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
Scale
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.
