost-saving benefit of whipping these up at home is immense, allowing you to impress guests and family with a gourmet-quality treat without the hefty bakery price tag, all while enjoying the festive charm of a classic holiday bake.
The delicate sweetness and creamy texture make them a standout compared to a basic sugar cookie, offering a more decadent experience that’s perfect for any holiday celebration. They are incredibly versatile, ready to be adorned with festive sprinkles or a hint of peppermint for an extra special touch. Stop dreaming about delicious Christmas treats and give these Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies a try today – your taste buds will thank you!
Storing and Reheating Tips
- Storing: Store cooled Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you live in a very warm climate, refrigeration might be best to maintain firmness.
- Reheating: For a slightly softer, more gooey cookie experience, you can gently reheat individual cookies in a toaster oven or a conventional oven at 300°F (150°C) for about 2-4 minutes, or until warmed through and the center is soft again. Be careful not to over-warm, as they can become too soft.
- Freezing: Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies freeze beautifully. Place cooled cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. Thaw at room temperature before enjoying.
Final Thoughts
These Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies are a heavenly holiday indulgence, promising pure joy with every tender bite. Embrace the simple pleasure of baking this delightful treat and share the magic of homemade goodness with your loved ones. Give them a try this season – you won’t regret it!
Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and softened cream cheese until smooth and well combined.1 cup unsalted butter, 1 8-ounce package cream cheese
- Gradually beat in the granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. Stir in the vanilla extract, ensuring it’s evenly distributed.1 ½ cups granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Add the large egg to the mixture and beat until thoroughly incorporated, creating a cohesive base.1 large egg
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt.2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ¼ teaspoon salt
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in the large mixing bowl. Mix on low speed or by hand until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; this is crucial for a tender cookie.2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ¼ teaspoon salt
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the dough for at least 1 hour, or until firm enough to handle.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking.
- Once chilled, scoop rounded tablespoons of dough and roll them into balls. Place the balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
- Lightly dust the tops of the dough balls with granulated sugar.granulated sugar
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers appear slightly underbaked. The cookies will continue to set as they cool.
- Allow the Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, generously dust with powdered sugar.powdered sugar