Description
These festive Grinch Cookies are a fun and easy treat perfect for holiday celebrations. Made with a simple vanilla cake mix and tinted green with food coloring, these soft, chewy cookies are rolled in a sweet powdered sugar and cornstarch coating before baking. Topped with heart-shaped red sprinkles, they capture the playful spirit of the Grinch in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
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 shade
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℉ (177℃). Line two cookie sheets or sheet pans with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Mix Coating Ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and cornstarch. Set this mixture aside as it will be used to coat the dough balls before baking.
- Make the Dough: In a large bowl, combine the vanilla cake mix, softened unsalted butter, vegetable oil, and eggs. Using a handheld mixer, blend the ingredients until well combined. Add green food coloring gradually until you reach the desired green shade. Note that the dough will be very thick.
- Form and Coat Dough Balls: Using a cookie scoop or two spoons, scoop approximately 1½-inch dough balls. Drop each ball into the powdered sugar and cornstarch mixture. Gently roll the soft dough balls around until fully coated, then place them on the prepared cookie sheets, leaving about 2 inches of space between each cookie to allow for spreading.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, rotating the cookie sheets halfway through baking. You’ll know they are done when the cookies puff up and the edges feel firm to the touch.
- Add Toppings: Remove the cookies immediately from the oven and gently press a heart-shaped sprinkle or any red candy of your choice onto each cookie. Position the sprinkle in one of the cracks so it adheres well.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. The cookies will deflate and flatten as they cool, which is normal. Serve and enjoy your festive Grinch Cookies!
Notes
- Make sure your eggs and butter are at room temperature for easier mixing and better dough consistency.
- Adjust the amount of green food coloring to achieve your preferred shade of green.
- Use a silicone baking mat or parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- If you don’t have heart sprinkles, small red candies like M&M’s or Skittles work great as decorative toppings.
- Do not overbake; cookies should be soft and slightly puffy when you remove them from the oven.
- Rolling dough balls gently is essential since the dough is very soft and sticky.
