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My Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies bring smiles every holiday season. They melt right in your mouth with that perfect buttery sweetness. I started making these after tasting something similar at my friend's house years ago. Now my kitchen sparkles with festive sprinkles every December as I bake batch after batch. The soft texture and pretty colors make them disappear fast from any cookie tray.
Making Perfect Cookies Every Time
- Skip the waiting: Unlike other cookie recipes you can start baking right away. The dough spreads just right without chilling.
- Double the sweetness: That powdered sugar works magic in these cookies. Use it in the dough and roll the cookies in it before baking for the perfect gooey center.
Keeping Your Cookies Fresh
- Quick storage: Let them cool completely then pop them in an airtight container. They stay fresh for days on the counter.
- Save the dough: Roll it into balls, freeze them on a tray, then bag them up. Write the date on your freezer bag.
- Freeze for later: Baked cookies freeze beautifully. Line them up on parchment paper, freeze them solid, then store in bags up to a month.
Cookie Time Shopping List
- One stick soft butter: Leave it out overnight to get perfectly soft.
- Cream cheese: Full fat makes these extra rich.
- White sugar: Regular granulated works perfectly.
- Fresh egg: Take it out early so it's room temperature.
- Pure vanilla: The good stuff makes a difference.
- All-purpose flour: Nothing fancy needed here.
- Powdered sugar: For the dough and rolling.
- Baking powder: Check that it's fresh.
- Holiday sprinkles: The more colorful the better.
Baking Your Cookies
- Mix the Base
- Get your oven warming to 350°F while you cream together your butter, cream cheese, and sugar until fluffy. Add your egg and vanilla, letting them mix in completely.
- Add Some Sparkle
- Fold those pretty sprinkles in gently. They add such festive pops of color throughout.
- Shape and Sugar
- My cookie scoop makes perfect portions every time. Roll each one in powdered sugar until they look like little snowballs.
- Into the Oven
- Line them up on your cookie sheets, give them a gentle press, and bake until they're just set, about 10 minutes. Let them rest before moving them or they might break.
Cookie Magic
These cookies have become famous at our holiday gatherings. That perfect softness and sweetness gets everyone asking for the recipe. My neighbor started making them for her cookie exchange and now they're the most requested treat. Something about that melt-in-your-mouth texture with festive sprinkles makes them impossible to resist.
Making Them Your Own
I love playing around with different mix-ins for these cookies. Sometimes I swap the sprinkles for crushed candy canes. Last Christmas I added some almond extract and my family went crazy for them. My daughter loves helping me choose different colored sprinkles to match the holiday season. Green and red for Christmas, pink and red for Valentine's Day.
Perfect Pairings
Nothing beats these cookies with a mug of hot chocolate on a cold winter night. I serve them at our annual tree-trimming party alongside other Christmas cookies. The kids love dunking them in cold milk while the adults enjoy them with spiced cider. They make cookie platters look extra festive with their sparkly coating.
Simple Solutions
- Cookie spreading: Just a light touch when flattening the dough balls. I learned the hard way that pressing too hard makes them lose their beautiful shape.
- Keep them soft: Watch your timer carefully. These cookies should stay soft and gooey in the middle. Once the tops set, pull them out even if you think they need another minute.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- → Why use room temperature ingredients?
Room temperature butter, cream cheese, and eggs blend more smoothly and create a better cookie texture.
- → How do I know when the cookies are done?
Bake until the tops no longer appear wet, about 8-11 minutes. Don't overbake to maintain the gooey texture.
- → Can I make these ahead?
Yes, these cookies can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container. The cream cheese keeps them soft for several days.
- → Why roll in powdered sugar?
Rolling in powdered sugar creates a sweet coating and festive snow-like appearance while adding extra sweetness to the cookies.
- → When should I add the sprinkles?
Fold in sprinkles gently at the end to prevent the colors from bleeding into the dough.