Grinch Cookies (With Cake Mix!)

Table of Contents

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Ingredients for Grinch Cookies:

White cake mix: These cake mix cookies use your favorite brand of white or vanilla cake mix that comes in a 15.25-ounce size.
Eggs: You’ll want two eggs as the binder for this recipe.
Vegetable oil: You can use any vegetable or canola oil.
Vanilla extract: I’m using vanilla extract in my cookies, but you can choose to omit it if you choose a vanilla flavored box mix. Use a pure vanilla extract rather than an artificial vanilla for the best cookie taste.
Powered sugar: Rolling the cookie dough in powdered sugar gives it that snowy look with an extra touch of sweetness.
Cornstarch: Adding cornstarch to the powdered sugar helps it lay on top of the cookie rather than soak right in. You can also use arrowroot powder or tapioca starch as well.
Green food coloring: You’ll want to add a few drops at a time until you get the perfect green that you’re looking for! Green gel food coloring is a little more intense in color but liquid food coloring will work as well.
Heart sprinkle: To represent the Grinch’s heart, add a heart shaped sprinkle or red hot candy after baking.

Looking for heart shaped sprinkles? Check out these options!

Grinch Cookie Instructions:

Mix your dough: Add your cake mix, eggs, oil, and vanilla extract to a large mixing bowl. Mix on medium speed with a hand mixer or stand mixer until combined.

balls of dough rolled in powdered sugar for grinch cookies

Add your green food coloring one drop at a time until you reach your perfect shade of green and mix on low until just combined (I used 5 drops of gel food coloring).

Cover cookie dough and let chill in fridge for 30-60 minutes so it’s easier to scoop.

balls of cookie dough on tray for grinch cookies

Roll your cookies: Whisk together powdered sugar and cornstarch in a bowl.

Using a cookie scoop or a spoon, scoop 1-2 tablespoon size cookie dough balls and plop them into your powdered sugar and cornstarch mixture. Dough will be really sticky but once it lands in the powdered sugar it’s easier to handle.

Roll it around until covered and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

Bake your cookies: Bake cookies at 375°F in the oven for 8-10 minutes or until the center is just set but the cookies haven’t started to brown on top yet.

Add heart and cool: While still warm, add your red heart sprinkle and after 3-5 minutes transfer to a wire rack to completely cool. Once cool, enjoy your holiday treats!

Tips for Making Grinch Cookies:

Try adding flavored extracts like peppermint, pistachio, or almond to your dough for a fun twist!

Make sure to mix the dough fully once you add your green food coloring so you don’t have any white streaks in your dough.

If you don’t have cornstarch, you can just roll the cookies in powdered sugar—some will sink into the cookie but you should still get a dusted effect.

Make sure to keep an eye on your cookies so they don’t start to brown, as that will affect the pretty green color of the cookie. These cookies should be soft and chewy.

If you don’t have heart sprinkles on hand, you could also use pink royal icing to pipe on the shape of a heart once the cookies are cool or stick on a few red and green M&Ms for some added chocolate flavor.

These cookies are so soft and chewy and they are a fun one to make with kids and do some Christmas crafts or games by the fire. Enjoy!

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long will Grinch cookies keep for?

In an airtight container, Grinch cookies will last for about 5 days at room temperature before starting to get stale.

Can you freeze Grinch cookies?

Yes! Put your cookie sheet in the freezer to first flash freeze the cookies for 30 minutes and then you can put them in a freezer bag for 2-3 months. Let the cookies thaw in the fridge or on the counter before eating.