Description
These festive Grinch Cookies are soft, chewy, and perfectly green with a delightful pop of red from heart-shaped sprinkles or candies. Made using a simple vanilla cake mix and a few basic ingredients, they’re easy to whip up and bake in just 20 minutes, making them an ideal holiday treat for parties and family gatherings.
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, to desired color
Toppings
- Heart sprinkles or small red sprinkles, M&M’s, or Skittles (for decorating)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350℉ (175℃). Line two cookie sheets or sheet pans with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking.
- Mix Powdered Sugar and Cornstarch: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and cornstarch thoroughly. Set this mixture aside for coating the dough balls later.
- Combine Dough Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the vanilla cake mix, softened unsalted butter, vegetable oil, and eggs. Using a handheld mixer, blend all the ingredients until the batter is well combined. Then, mix in green food coloring until you reach your desired shade of green. The batter will be very thick.
- Form and Coat Dough Balls: Using a cookie scoop or two spoons, scoop dough balls approximately 1 ½ inches in diameter. Drop each dough ball into the powdered sugar and cornstarch mixture. Because the dough is very soft, gently roll the dough balls in the mixture to coat them completely. Place the coated dough balls onto the prepared cookie sheets, spacing them at least 2 inches apart to allow room for spreading.
- Bake the Cookies: Place the cookie sheets in the preheated oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Rotate the cookie sheets halfway through baking to ensure even cooking. You’ll know the cookies are ready when they puff up and the edges become firm to the touch.
- Add Sprinkles while Warm: Remove the cookies from the oven and immediately press a heart sprinkle or a small round red candy onto the top of each cookie. To help it stick, gently press the sprinkle into one of the cracks on the cookie surface.
- Cool and Serve: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. The cookies will deflate and flatten as they cool, which is perfectly normal. Serve and enjoy your festive Grinch Cookies!
Notes
- Ensure eggs and butter are at room temperature for easier mixing and better texture.
- The batter will be quite thick, so don’t be alarmed—it’s supposed to be.
- If you want a more intense green color, add food coloring gradually until happy with the shade.
- Use parchment paper or silicone mats for easy cleanup and to prevent sticking.
- Cookies will flatten as they cool, so place sprinkles immediately after baking to help them adhere.
- You can substitute heart sprinkles with any small red candies like M&M’s or Skittles.
