Description
These Grinch Cookies are festive, soft, and chewy treats perfect for holiday celebrations. Made from a simple white cake mix base, they are dyed a vibrant green and coated in powdered sugar and cornstarch for a sweet, crackly exterior. Each cookie is topped with a candy heart for a charming finish, making them ideal for Christmas parties or gifting.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 15.25 ounces white cake mix
- 2 eggs (room temperature)
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- GEL green food coloring (to desired shade)
Coating
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- ¼ cup cornstarch
Topping
- Candy heart sprinkles
Instructions
- Mix Ingredients: Add the white cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract into a large mixing bowl. Mix on medium/low speed until the dough is fully combined and smooth.
- Add Color: Gradually add green gel food coloring a little at a time, mixing well after each addition, until the dough reaches the desired vibrant green shade.
- Chill Dough: Cover the dough and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes to make it easier to handle and shape.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Prepare Coating: In a small bowl, mix together the powdered sugar and cornstarch thoroughly. Set this aside for rolling the cookie dough balls.
- Shape Cookies: Scoop 1.5 tablespoons of dough (about 1.5-inch diameter) and roll into smooth balls using your hands.
- Coat Dough Balls: Roll each dough ball in the powdered sugar and cornstarch mixture until fully coated.
- Place on Baking Sheet: Arrange the coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Flatten and Top: Slightly flatten each dough ball using your hand, a glass, or the bottom of a spatula. Press a candy heart firmly into the center of each cookie to stick it securely.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies just start to turn light golden and the tops appear dry and set.
- Cool Cookies: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the cookies sit on it for 3 minutes to firm up, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- For best results, use room temperature eggs to ensure a smooth dough.
- Adjust the amount of green gel food coloring depending on the intensity of color you prefer.
- Chilling the dough is essential to prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking.
- You can substitute candy heart sprinkles with any festive decoration if desired.
- Store baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
