The Best Grinch Cookies Recipe for the Holidays

Is your heart feeling “two sizes too small” this holiday season? Sometimes, all it takes is a little kitchen magic to grow it a few sizes larger. We have the perfect, festive, and slightly mischievous recipe to get you right into the holiday spirit: Grinch Cookies! These delightfully green, crinkly cookies are as fun to make as they are to eat, complete with a tiny red heart that’s sure to make even the grinchiest guest smile.

These cookies are wonderfully simple, starting with a basic cake mix. This little shortcut means you spend less time measuring and more time decorating and enjoying the holiday cheer. They are a fantastic activity for a chilly afternoon with the kids or a unique addition to your annual cookie swap. Let’s get baking and bring some Whoville charm to your kitchen!

Why You’ll Love These Grinch Cookies

Before we dive into the recipe, let’s talk about what makes these cookies so special.

• Incredibly Easy: Using a cake mix as the base simplifies the process, making it a perfect recipe for bakers of all skill levels. You get soft, chewy cookies every time without the fuss.
• Festive and Fun: The bright green color and the tiny red heart sprinkle make these cookies a standout on any holiday platter. They capture the playful spirit of the Grinch perfectly.
• Family-Friendly Activity: From mixing the green dough to rolling the balls in powdered sugar and placing the final heart, this recipe is full of fun steps for little hands to help with.
• Delicious Peppermint Flavor: A touch of peppermint extract gives these cookies a cool, festive flavor that pairs beautifully with their soft, cake-like texture.

What You’ll Need: Ingredients

This recipe uses common pantry staples along with a few festive additions. It’s a straightforward list that comes together to create something truly magical.

• White Cake Mix: The secret to making these cookies soft, chewy, and incredibly easy. A 15.25-ounce box is perfect.
• Unsalted Butter: Use 8 tablespoons of softened, room-temperature butter for a rich flavor and tender texture.
• Large Eggs: Two large eggs will bind the ingredients together.
• Peppermint & Vanilla Extract: A combination of 2 teaspoons of peppermint and ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract creates a classic holiday flavor profile.
• Green Gel Food Coloring: This is key for achieving that signature Grinchy green! Gel coloring provides a vibrant hue without thinning the dough.
• Powdered Sugar & Cornstarch: A mixture of ¼ cup powdered sugar and 3 tablespoons cornstarch gives the cookies their beautiful crinkled appearance.
• Red Heart-Shaped Sprinkles: The final touch! One for each cookie to help its heart grow.

How to Make Grinch Cookies: Step-by-Step

Ready to fill your home with the scent of holiday baking? This recipe makes about 30 cookies and comes together in just 25 minutes.

Prep Your Station

First things first, preheat your oven to 375°F. While it’s warming up, line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. This prevents the cookies from sticking and makes cleanup a breeze.

In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and cornstarch. Set it aside for later; this will be the coating that gives your cookies that snowy, crinkled look.

Mix the Cookie Dough

In a large mixing bowl, combine the white cake mix, softened butter, and eggs. You can use a hand mixer or a stand mixer for this. Mix on medium speed until the ingredients are fully combined into a thick dough.

Next, it’s time to go green! Add the peppermint extract, vanilla extract, and several drops of green gel food coloring.

Mix again until the color is evenly distributed and you have a Grinch-green dough. Don’t be shy with the food coloring—you want it to be unmistakably green!

Roll and Bake

Now for the fun part. Scoop the dough into balls, using about 1 ½ tablespoons of dough for each one. Roll each ball between your palms until it’s smooth.

Drop each dough ball into the powdered sugar and cornstarch mixture. Roll it around until it’s completely coated in the white powder. This coating is what creates the beautiful cracks as the cookies bake. Place the coated dough balls on your prepared baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches of space between them to allow for spreading.

Bake for 10-15 minutes. You’ll know they’re done when the edges are set and the centers are still slightly soft. The cookies will puff up and create those signature crinkles.

Add the Heart

This final step is the most important one! As soon as you remove the cookies from the oven, gently press one red heart-shaped sprinkle into the center of each warm cookie. The warmth will help the sprinkle adhere perfectly. Work quickly, as the cookies will set as they cool.

Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Tips for Perfect Cookies

• Don’t Overbake: For the best soft and chewy texture, pull the cookies from the oven when the edges are just set. They will continue to bake slightly on the hot pan.
• Use Gel Food Coloring: Gel-based food coloring provides a much more concentrated and vibrant color than liquid coloring, without adding extra moisture to the dough.
• Room Temperature Ingredients: Using softened butter and room temperature eggs helps the dough come together more smoothly and evenly.

Share Your Holiday Creations

These Grinch Cookies are more than just a sweet treat; they’re a way to create memories and share a little fun during the holidays. They are perfect for holiday parties, cookie exchanges, or simply enjoying with a glass of milk while watching your favorite holiday movie.

We hope this recipe brings a little extra joy and mischief to your holiday season. Try them out and watch as even the biggest Grinch in your life can’t resist reaching for one. Happy baking!