Grinch Cookies

There’s something truly magical about holiday baking, especially when it involves a recipe that brings smiles to both kids and adults the moment it hits the dessert table. These Grinch Cookies are the perfect combination of festive charm, nostalgic flavors, and effortless preparation. With their vivid green color, crackled powdered-sugar coating, and the signature red heart that captures the spirit of the season, these cookies immediately command attention and warm every holiday gathering.

This recipe is wonderfully simple thanks to the use of a boxed white cake mix, yet still delivers that homemade taste and bakery-style texture. The addition of peppermint or mint extract provides a refreshing twist that balances the sweetness beautifully, making these cookies taste like Christmas in every bite. Whether they’re enjoyed fresh out of the oven, added to holiday cookie plates, or baked in big batches for school parties and family gatherings, Grinch Cookies never fail to delight.

Perfect for beginners, busy bakers, or anyone looking to create something joyful and eye-catching, this recipe comes together in under 30 minutes and yields a generous batch of soft, tender, cheerful holiday cookies. They’re everything a Christmas treat should be—fun, flavorful, easy, and filled with festive spirit.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It’s incredibly easy, using boxed cake mix as the base for perfectly soft cookies.
• Beautifully festive in appearance, ideal for cookie exchanges, holiday parties, and dessert platters.
• The peppermint or mint extract adds a refreshing seasonal flavor.
• No chilling required, meaning the cookies go from bowl to oven quickly.
• Kid-friendly and fun to decorate with red heart sprinkles.
• Makes a large batch, perfect for gifting or entertaining.

Ingredients Breakdown

Below is the complete list of ingredients exactly as required for this recipe. Nothing has been altered or substituted.

Servings: 30 cookies
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cake mix cookies, grinch cookies

Main Cookie Dough

• 15.25 ounces white cake mix (432 g box)
• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 2 teaspoons peppermint extract or mint extract
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Green gel food coloring

Rolling Mixture

• ¼ cup powdered sugar (32 g)
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch

Decoration

• Red heart-shaped sprinkle or cinnamon heart candy

These familiar ingredients come together to create cookies that are soft, flavorful, and visually stunning. The cake mix provides structure and sweetness. Butter adds richness, eggs supply texture, and the extracts infuse the classic holiday mint aroma. The powdered sugar coating gives the cookies their snowy, crackled effect.

Tools & Equipment Needed

To make these cookies efficiently and achieve bakery-style results, gather the following tools before beginning:

• Large mixing bowl
• Hand-held mixer or stand mixer
• Small mixing bowl for rolling mixture
• Whisk
• Rubber spatula
• 1 ½ tablespoon cookie scoop
• Parchment paper
• Large baking sheet
• Wire cooling rack
• Measuring spoons

These basic kitchen tools help ensure even mixing, consistent cookie sizes, and proper cooling, all of which contribute to evenly baked, picture-perfect holiday cookies.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these detailed steps carefully to create delicious, soft, perfectly green Grinch Cookies.

1. Preheat and Prepare the Baking Sheet

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking. Set the pan aside while you prepare the cookie dough.

2. Mix the Base Dough

In a large bowl, use a hand-held mixer or stand mixer to combine the cake mix, softened butter, and eggs. Mix until everything is well incorporated and smooth.
Ingredients added here:

• 15.25 ounces white cake mix
• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 large eggs

The dough will start forming quickly and will be fairly thick.

3. Add Extracts and Green Color

Add the peppermint or mint extract, vanilla extract, and enough green gel food coloring to reach your ideal Grinch-inspired shade.
Ingredients added here:

• 2 teaspoons peppermint or mint extract
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Green gel food coloring

Mix just until the ingredients come together. The dough should be thick and sticky.

4. Prepare the Powdered Sugar Coating

In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and cornstarch.

• ¼ cup powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch

This coating creates the beautiful crackled appearance once baked.

5. Scoop and Roll the Dough

Using a 1 ½ tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop portions of the dough and roll them into balls. The dough will be sticky—that’s normal. Roll each dough ball in the powdered sugar mixture until fully coated.

Place the coated dough balls onto the parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch between each cookie.

6. Bake the Cookies

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are set and the tops no longer look wet. The cookies should appear puffed and slightly crackled.

7. Add the Heart Sprinkle

Remove the cookies from the oven and immediately press one red heart-shaped sprinkle or cinnamon heart into the center of each cookie. This step must be done while the cookies are hot to ensure the sprinkle adheres properly.

8. Cool and Serve

Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Your Grinch Cookies are now ready to enjoy.

Tips & Variations

These cookies are already festive and delicious, but here are some additional ideas for customizing or enhancing your batch:

Flavor Variations

• Substitute mint extract with peppermint for a sharper flavor.
• Add a small amount of almond extract for a subtle depth.
• Mix in mini chocolate chips for a mint-chocolate version.

Dietary Adjustments

• To make gluten-free Grinch Cookies, use a gluten-free white cake mix.
• For dairy-free cookies, replace the butter with a high-quality vegan butter substitute.

Color Variations

• Want a deeper or lighter green? Adjust the gel food coloring until it matches your vision.
• For Valentine’s Day, use pink coloring and heart sprinkles.

Texture Adjustments

• For a softer texture, under-bake slightly by one minute.
• For a firmer cookie, allow them to bake the full 12 minutes.

Flavor Profile & Pairings

Grinch Cookies have a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture with just the right balance of sweetness and refreshing mint aroma. The powdered sugar adds a delicate sweetness and texture, while the cake mix creates a moist interior.

Great pairings include:

• Vanilla ice cream for a cool contrast
• Warm holiday desserts such as brownies or peppermint bark
• Seasonal fruits like strawberries or raspberries

Nutritional Overview

Below is an approximate overview per cookie (based on a 30-cookie batch):

• Calories: 93 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 14 g
• Protein: 1 g
• Fat: 4 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Sugar: 7 g
• Sodium: 105 mg

These cookies are naturally nut-free and contain standard allergens such as eggs, dairy, and wheat.

Make-Ahead & Meal Prep Tips

Grinch Cookies are excellent for make-ahead baking during the busy holiday season.

Make-Ahead

Prepare the dough up to 24 hours in advance. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator and roll in powdered sugar right before baking.

Storage

• Store baked cookies at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
• Keep away from heat sources to prevent melting of the heart sprinkles.

Freezing

• Freeze fully cooled cookies in a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months.
• Thaw at room temperature or in the refrigerator overnight.

FAQs

1. Can I use liquid food coloring instead of gel?
Gel food coloring is recommended for vibrant color without altering the dough’s texture, but liquid can be used with adjustments.

2. Can I freeze the cookie dough instead of baked cookies?
Yes. Freeze the rolled dough balls (without the powdered sugar). Once frozen, store them in a airtight bag and roll in sugar just before baking.

3. Why did my cookies spread too much?
If the butter was overly warm or melted, the cookies may spread. Use softened, not melted, butter.

4. What can I use if I can’t find heart sprinkles?
Spoon a tiny amount of red icing onto each cookie, or use cinnamon heart candies as an alternative.

5. Can I make these without mint flavor?
Yes. Simply omit the mint and rely on the vanilla extract for a classic sugar-cookie flavor.

Cooking Timeline (At a Glance)

Task	Time
Prep Time	15 minutes
Baking Time	10 minutes
Cooling Time	5 minutes
Total	About 30 minutes

Serving Suggestions

These cookies look especially festive when:

• Served on a holiday cookie platter
• Packaged in clear treat bags for gifting
• Arranged with contrasting red and white treats
• Displayed on tiered dessert stands

They also make delightful additions to:

• Holiday brunches
• Classroom parties
• Christmas movie nights

Recipe Variations

These variations let you reinvent the same Grinch Cookie base in new and seasonal ways:

1. Grinch Crinkle Sandwich Cookies
Fill two cookies with marshmallow cream or buttercream frosting.

2. Chocolate-Dipped Grinch Cookies
Dip half of each cookie into melted white or dark chocolate.

3. Valentine’s Grinch Cookies
Use pink or red food coloring and heart sprinkles for a February twist.

4. Grinch Cookie Bars
Press the dough into an 8×8 pan, bake, and slice into bars.

Ingredient Spotlight

White Cake Mix

This ingredient serves as the foundation of the cookie, providing structure, sweetness, and a tender crumb. Choosing a high-quality cake mix produces better flavor and consistency.

How to Select

Choose a reputable brand with simple ingredients and a light vanilla aroma.

Storage

Store unopened in a cool, dry pantry. Once opened, use immediately.

Peppermint or Mint Extract

The true heart of Christmas cookie flavor comes from the minty notes of the peppermint extract.

How to Select

Use pure extract rather than imitation for the best flavor.

Storage

Keep tightly sealed in a cool cabinet away from direct sunlight.

Pro Cooking Tips

• Always use room temperature eggs for smoother mixing.
• Avoid overmixing once the extracts and coloring are added.
• Roll the cookies generously in powdered sugar for bold crinkle patterns.
• Press the heart sprinkle immediately after baking while the cookies are still warm.
• For evenly sized cookies, always use a cookie scoop.

Storage & Freezing Guide

Storing Cookies

Place cooled cookies in an airtight container, separating layers with parchment paper.

Freezing Cookies

Freeze cookies in a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months. Avoid stacking them while still warm, as condensation will cause sticking.

Freezing Dough

Freeze uncoated dough balls on a baking sheet for 1 hour, then transfer to a freezer bag. Roll in powdered sugar just before baking.

Nutrition Estimate Table (Per Serving)

Nutrient	Amount
Calories	93 kcal
Protein	1 g
Carbohydrates	14 g
Fat	4 g
Fiber	1 g
Sugar	7 g
Sodium	105 mg

Conclusion

Grinch Cookies are one of those rare recipes that bring instant joy to anyone who sees them. Their charming appearance, refreshing minty flavor, and tender texture make them ideal for the holiday season. Whether you’re hosting a big family gathering, preparing gifts for neighbors and coworkers, or filling your annual dessert table, these cookies will always be a hit.

They’re easy enough for beginners, quick enough for busy schedules, and fun enough to make with kids. Once you bake them, you’ll find yourself returning to this recipe every December—and perhaps even beyond. Enjoy sharing the sweetness, the color, and the holiday spirit these Grinch Cookies bring into every kitchen.

If you try this recipe, be sure to make a double batch; they tend to disappear faster than expected. Enjoy every festive bite.

Print