Grinch Cookies

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These whimsical cookies are so much fun to make and eat with the family! Celebrate the holiday season with the Grinch themed cake mix cookies. Super easy to make, everyone at your holiday celebration will fall in love with these simple cookies with a crackly sugar coating.

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What are Grinch Cookies?

Grinch cookies are holiday themed cookies made to resemble the color of the Grinch with the signature red heart in the center to represent the Grinch’s heart growing in size from the movie The Grinch. These simple yet delicious cookies are made with a boxed cake mix and are dyed green with food coloring. So simple, but so much fun to share at holiday parties or with the family.

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Why You’ll Love These

Fun and holiday themed, these cookies are great for both kids and adults!
Soft and chewy center, with a sweet red candy heart and a crackly powdered sugar coating.
Ready in under 1 hour, these cookies are great for movie nights, Christmas day, or holiday parties.

Grinch Cookie Variations

Change the color: Ok so they won’t be the color of the Grinch, but they can make a fun festive cookie recipe for Valentine’s day, Easter, or any other holiday by using a different food coloring.
Change the flavor: There are many different store bought cake mixes you can use for this recipe, from French vanilla, to maple pecan, there is no wrong choice!
Add candy or nuts: For some extra crunch and flavor add your favorite chocolate chips, crushed candy bars, nuts, or dried fruit.

Grinch Cookie Pro Tips

Make the green color more intense than you originally want. The color will become lighter as it cooks.
Make sure you chill the dough before scooping. It is quite soft and needs to be chilled or it will spread too much.
Lightly shake off any excess powdered sugar from the dough balls, you don’t want too much.
Space the cookie 2-3 inches apart to leave room for them to spread.
Let the cookies cool completely on a cooling rack instead of the cookie sheet. They will continue to cook on the baking sheet and become tougher and harder.

Leftovers and Storage

These cookies can be stored on the counter top, in the fridge, or frozen for a quick sweet treat when you need them.

Place cooled cookies in a resealable freezer bag or airtight container. Keep them on the counter for use within 2 days, or keep in the fridge for up to a week.

For longer term storage place the cooled cookies in a resealable freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months, thaw at room temperature before use.

Unbaked leftover cookie dough can be frozen for up to 4 months!

Place the dough balls on a cookie sheet and freeze uncovered for 3-4 hours. Transfer the frozen dough balls to a resealable freezer bag for up to 4 months. Thaw in the fridge before cooking.

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FAQs

What does the red heart sprinkle represent?

The red heart sprinkle represents the growing of the Grinch’s heart, a common theme throughout the movie.

How to get the perfect green cookie for grinch cookies?

Using an appropriate amount of food coloring is essential. You want it to be a very deep green color as it will lighten as it cooks.

Can I make these cookies a day in advance?

Yes! These cookies are a perfect make ahead dessert. They will stay fresh for up to a week in the fridge.

Does this recipe double well?

This recipe can be doubled, or even tripled! Use more than one box of cake mix for a double batch.

How to know when these grinch Christmas cookies are done?

You want to pull the cookie from the oven once they have spread and are starting to set but before the edges start to brown.

Do you need to chill the cookie dough?

The cookie dough should be chilled before scooping so they don’t spread too much during cooking.

Why do you put cookies on a cooling rack once done?

The cooling rack allows the cookie to cool evenly while stopping the cooking. This results in a soft but chewy cookie.

Can I make these cookies gluten free?

If you use a gluten free cake mix you can make this recipe gluten free!

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Grinch Cookies

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 10

Total Time: 15

Servings: cookies

These whimsical cookies are so much fun to make and eat with the family! Celebrate the holiday season with the Grinch themed cake mix cookies. Super easy to make, everyone at your holiday celebration will fall in love with these simple cookies.

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Ingredients

1 box white or vanilla cake mix
2 whole eggs
1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
10-15 drops green food gel
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

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Instructions

Combine the cake mix, eggs and oil in a large bowl until mixed completely. Add green food coloring until the mixture is a deep bright green (like the Grinch!). It will become lighter as it bakes. Place the dough in the fridge for at least 20 minutes.
Add the powdered sugar to a large shallow bowl. Use a cookie scoop to scoop the chilled dough into balls and coat evenly in the powdered sugar.
Place the sugar covered dough balls on a parchment lined baking sheet and press the heart shaped sprinkles into the center of the dough.
Bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes, let the cookies cool for 2-3 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring to a cooling rack.
Enjoy!