If you’re looking for a festive treat that brings a burst of holiday cheer with every bite, the Grinch Cookies Recipe is your new go-to! These soft, chewy cookies pop with vibrant green color and a sweet surprise, making them perfect for spreading joy during the season. From their tender vanilla base to the playful heart sprinkles on top, these cookies are as fun to make as they are to devour. Whether you’re baking for family, friends, or yourself, this recipe combines simple ingredients with an easy process to deliver that iconic Grinchy charm right from your oven.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of the Grinch Cookies Recipe lies in its straightforward ingredients that come together to create a soft, colorful, and irresistible cookie. Each element plays a key role—whether it’s the vanilla cake mix providing a tender texture, or the green food coloring giving it that unmistakable festive hue.
- Vanilla cake mix: The perfect base for soft, cake-like cookies that melt in your mouth.
- Unsalted butter (softened): Adds richness and moisture to keep the cookies delightfully tender.
- Vegetable oil: Helps with moisture and a soft crumb.
- Large eggs (room temperature): Binds the ingredients and gives structure to the dough.
- Powdered sugar: For the delicate coating that balances sweetness and texture.
- Cornstarch: Creates a light, tender crust when rolled around the cookie dough balls.
- Green food coloring: Transforms the dough into the iconic Grinch green, perfect for holiday fun.
- Heart sprinkles or red round candies: Adds a pop of color and a cute finishing touch that’s just like the Grinch’s heart growing.
How to Make Grinch Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Equipment and Ingredients
Begin by preheating your oven to 350℉. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats to prevent sticking and ensure even baking. While the oven heats up, whisk together the powdered sugar and cornstarch in a small bowl—this coating mixture will give the cookies their signature soft crust.
Step 2: Mix the Cookie Dough
In a large mixing bowl, combine the vanilla cake mix, softened butter, vegetable oil, and eggs. Use a handheld mixer to blend everything until it becomes a smooth, thick dough. Now comes the fun part—add green food coloring a little at a time until you hit that perfect Grinch-worthy shade. The dough will be quite thick but pliable enough to scoop and shape.
Step 3: Shape and Coat the Dough Balls
Use a cookie scoop or two spoons to form dough balls about 1 ½ inches wide. Roll each ball gently in the powdered sugar and cornstarch mixture, and then place them on your prepared cookie sheets. Remember to space each cookie at least 2 inches apart to give them room to puff without sticking together.
Step 4: Bake Until Perfect
Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes, swapping cookie sheet positions halfway through for even baking. You’ll know they’re ready when the cookies puff up and their edges become firm to the touch. Don’t be alarmed if they look a bit puffy at this stage; that softness is what you want.
Step 5: Add the Heart Sprinkles
Once the cookies come out of the oven, immediately press a red heart sprinkle or round candy into each cookie. Press gently so it sticks well—ideally nestled in one of the natural cracks, which helps keep it in place as the cookie cools.
Step 6: Cool and Enjoy
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. They will flatten and soften further as they cool, creating that perfect tender texture everyone loves. Now, the cookies are ready to serve and delight everyone lucky enough to taste them!
How to Serve Grinch Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
While the classic red heart candy is ideal, feel free to get creative with your garnishing. Small red M&M’s or Skittles add a fun twist and extra sweetness. For an added festive flair, you can lightly dust the cookies with powdered sugar to mimic a wintery snow effect, making the presentation even more charming.
Side Dishes
Grinch Cookies pair beautifully with a warm mug of cocoa or a glass of cold milk—both perfect for balancing the cookie’s sweet cake flavor. For a holiday gathering, consider serving them alongside peppermint bark, spiced nuts, or even a fruit platter for a refreshing contrast.
Creative Ways to Present
Presentation can make your Grinch Cookies Recipe stand out. Arrange them on a festive holiday platter, nestled among pine branches, or wrap a few in clear cellophane bags tied with red ribbons for thoughtful homemade gifts. You can also stack the cookies in layers with parchment paper between each to create a delightful holiday cookie tower.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
After enjoying your batch of Grinch Cookies, store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay soft and tasty for up to 3 days, making them perfect for snacking over a few days or sharing with friends and family after the initial baking frenzy.
Freezing
You can freeze these cookies either before baking or after cooling. For unbaked dough balls, roll and coat them as usual, then freeze on a tray before transferring to a zip-top bag. Baked cookies freeze wonderfully as well—just wrap them tightly and enjoy within a month for best flavor and texture.
Reheating
To refresh your Grinch Cookies after storing or freezing, warm them slightly in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds or in a low oven at 300℉ for a few minutes. This will bring back their soft, fresh-from-the-oven feel and make them just as irresistible as when they were first baked.
FAQs
Can I use a different cake mix flavor for this Grinch Cookies Recipe?
Absolutely! While vanilla is classic and creates a perfect base for the green color, you can experiment with white or even lemon cake mix for a slightly different but equally delicious flavor.
What if I don’t have green food coloring? Are there natural options?
You can try using spinach powder or matcha powder for a natural green tint, but keep in mind these will slightly affect the flavor and may not be as vibrant as traditional food coloring.
Why do the cookies flatten after baking?
These cookies naturally deflate a bit as they cool; it’s part of their soft, tender texture. Don’t worry if this happens—this is exactly what makes the Grinch Cookies Recipe so delightfully chewy!
Can I make these cookies gluten-free?
Yes! Use a gluten-free vanilla cake mix to make this recipe friendly for those with gluten sensitivities. Just be sure to check that all other ingredients, like sprinkles, are also gluten-free.
How do I prevent the cookies from spreading too much?
Make sure your butter is softened but not melted, and avoid adding extra liquid. Also, chilling the dough briefly can help maintain the shape during baking if needed.
Final Thoughts
The Grinch Cookies Recipe is a joyful way to add color, sweetness, and a little holiday mischief to your baking adventures. They’re simple to make, endlessly fun to share, and absolutely delicious. Go ahead, gather your ingredients, and bake a batch to see how these charming cookies can bring smiles and warmth to your festive celebrations!
Print
Grinch Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 18 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These festive Grinch Cookies are soft, chewy vanilla cake mix cookies dyed vibrant green and coated in a sweet powdered sugar and cornstarch mixture. Topped with heart-shaped or red candy sprinkles to represent the Grinch’s heart, these cookies are perfect for holiday celebrations or any fun occasion.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1 box vanilla cake mix
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- Green food coloring, to desired color
Coating
- ⅓ cup powdered sugar
- ¼ cup cornstarch
Topping
- Heart sprinkles or small red sprinkles, M&M’s, or Skittles
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pans: Preheat your oven to 350℉ (175℃). Line two cookie sheets or baking pans with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Mix coating ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and cornstarch. Set this mixture aside; it will be used to coat the dough balls before baking.
- Make the cookie dough: In a large bowl, combine the vanilla cake mix, softened unsalted butter, vegetable oil, and eggs. Using a handheld mixer, blend everything until the mixture is well combined and thick. Add green food coloring gradually until you reach your desired shade of green.
- Shape and coat the dough: Use a cookie scoop or two spoons to form dough balls about 1½ inches in diameter. The dough will be soft and sticky. Roll each dough ball gently but thoroughly in the powdered sugar and cornstarch mixture, coating them fully. Place the coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, leaving at least 2 inches between each cookie to allow room for spreading.
- Bake the cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes. Halfway through baking, rotate the cookie sheets to ensure even cooking. The cookies should puff up and have edges that feel firm to the touch when done.
- Add the topping: As soon as you remove the cookies from the oven, press a heart-shaped sprinkle or a small red candy (like M&M’s or Skittles) gently into the center of each cookie. Placing the candy in a crack helps it stick and stay in place.
- Cool the cookies: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Note that as they cool, the cookies will deflate and flatten slightly, which is normal.
- Serve and enjoy: Once fully cooled, serve your charming Grinch Cookies and enjoy their soft, sweet, and festive flavor perfect for holiday celebrations.
Notes
- The dough will be very thick and sticky; chilling it briefly can help if it’s tough to handle.
- Use room temperature eggs and butter for easier blending and better texture.
- Rolling the dough balls in powdered sugar and cornstarch prevents them from sticking and creates a nice crackled surface.
- Be careful not to overbake; cookies should be soft in the center with firm edges.
- Feel free to substitute the heart sprinkles with any small red candy for the topping.
