Description
These festive Grinch Cookies are soft, delicious vanilla cake mix cookies tinted bright green and adorned with heart-shaped red sprinkles, perfect for holiday celebrations. The buttery, sweet dough is coated in a powdered sugar and cornstarch mixture before baking, creating a delicate cracked surface that adds to their charm. Simple to make and irresistibly cute, these cookies bring a fun, whimsical touch to any cookie tray.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 box vanilla cake mix
- ⅓ cup powdered sugar
- ¼ cup cornstarch
Wet Ingredients
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- Green food coloring, to 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℉ (177℃). Line two cookie sheets or sheet pans with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking and facilitate easy removal.
- Mix Powdered Sugar and Cornstarch: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and cornstarch. Set this mixture aside, as it will be used to coat the cookie dough balls, helping to create a crackled effect on the cookies’ surface.
- 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 everything until thoroughly combined. Then add green food coloring gradually, mixing until you reach your desired vibrant green shade. Note that the dough will be very thick.
- Form and Coat Dough Balls: Using a cookie scoop or two spoons, form dough balls roughly 1 ½ inches in diameter. Drop each ball into the powdered sugar and cornstarch mixture. Because the dough is soft, gently roll each ball to coat it well on all sides. Place the coated dough balls onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them at least 2 inches apart to allow room for spreading.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes. Halfway through baking, rotate the baking sheets to ensure even cooking. The cookies are done when they puff up and the edges feel firm to touch.
- Add Decorations: As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, gently press a heart-shaped sprinkle or a small red candy onto each cookie. For best adhesion, place the sprinkle into one of the cracks on the cookie surface and press lightly.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them carefully to a wire rack to cool completely. The cookies will deflate and flatten slightly as they cool, which is normal. Serve these festive cookies and enjoy!
Notes
- Using room temperature eggs and butter helps the ingredients combine smoothly and results in better texture.
- The powdered sugar and cornstarch coating creates a slight crackle on the cookies; do not skip this step for the best visual effect.
- Keep spacing between dough balls to prevent cookies from merging together while baking.
- If the dough is too sticky to handle, chill it in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes before rolling.
- Feel free to substitute heart sprinkles with other red candies such as M&M’s or Skittles if desired.
