Description

These festive Grinch Cookies are a fun and easy holiday treat made with vanilla cake mix and vibrant green food coloring. Soft, chewy, and coated in a sweet powdered sugar and cornstarch mixture, each cookie is topped with a heart-shaped sprinkle or red candy to capture the whimsical spirit of the Grinch. Perfect for Christmas parties and family gatherings, these cookies bake quickly and deliver a delightful burst of sweetness with every bite.

Ingredients

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Cookie Dough

1 box vanilla cake mix
⅓ cup unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 large eggs, at room temperature
Green food coloring, to desired shade

Coating

1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch

Topping

Heart sprinkles or small red candies (such as M&M’s or Skittles)

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Instructions

Preheat and prepare baking sheets: Preheat your oven to 350℉. Line two cookie sheets or sheet pans with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
Mix coating: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and cornstarch. Set this mixture aside; it will be used to coat the cookie dough balls before baking.
Make the cookie dough: In a large bowl, combine the vanilla cake mix, softened butter, vegetable oil, and eggs. Use a handheld mixer to blend until the ingredients are well combined and form a thick batter. Add green food coloring gradually until you achieve your desired shade of green.
Form and coat dough balls: Using a cookie scoop or two spoons, scoop dough balls approximately 1½ inches in diameter. Roll each ball gently in the powdered sugar and cornstarch mixture, coating them thoroughly. Place the coated dough balls onto the prepared cookie sheets, spacing them at least 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
Bake the cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, rotating the cookie sheets halfway through baking. The cookies are ready when they puff up and the edges feel firm to the touch.
Add toppings: Remove the cookies from the oven and immediately press a heart sprinkle or small round red candy into the center of each cookie, gently pressing so it will stick. Position the sprinkle in a crack for better adhesion.
Cool and serve: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Note that the cookies will deflate and flatten as they cool, which is normal. Once cooled, serve and enjoy your festive Grinch Cookies!

Notes

For best results, ensure eggs and butter are at room temperature before mixing for better consistency.
The cookie dough will be very thick and soft; handle gently when rolling in the powdered sugar mixture.
If you don’t have heart sprinkles, small round red candies like M&M’s or Skittles work perfectly as a festive alternative.
Cookies will flatten as they cool, so do not be alarmed if they lose some height after baking.
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.