Description
These festive Grinch Cookies are soft, chewy, and perfectly green with a vanilla cake mix base. Rolled in powdered sugar and cornstarch for a delicate exterior, they’re topped with heart-shaped or red round sprinkles to embody the spirit of the Grinch’s heart growing three sizes. Easy to make and ideal for holiday celebrations or themed parties.
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 intensity)
Decorations
- Heart sprinkles or small red sprinkles, M&M’s, or Skittles
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare baking sheets: Preheat your oven to 350℉ (175℃). Line two cookie sheets or baking pans with parchment paper or silicone 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 evenly combined. Set this mixture aside for coating the cookie dough balls.
- Prepare the dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the vanilla cake mix, softened unsalted butter, vegetable oil, and eggs. Using a handheld mixer, blend everything until the mixture is fully incorporated and smooth. Add green food coloring gradually until you reach your desired shade of green; the batter will be thick.
- Scoop and coat dough balls: Using a cookie scoop or two spoons, scoop the dough into approximately 1 ½ inch balls. Gently roll each ball in the powdered sugar and cornstarch mixture to coat them. The dough is soft, so handle gently. Place the coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, leaving at least 2 inches space between cookies for spreading.
- Bake the cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, rotating the baking sheets halfway through the baking time to ensure even cooking. The cookies are done when they puff up and the edges feel firm to the touch.
- Add the decorations: Remove cookies from the oven and immediately press a heart sprinkle or a small red candy such as an M&M or Skittle onto the center of each cookie. For best adhesion, press the sprinkle gently into one of the cracks on the cookie surface.
- Cool the cookies: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring 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
- For best results, ensure eggs and butter are at room temperature before mixing to create a smooth dough.
- The dough is thick and soft; handle the dough balls gently to avoid breaking the shape before baking.
- Green food coloring can be adjusted depending on the preferred intensity of the cookie’s color.
- Use parchment paper or silicone mats to prevent sticking and ease clean-up.
- These cookies flatten and deflate after baking, so don’t worry if they lose their puffiness as they cool.
- Heart sprinkles can be substituted with red M&M’s or Skittles if preferred.
