If you’re looking for a fun, festive twist to your holiday baking, this Grinch Cookies Recipe is an absolute must-try. Bursting with vibrant green color and a delightful soft texture, these cookies capture the playful spirit of the Grinch himself. With a simple mix of a vanilla cake base, buttery richness, and a pop of red from sweet heart-shaped sprinkles, these treats are irresistibly charming and perfect for sharing smiles all season long. Whether you’re baking for a crowd or an intimate gathering, these Grinch cookies will steal the show and the hearts of everyone lucky enough to take a bite.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Getting these Grinch cookies just right relies on a handful of simple, everyday ingredients that come together beautifully to create their signature flavor, texture, and color. Each one plays a crucial role in making these cookies soft, festive, and totally delicious.
- Vanilla cake mix: This is the foundation for the cookies’ tender crumb and subtle sweetness, making the recipe foolproof.
- Unsalted butter: Adds richness and moisture, providing a melt-in-your-mouth texture when softened properly at room temperature.
- Vegetable oil: Helps keep the cookies soft and moist while balancing the buttery flavor.
- Large eggs: Give structure and help bind the dough together for perfect cookie formation.
- Powdered sugar: Used for coating the dough balls, it adds a touch of sweetness and prevents sticking.
- Cornstarch: Combined with powdered sugar, it creates the iconic crackled cookie surface while keeping them soft.
- Green food coloring: Brings that unmistakable Grinch green color, making the cookies visually festive and fun.
- Heart sprinkles or small red candies: Add a pop of color and charm, symbolizing the Grinch’s heart growing three sizes.
How to Make Grinch Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Prepare your baking sheets and dry mixture
Begin by preheating your oven to 350℉ to get it nice and hot for baking. Meanwhile, line two cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to ensure your cookies don’t stick and bake evenly. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and cornstarch—this coating mixture is essential for that soft, crackled finish on your cookies.
Step 2: Mix the cookie dough
In a large bowl, combine the vanilla cake mix, softened butter, vegetable oil, and eggs. Using a handheld mixer, blend everything thoroughly until you have a thick, cohesive dough. The consistency will be quite dense, but that’s exactly what makes these cookies so tender!
Step 3: Add the green color
Next, stir in your green food coloring bit by bit until you reach that perfect Grinch-green shade. Don’t be shy here—vibrant color is part of the magic that makes these cookies stand out on any plate.
Step 4: Shape and coat the dough balls
Using a cookie scoop or two spoons, scoop out dough balls about 1 ½ inches in diameter. Roll each ball gently in the powdered sugar and cornstarch mixture. This step is key because the coating helps create their soft cracking surface during baking. Place them on your prepared cookie sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for slight spreading.
Step 5: Bake the cookies
Pop the trays into your preheated oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes. For even baking, rotate your cookie sheets halfway through. You’ll know they’re ready when the cookies puff up and their edges become firm to the touch.
Step 6: Add the finishing touch
Right after removing the cookies from the oven, gently press a heart-shaped sprinkle or a small red candy into the center of each cookie. Placing the sprinkle in a crack is a clever trick to help it stick securely and mimic the Grinch’s growing heart perfectly.
Step 7: Cool and enjoy
Let your Grinch cookies sit on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. They will deflate and flatten as they cool—don’t worry, this is what makes them so delightfully soft and chewy. Now you’re ready to share your holiday cheer, one bite at a time!
How to Serve Grinch Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
While the classic heart-shaped sprinkles add just the right festive touch, you can also experiment with edible glitter or tiny white sprinkles to mimic snow on your Grinch cookies. A light dusting of powdered sugar on top right before serving adds extra charm, making them look as magical as they taste.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair beautifully with a warm mug of peppermint hot chocolate or a glass of cold milk to balance their sweetness. For a holiday party, consider serving them alongside a platter of fresh fruits like strawberries or red grapes to complement their vibrant green hue and add freshness to your dessert spread.
Creative Ways to Present
Turn your Grinch cookies into a holiday centerpiece by arranging them on a festive platter decorated with holly leaves, red berries, or mini candy canes. You can also place a few on top of cupcakes or layer them with whipped cream in a jar for a whimsical green dessert parfait that guests will rave about.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Once completely cooled, store your Grinch cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay soft and delicious for up to 4 days, making them a perfect treat to bake ahead for your holiday festivities.
Freezing
If you want to make these cookies well in advance, freeze the dough balls before baking by placing them on a tray lined with parchment paper and then sealing them in a freezer-safe container. When ready to bake, simply thaw the dough balls slightly and follow the baking instructions as usual. You can also freeze fully baked cookies by wrapping them tightly and placing them in a sealed bag for up to 2 months.
Reheating
To enjoy your leftover Grinch cookies fresh and warm, pop them in a preheated oven at 300℉ for 5 minutes. This will revive their softness without drying them out. Avoid microwaving, as it can make them too soft or chewy in an unpleasant way.
FAQs
Can I use a different cake mix flavor to make this Grinch Cookies Recipe?
Absolutely! While vanilla cake mix provides a neutral base that pairs well with the green color, feel free to try other flavors like lemon or white cake mix for a subtle twist. Just keep in mind the flavor might change slightly but still be delicious.
Do I need to use unsalted butter or can I use salted butter?
Using unsalted butter allows you to control the salt content more precisely, but if you only have salted butter, it’s fine to use it. Just skip adding any extra salt if your recipe calls for it.
Why do the cookies deflate and flatten after baking?
This is completely normal for this recipe. The cookies puff up in the oven due to the leavening agents in the cake mix, then gently deflate as they cool, creating that soft, chewy texture everyone loves in Grinch Cookies.
Can I substitute the vegetable oil with another type of oil or fat?
Yes, you can use light olive oil, canola oil, or even melted coconut oil as a substitute. Each will bring a slightly different nuance to the flavor and texture but will still maintain softness.
What if I don’t have heart sprinkles? What are good alternatives?
If you don’t have heart sprinkles, small red candies like M&M’s, Skittles, or even red sugar crystals work wonderfully. The key is the pop of red to symbolize the Grinch’s heart and add festive color contrast.
Final Thoughts
This Grinch Cookies Recipe is a joyous way to bring a splash of holiday cheer into your kitchen that’s as simple as it is fun. From the bright green dough to the sweet little heart finishing touches, baking these cookies feels like creating edible holiday magic. So grab your mixing bowl and get ready to bake some smiles — you’ll be so glad you did!
Print
Grinch Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8-10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 18 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These festive Grinch Cookies are soft, pillowy vanilla cake mix cookies dyed a vibrant green and dusted in a powdered sugar-cornstarch coating. Perfectly chewy with a playful red heart or candy on top, they evoke the holiday spirit and make a fun treat for Christmas gatherings or themed parties.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1 box vanilla cake mix
- â…“ cup unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- Green food coloring, as needed to achieve desired green color
Coating
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
Toppings
- Heart sprinkles or small red sprinkles (such as M&M’s or Skittles)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pans: Preheat your oven to 350℉ (175℃). Line two cookie sheets or sheet pans with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Mix Coating: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and cornstarch thoroughly. Set this mixture aside—it will be used to coat the dough balls before baking.
- Make the Dough: In a large bowl, combine the vanilla cake mix, softened butter, vegetable oil, and eggs. Using a handheld mixer, blend everything until well combined and smooth. Add green food coloring and mix until the dough turns a bright, festive green. Note that the dough will be quite thick.
- Form and Coat Dough Balls: Using a cookie scoop or two spoons, scoop out approx 1½-inch dough balls. Drop each ball into the powdered sugar-cornstarch mixture and gently roll to coat thoroughly. The dough balls will be soft, so handle gently to maintain shape. Place them on the prepared cookie sheets, spacing at least 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 8–10 minutes. Rotate the cookie sheets halfway through baking to ensure even cooking. Cookies are done when they puff up and edges feel firm to the touch.
- Add Toppings: Immediately after removing the cookies from the oven, press a heart sprinkle or small red candy onto each cookie. Gently press so it sticks, ideally placing it in a crack on the cookie surface for best adhesion.
- Cool the Cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to firm up. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Cookies will deflate and flatten as they cool, which is normal. Serve and enjoy these festive treats!
Notes
- The dough is thick and soft, so handle the balls with care when rolling in the powdered sugar mixture.
- Pressure pressing the sprinkles immediately after baking helps them adhere as the cookies cool.
- Using room temperature eggs and butter ensures the dough mixes evenly.
- Rotating cookie sheets halfway through baking promotes uniform cooking and browning.
- These cookies will puff up during baking but flatten when cooling—this is expected behavior.
