These Gooey Monster Eye Cookies are soft, chewy, and spooky-cute — the perfect Halloween cookie recipe made with yellow cake mix, cream cheese, and candy eyeballs. With their bright green color and gooey texture, they’re easy to make, fun for kids, and guaranteed to steal the spotlight at any Halloween party.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
You’ll love these cookies because they’re the perfect mix of creepy and delicious. Soft, chewy, and bursting with vanilla sweetness, they come together in minutes using a simple cake mix base. The gooey texture paired with playful candy eyes makes them a hit for Halloween parties, school events, or spooky movie nights. They’re also great for baking with kids — minimal mess, maximum fun, and guaranteed smiles.
Gooey Monster Eye Cookies
When Halloween rolls around, nothing gets people excited quite like fun, festive treats — and these Gooey Monster Eye Cookies are the star of the spooky season. Bright green, soft, and dotted with candy eyeballs, they’re a playful twist on classic crinkle cookies that’s equal parts adorable and delicious.
What makes these cookies special is their texture — soft, gooey, and melt-in-your-mouth thanks to the combination of cake mix, butter, and cream cheese. They have a slightly crisp exterior dusted with powdered sugar and a tender center that stays chewy even after cooling.
The secret ingredient? Yellow cake mix. It gives the cookies a buttery sweetness and cake-like softness, making this recipe foolproof even for beginner bakers. Combined with cream cheese, the dough becomes irresistibly rich and tender — almost like cookie dough cheesecake in bite-sized form.
Then comes the fun part — turning them into monsters. A few drops of green food coloring transform the dough into a bright, spooky green, perfect for Halloween. Add candy eyeballs before baking or right after they come out of the oven, and suddenly you’ve got a batch of cookies that look like they’re staring right back at you!
These cookies are perfect for Halloween parties, classroom treats, or fun baking days with kids. They’re simple enough to make last-minute yet impressive enough to serve on a dessert table. You can also easily change the food coloring to match other holidays — red for Christmas, blue for birthdays, purple for a witchy theme.
They’re also great make-ahead cookies — the dough chills beautifully, and baked cookies stay soft for days when stored properly.
So whether you’re planning a spooky movie night, hosting a Halloween potluck, or just want to bake something fun and festive, these Gooey Monster Eye Cookies will be the highlight of your kitchen this season. Sweet, silly, and just the right amount of spooky — they’re everything you love about Halloween in one bite.
Servings & Time
Servings: 24 cookies
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Chill Time: 30 minutes
Bake Time: 10–12 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Ingredients
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1 box yellow cake mix
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1/2 cup butter, softened
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8 oz cream cheese, softened
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1/2 tsp vanilla extract
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1 egg
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Green food coloring (gel or liquid)
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Powdered sugar, for rolling
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Candy eyeballs (various sizes for fun variation)
Instructions
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Make the dough base:
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In a large bowl, beat softened butter and cream cheese together until smooth and creamy.
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Add the egg and vanilla extract, and mix until fully combined.
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Add the cake mix:
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Gradually mix in the yellow cake mix until a thick dough forms. The texture should be soft but not sticky.
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Color the dough:
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Add green food coloring, a few drops at a time, until you reach your desired bright monster-green shade.
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Chill the dough:
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Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to make it easier to handle.
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Shape the cookies:
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Scoop 1-inch balls of dough and roll them in powdered sugar to coat completely.
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Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
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Bake:
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Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10–12 minutes, until the edges are set but the centers still look slightly soft.
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Add the monster eyes:
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While the cookies are still warm, gently press candy eyeballs on top. Use different sizes and random placements for a fun “monster” effect.
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Cool and serve:
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Let cookies cool on the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
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Serve once cooled — or slightly warm for the ultimate gooey texture.
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Tips
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Chill is key: Cold dough prevents spreading and keeps the cookies thick and chewy.
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Vary the eyes: Mix different sizes of candy eyes to create silly, quirky monsters.
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Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
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Color ideas: Use purple or orange coloring for variety — perfect for themed parties.
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Make ahead: Dough can be made up to 2 days ahead and stored chilled until ready to bake.
Gooey Monster Eye Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- Green food coloring gel or liquid
- Powdered sugar for rolling
- Candy eyeballs various sizes for fun variation
Instructions
Make the dough base:
- In a large bowl, beat softened butter and cream cheese together until smooth and creamy.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract, and mix until fully combined.
Add the cake mix:
- Gradually mix in the yellow cake mix until a thick dough forms. The texture should be soft but not sticky.
Color the dough:
- Add green food coloring, a few drops at a time, until you reach your desired bright monster-green shade.
Chill the dough:
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to make it easier to handle.
Shape the cookies:
- Scoop 1-inch balls of dough and roll them in powdered sugar to coat completely.
- Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
Bake:
- Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10–12 minutes, until the edges are set but the centers still look slightly soft.
- Add the monster eyes:
- While the cookies are still warm, gently press candy eyeballs on top. Use different sizes and random placements for a fun “monster” effect.
Cool and serve:
- Let cookies cool on the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
- Serve once cooled — or slightly warm for the ultimate gooey texture.
Notes
- Chill is key: Cold dough prevents spreading and keeps the cookies thick and chewy.
- Vary the eyes: Mix different sizes of candy eyes to create silly, quirky monsters.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- Color ideas: Use purple or orange coloring for variety — perfect for themed parties.
- Make ahead: Dough can be made up to 2 days ahead and stored chilled until ready to bake.
