This Grinch Cookie Recipe is super simple so you can have quick, delicious, and adorable Grinch cookies, without the stress, this holiday season.
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How the Grinch Stole Christmas is one of my partner’s mom’s favorite Christmas movies.
Almost every year, at Christmas time, I try to make something for her that is inspired by the classic movie.
I even designed a Grinch cookie press and printed it with a 3d printer, so I could use it with this No Chill Sugar Cookie Recipe then decorate the chewy sugar cookies to look exactly like the Grinch.
Just one cookie took SO much time, effort, and concentration… and I was still embarrassed by how they came out.
I needed to find an easier way and these green cookies with red heart sprinkles are it!
This is the perfect holiday cookie recipe because it’s incredibly easy, quick, absolutely adorable, tastes delicious, and stays moist for two weeks (when stored in an airtight container).
Everyone instantly recognizes the Grinch’s small heart and bright green color.
I’m frequently told that these Grinch Christmas cookies are SO much fun. And they definitely quickly disappear from holiday cookie platters.
Looking for more Christmas cookie tray ideas? You may like:
- Snickerdoodle Cake Mix Cookies
- Easy Christmas Fudge Recipe
- Maraschino Cherry Cookies
- Hot Cocoa Cookies {Made with Real Hot Chocolate Mix}
Easy Grinch Cookies
These fun treats are made with a box of cake mix.
Making cookies with boxed cake mix is a great short cut during the Christmas season. Especially if you’re making a lot of recipes.
For another easy cake mix cookie recipe, check out these Snickerdoodle Cake Mix Cookies.
I like to use a box of vanilla cake mix, like this Betty Crocker Super Moist Vanilla Cake Mix, in this Grinch cookie recipe. It truly creates a special, fun flavor that both adults and kids enjoy.
These chewy cookies are also made with oil instead of butter. I prefer to use an olive oil, but vegetable oil works too.
The oil helps these Grinch cake mix cookies to stay moist for two whole weeks, when stored in an airtight container.
How do you decorate Grinch Cookies?
These green cookies are each topped with one small red heart.
The small red heart sprinkle combined with the perfect shade of Grinch-green is the only decorating these cute Grinch cookies need.
I was able to find red heart sprinkles at my local Walmart. Online, it seems like Walmart only has these Wilton Jumbo Heart Sprinkles. Which can definitely work too.
They’re currently cheaper on Amazon though - Wilton Jumbo Heart Sprinkles.
I would definitely check your local grocery store for heart sprinkles or even candy hearts, like these Cinnamon Lovers Heart Shaped Candy Jelly Beans.
After the cookies are baked and cooled, attach a small red heart to the top of each cookie with icing or melted chocolate.
You can purchase a small green cookie icing tube at the grocery store or you can make an icing at home with powdered sugar and milk. I included how to do this in the recipe card below.
Simply put a small dot of icing on the back of a heart sprinkle, place the sprinkle in your desired place on the cookie, press down on the sprinkle a little bit, and hold for a few seconds.
This ensures the red heart will stay in place.
I do recommend giving the icing some additional time to dry before stacking the cookies on top of one another.
How do you mix the Grinch green?
The easiest way to get the perfect shade of Grinch-green is to use NEON GREEN food coloring.
I use the neon green gel color in this box of Betty Crocker Food Color Neon Gel.
I have never used non gel food coloring in this Grinch Cookies Recipe, so I don’t know if it changes the texture of the cookies or not.
But, this box of McCormick Neon Food Color and Egg Dye also has a neon green color.
The first time I made this great recipe, I waited to add the food coloring until the rest of the ingredients were combined and the dough was formed.
I had a hard time completely mixing in the food coloring though, especially when I needed to add more for the perfect Grinch-green, because the dough is very sticky.
Which is why I originally added a Tablespoon of oil to the ingredients. It was to help mix in more green food coloring.
I loved how moist and delicious these Grinch Cake Mix Cookies came out so I kept making them this way, despite the mini arm workout.
Next time, I will measure exactly how many drops of food coloring I use to get the perfect Grinch green. This will make it easier to add it before mixing all the ingredients together.
If you add drops of food coloring to the cookie dough before combining the wet and dry ingredients, I recommend still saving the one Tablespoon of oil until most of the ingredients are mixed.
This way, if you need to add more food coloring for the perfect shade of Grinch-green, you can add it with the oil to help completely mix it into the dough.
At this point in the recipe, I like to massage the dough with my hands to make sure there are no streaks of green food coloring.
After the dough is mixed, I like to chill it for 15-20 minutes in the refrigerator. This makes it easier to scoop dough balls. But, this step is optional.
How to Store
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
They are best if enjoyed within 5 days of baking. But, they stay moist, chewy, and delicious for 2 weeks in an airtight container.
Around day 5, they do become more fragile though and start to crumble easily.
If freezing these cookies, place in a freezer bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. Simply thaw before serving.
I’d love to hear what you think about this Grinch Cookie Recipe! Please leave a rating and/or comment below.
If you post a photo of these Grinch Cookies on social media, I would love to see it as well! Tag @lovemischka on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Tiktok.
Looking for more holiday fun? You may like:
- Christmas Pretzel Rods Recipe
- Free Printable Christmas Bingo Game
- How to Make Salt Dough Ornaments
- Easy Christmas Fudge Recipe
- Simple Christmas Muddy Buddy Recipe
How to Make Grinch Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 Box Vanilla Cake Mix (15.25 oz)
- 1/3 cup Oil + 1 Tbsp olive or vegetable
- 2 Eggs large
- Neon Green Food Coloring Gel
- Heart Sprinkles or Candies
- Cookie Icing (to attach hearts) store-bought or homemade (see recipe below)
Cookie Icing (if not using store-bought)
- 1 1/2 - 2 Tbsp Powdered Sugar
- 1/2 tsp Milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F.
- Prepare a cookie sheet with parchment paper or nonstick spray.
- In a large bowl, combine vanilla cake mix, 1/3 cup of oil, and eggs.
- Add drops of neon green food coloring* and mix. If more food coloring is needed to make your desired Grinch green, add more and mix again. If it is hard to mix the dough, move to the next step, even if the food coloring isn’t completely mixed in yet.
- Add 1 Tablespoon of oil and mix again to help completely mix the food coloring into the cookie dough without any color streaks.
- Chill the dough in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes. This step is optional, but it makes the next step easier.
- Scoop dough balls with a small cookie scoop and place 2” apart on the prepared cookie sheet.
- Bake cookies for 9-11 minutes.
- Let cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheet then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
For Homemade Cookie Icing (if using store-bought, skip this section):
- Add powdered sugar and milk to a small bowl.
- Mix until completely combined.
How to Attach Hearts
- Add a small amount of cookie icing (homemade or store-bought) to the back of a small red heart sprinkle or candy.
- Immediately place the heart sprinkle on top of a Grinch cookie in the place of your choosing.
- Gently press down on the heart sprinkle and hold for a few seconds then release.
- Repeat with a new heart sprinkle for each Grinch cookie.
- Allow icing to dry before stacking or storing the cookies.
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