Description
These festive Grinch Cookies are soft, chewy, and bursting with vibrant green color, perfect for holiday celebrations. Made with simple ingredients like vanilla cake mix and green food coloring, they are quick to prepare and decorated with heart or red candies to mimic the Grinch’s signature heart motif. These cookies offer a fun and easy way to bring some holiday cheer to your baking repertoire.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 box vanilla cake mix
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
Wet Ingredients
- 1/3 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 shade
Decoration
- Heart sprinkles or small red sprinkles, M&M’s, or Skittles
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two cookie sheets or sheet pans with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Mix Powdered Sugar and Cornstarch: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and cornstarch until fully combined. This mixture will be used to coat the cookie dough balls for a delicate outer texture.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, add the vanilla cake mix, softened unsalted butter, vegetable oil, and eggs. Using a handheld mixer, blend all ingredients until well combined. The batter will be thick. Add green food coloring incrementally and mix until you reach the desired vibrant green shade.
- Form and Coat Dough Balls: Using a cookie scoop or two spoons, form dough balls approximately 1 ½ inches in diameter. Gently roll each soft dough ball in the powdered sugar and cornstarch mixture, coating it evenly. Place the coated dough balls on the prepared cookie sheets, spacing them at least 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes. Rotate the cookie sheets halfway through baking to ensure even cooking. Cookies are done when they puff up and the edges feel firm to the touch.
- Add Decorations: Remove the cookies from the oven immediately and press a heart sprinkle or a small red candy into the top of each cookie. Aim to place the decoration in one of the cookie’s cracks so it adheres securely.
- Cool Cookies: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets 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. Once cooled, serve and enjoy your festive Grinch Cookies!
Notes
- The batter will be very thick; do not be alarmed as this texture is expected for these cookies.
- Ensure eggs and butter are at room temperature for a smoother mixing process.
- Space cookies at least 2 inches apart on the baking sheet to accommodate spreading.
- For a stronger green color, add food coloring gradually and mix well.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Variations: Substitute red candies with M&M’s or Skittles for different textures and flavors.
