These are the absolute best grinch sugar cookies! I used my basic sugar cookie dough that's dyed green, rolled in green sprinkles, and topped with a single red heart sprinkle to represent the grinch's heart. This is a perfect cookie to bake this holiday season!
These grinch Christmas cookies are a drop-style sugar cookie that's decorated to look like one of your favorite Christmas movies: How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
The cookies are soft, chewy, and require no chill time in the refrigerator before baking. The whole family will love these easy grinch cookies.
Looking for more holiday desserts? Then check out these: peppermint cake with white chocolate frosting, gingerbread cinnamon rolls, and peanut butter chocolate fudge.
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Why You'll Love These Cookies
- They're no chill and can be baked right away.
- They're green cookies that have been rolled in green sugar sprinkles.
- Each bite is soft and fluffy.
- One small heart is placed in the middle to represent the grinch's small heart.
- They're perfect for holiday parties or your next cookie exchange!
Pair these adorable grinch cookies when you watch your favorite holiday movie this Christmas season!
And unlike other sugar cookie recipes where you have to roll out the dough and use a cookie cutter, all you need is your favorite cookie scoop.
Ingredients Needed
Here are some notes on the ingredients we'll be using. For the full ingredients list, look at the recipe card below.
- Flour: I used all-purpose flour.
- Corn Starch: With the addition of corn starch, the cookies will be thicker and softer.
- Butter: Unsalted and room temperature butter is what we need.
- Sugar: Granulated sugar is the main sweetener for the cookies.
- Green Food Coloring: This is an optional ingredient. If using, I highly recommend using a green gel food coloring, as it will give a more deeper and bright green color.
- Green Sprinkles: Here are the ones I used. I found them at my local grocery store.
- Heart Sprinkles: These can be found in the baking aisle at your local craft store or on Amazon.
Instructions
Here are the step by step instructions on how to make this grinch cookie recipe.
Step 1: Dry ingredients. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, corn starch, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
Step 2: Wet ingredients: In a large bowl using a hand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy.
Then add the egg, vanilla extract, and food dye on medium speed and mix until combined.
Step 3: Combine the ingredients. Slowly add the flour mixture on low speed, mixing just until combined.
Step 4: Scoop the dough. Use a small cookie scoop to scoop out the dough. Use your hands to roll it into a ball and then roll it in the green sprinkles.
Place onto the prepared baking sheet and repeat with the rest of the dough.
Step 5: Bake. Bake the cookies for 9-11 minutes and place one heart-shaped sprinkle onto the center of each cookie once out of the oven.
Allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring them over to a wire rack.
Storage Tips
Keep any leftover cookies in an airtight container on the counter for up to 7 days.
If placing onto cookie platters, cover the whole plate with plastic wrap so they'll stay fresh longer.
Expert Baking Tips
- Baking Sheet: I recommend this specific cookie sheet. Line each pan with parchment paper.
- Measuring Flour: To help ensure you don’t add extra flour, follow these three simple steps: 1) Fluff up the flour using a fork. 2) Spoon the flour into your measuring cup. 3) Scrape a knife across the top of the measuring cup to level out the flour.
- Cookie Scoop: For this recipe I used my small cookie scoop (1.2 tablespoons) to create smaller cookies. You can use your preferred cookie scoop though.
- Perfectly Shaped Cookies: The trick to getting more circular cookies is to use a round cookie cutter to essentially “rotate or spin” around each cookie immediately when they come out of the oven. Since they’re really hot, the cookies will easily mold to that circular shape as you move around them.
- Sprinkles: Roll the cookie dough balls in green sugar sprinkles before baking. Once the cookies come out of the oven, place one small red heart onto the center and cool.
Recipe FAQs
Yes they can. Freeze the cookies on a baking sheet for about an hour and then transfer them to a freezer bag. You can keep them frozen for up to 2 months.
Before baking, roll each cookie dough ball into the sprinkles. They should stick quite easily.
If you made this recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below. I love hearing from you! Also, please tag me on Instagram and check out my Pinterest for even more recipe ideas.
It brings me so much joy to see you make my recipes. 🙂
Happy Baking!
More Christmas Cookies To Try
📖 Recipe
The Best Grinch Sugar Cookies
Equipment
- Baking Sheets
- Parchment paper
- Small Cookie Scoop
- Electric Stand Mixer
Ingredients:
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons corn starch
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, room temperature (1.5 sticks)
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon green food gel coloring
- green sugar sprinkles
- 26 red heart sprinkles
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, corn starch, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric stand mixer using the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar on high speed until light and fluffy (2-3 minutes). Add the egg, vanilla extract, and green food coloring on medium speed and mix until combined.
- Slowly add the flour mixture on low speed, mixing just until combined. Remove the bowl from the stand mixer and use a rubber spatula to gently fold together any remaining loose ingredients.
- Pour the green sprinkles into a small bowl and scoop the cookie dough into your hands using a small cookie scoop (I used the #50). Roll the cookie dough into a ball and then roll it in the sprinkles. Repeat with the rest of the cookie dough.
- Arrange the cookie dough balls 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets and bake for 9-11 minutes. Once out of the oven, place 1 red heart onto each cookie. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes and then transfer them over to a wire rack to finish cooling.
- Keep any leftover cookies in an airtight container on the counter for up to 7 days.
Notes:
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-
- Baking Sheet: I recommend this specific cookie sheet. Line each pan with parchment paper.
- Measuring Flour: To help ensure you don’t add extra flour, follow these three simple steps: 1) Fluff up the flour using a fork. 2) Spoon the flour into your measuring cup. 3) Scrape a knife across the top of the measuring cup to level out the flour.
- Cookie Scoop: For this recipe I used my small cookie scoop (1.2 tablespoons) to create smaller cookies. You can use your preferred cookie scoop though.
- Perfectly Shaped Cookies: The trick to getting more circular cookies is to use a round cookie cutter to essentially “rotate or spin” around each cookie immediately when they come out of the oven. Since they’re really hot, the cookies will easily mold to that circular shape as you move around them.
- Sprinkles: Roll the cookie dough balls in green sugar sprinkles before baking. Once the cookies come out of the oven, place one small red heart onto the center and cool.
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Very cute cookies, the dough however was very crumbly and dry. This made it tough to roll in green sugar. Will try it again to see if I have the same results.
Hi Heather! This dough shouldn't be dry. The reason why yours might have turned out that way is 1) the flour wasn't measured properly. Do not scoop the flour directly from the bag. Instead, use a spoon to scoop the flour into the measuring cup. 2) the butter wasn't soft enough. It's important for the butter to be at room temperature and not cold. Hope these tips help!