Name: Eggnog Delight Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 27 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 ¾ cups (660 ml) all-purpose flour; 1 ¼ cups (250 g) all-natural cane sugar; ½ cup (113 g) butter; 4 ounces (113 g) cream cheese; ½ cup (120 ml) sour cream or full-fat Greek yogurt; 2 teaspoons baking powder; ½ teaspoon sea salt; ¾ teaspoon cinnamon; ½ teaspoon nutmeg; 1 large egg; ⅓ cup (80 ml) full-fat eggnog; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; Powdered sugar (for rolling); Fresh grated nutmeg (for garnish); Brown butter glaze (optional)

Indulgent eggnog delight gooey butter cookies promise a festive twist on classic comfort treats.

Holiday baking reaches new levels of deliciousness with these irresistible morsels.

Creamy textures and rich seasonal flavors combine in a delectable sweet experience.

Soft, melt-in-your-mouth cookies capture the essence of winter celebrations with every bite.

Seasonal spices and luxurious ingredients create a memorable dessert that feels both nostalgic and innovative.

Bakers of all skill levels can master this delightful recipe that brings warmth and joy to any gathering.

The magical combination of smooth, buttery goodness and festive eggnog will make you the star of any holiday party.

Explore this delectable recipe and create a magical moment of pure deliciousness.

Chill for Flavor Intensity: Refrigerate the dough overnight to develop deeper, richer eggnog notes and improve cookie texture.
Master the Sugar Coating: Roll cookies generously in powdered sugar for a delicate, melt-in-your-mouth exterior that adds sweetness and visual appeal.
Watch Baking Time Carefully: Check cookies at 10 minutes to prevent over-browning, ensuring a soft, gooey center characteristic of butter cookies.
Control Dough Consistency: If dough feels too sticky, add a touch more flour or chill longer to make scooping and shaping easier.
Enhance with Brown Butter Glaze: Drizzle optional brown butter glaze and sprinkle fresh nutmeg to elevate the cookies' festive eggnog flavor profile.

Store and Reheat Without Losing Moisture

Refrigerate: Store cookies in an airtight container lined with parchment paper between layers. Keep fresh for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
Freeze: Place cooled cookies in a freezer-safe container with wax paper separating each layer. Cookies will maintain quality for 2-3 months when frozen.
Reheat: Warm cookies gently in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or restore crispness by placing them in a preheated 300°F oven for 3-5 minutes before serving.

Pair With These Holiday Beverages

Pair with Spiced Rum Delight: Complement these gooey eggnog cookies with a classic spiced rum cocktail, enhancing the warm holiday flavors and creating a perfect dessert-drink combination.
Match with Creamy Chai Latte: Serve alongside a rich, aromatic chai latte that echoes the warm spices of cinnamon and nutmeg found in the cookies, creating a cozy winter treat.
Combine with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: Top a scoop of creamy vanilla bean ice cream with crumbled eggnog cookies for a decadent dessert that blends cold and warm textures.
Enjoy with Mulled Wine: Sip on a glass of warm, spiced mulled wine that mirrors the festive holiday notes of the eggnog cookies, creating a delightful seasonal pairing.

Holiday Twist Ideas for These Cookies

Rum-Soaked Sensation: Replace eggnog with dark rum and add extra cinnamon for a boozy, spiced cookie that captures festive spirit.
Gingerbread Swap: Substitute half the flour with graham cracker crumbs and increase spices like ginger and cloves for a warm, holiday-inspired version.
Cream Cheese Drizzle: Create a maple cream cheese glaze by mixing cream cheese, maple syrup, and powdered sugar to top the cookies for an extra indulgent finish.
Nutty Crunch Upgrade: Fold chopped pecans or toasted walnuts into the dough and sprinkle additional chopped nuts on top before baking for added texture and depth of flavor.

Questions About Eggnog Cookies? We’ve Got You

Why do I need to chill the cookie dough before baking?

Chilling helps the dough firm up, prevents spreading, and allows the flavors to develop more deeply. It also makes the sticky dough easier to handle and shape into balls.

Can I substitute the eggnog with another liquid?

While eggnog is key to the recipe’s unique flavor, you could use milk or cream, but this will change the signature taste of the cookies. For best results, stick with eggnog.

How do I store these Eggnog Delight Gooey Butter Cookies?

Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. They’ll stay soft and delicious when properly sealed. For longer storage, you can freeze them for up to 2 weeks.

My cookies turned out too flat. What went wrong?

This could happen if the dough wasn’t chilled enough or if your butter was too soft. Make sure to refrigerate the dough for at least 30 minutes and use cold ingredients for the best texture.

Gooey Butter Cookies With Holiday Flavor

Indulge in a luxurious cookie that captures the essence of eggnog with its rich, velvety texture and warm seasonal spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.
Enjoy a simple recipe that requires minimal preparation, with straightforward mixing techniques and a quick 10-12 minute baking time perfect for busy holiday schedules.
These gooey butter cookies offer a delightful twist on traditional holiday treats, featuring a soft, melt-in-your-mouth consistency that appeals to both kids and adults with their powdered sugar coating and optional brown butter glaze.
Easily prepare the dough in advance and chill overnight, allowing flavors to develop and making party prep a breeze while filling your kitchen with irresistible seasonal aromas.

Ingredients That Make These Cookies Pop

Flour Mixture:

All-Purpose Flour: Provides the base structure for the soft, gooey cookies.
Baking Powder: Helps the cookies rise and creates a light texture.
Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the cookies.
Ground Cinnamon: Adds warm, festive holiday spice.
Ground Nutmeg: Contributes to the classic eggnog flavor profile.

Creamy Base:

Cream Cheese: Creates a rich, smooth texture in the cookies.
Unsalted Butter: Adds richness and helps with cookie tenderness.
Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt: Provides moisture and tanginess to the dough.

Sweet and Wet Ingredients:

Cane Sugar: Sweetens the cookies and helps with caramelization.
Large Egg: Binds the ingredients and adds structure.
Eggnog: Infuses the cookies with classic holiday flavor.
Vanilla Extract: Deepens the overall taste and aroma.
Powdered Sugar: Used for coating the cookies, adds sweetness and a pretty finish.
Brown Butter Glaze (Optional): Provides an extra layer of richness and decoration.
Fresh Grated Nutmeg: Offers a garnish with intense, fresh nutmeg flavor.

How to Bake Eggnog Cookies Perfectly

Step 1: Prepare Dry Ingredient Blend

Gather your dry ingredients in a spacious mixing bowl. Whisk together:

All-purpose flour
Baking powder
Salt
Ground cinnamon
Fresh ground nutmeg

Set this fragrant mixture aside, letting the spices mingle and create anticipation.

Step 2: Create Creamy Base

Grab your electric mixer and transform your dairy ingredients into a silky smooth foundation. Beat together:

Cream cheese
Unsalted butter
Sour cream or Greek yogurt

Blend until the mixture becomes luxuriously creamy and soft.

Step 3: Sweeten and Moisten the Mixture

Slowly introduce granulated sugar into the creamy base, mixing at low speed. Scrape down bowl sides to ensure perfect integration. Pour in:

Large egg
Eggnog
Pure vanilla extract

Continue mixing until the batter looks wonderfully uniform and inviting.

Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

Switch mixer to low speed and gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture. Mix just until combined. The dough will feel wonderfully sticky and soft.

Step 5: Chill Dough

Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Overnight chilling deepens the flavor complexity.

Step 6: Prepare Baking Setup

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease with cooking spray.

Step 7: Shape and Bake Cookies

Use cookie scoop to create 1-inch dough balls. Roll each ball in powdered sugar. Arrange on baking sheet, leaving 2 inches between cookies. Bake 10-12 minutes until edges look set.

Step 8: Final Touches

Let cookies rest on baking sheet 10-15 minutes. Transfer to cooling rack. Optional: Drizzle with brown butter glaze and sprinkle freshly grated nutmeg on top.

Isabella Rossi

Founder & Culinary Content Creator

Expertise

Recipe Development, Traditional Irish and European Cuisines, Food Styling and Photography, Culinary Education

Education

Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) – School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology

Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts
Focus: Comprehensive training in classical and modern cooking techniques, kitchen management, and menu development.

Ballymaloe Cookery School

Program: 12-Week Certificate Course
Focus: Intensive, hands-on experience emphasizing farm-to-table cooking and sustainable practices.

Liam is the voice behind many of Craft Meats’ most flavorful features. With roots in Dublin’s smoky barbecue scene and a culinary degree from the Dublin Institute of Technology, he brings time-tested cooking techniques to life.

His training at Ballymaloe Cookery School sharpened his farm-to-table approach, giving him a deep respect for every ingredient he writes about.

He’s not about overcomplicating the process, just helping you cook meat that’s worth talking about. When he’s not writing or grilling, he’s out foraging or nerding out on regional spice blends to add to his next recipe.