Description
Green grinch cookies capture the spirit of Christmas with festive sugar-coated treats. Peppermint and white chocolate add a playful twist, making them a fun holiday favorite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 box (432 g / 15.25 oz) white cake mix
- 8 tbsps unsalted butter (softened)
- 2 large eggs (room temperature)
- 2 tsp peppermint extract (or mint extract)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Green gel food coloring (as needed)
- 1/4 cup (32 g) powdered sugar
- 3 tbsps cornstarch
- Red heart-shaped sprinkles or cinnamon (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper, creating a perfect staging area for the festive treats.
- In a mixer, blend cake mix, butter, and eggs until a smooth, uniform dough forms, ensuring no lumps remain.
- Infuse the mixture with peppermint and vanilla extracts, then introduce green food coloring to achieve the iconic Grinch-like hue. Mix gently until the batter reaches a thick, sticky consistency.
- Create a coating mixture by whisking powdered sugar and cornstarch in a separate bowl, preparing for the cookie transformation.
- Scoop dough using a cookie scoop, forming balls that will become the base of these whimsical treats. Carefully roll each ball in the powdered sugar mixture, embracing the sticky nature of the dough.
- Arrange coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about an inch apart to allow for slight spreading during baking.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, watching for set edges and dry tops that signal the cookies are perfectly done.
- Immediately after removing from the oven, embellish each cookie with a heart-shaped sprinkle, gently pressing to secure the festive touch.
- Let the cookies cool on the sheet for 5 minutes, then move them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Add food coloring a little at a time until you reach the classic Grinch green shade, keeping the color bright but not overdone.
- Prevent sticky dough by chilling it for 30 minutes before shaping, which helps maintain cookie structure and makes rolling easier.
- Swap traditional extracts with alternative flavor profiles like almond or orange to create unique seasonal variations that still capture the festive spirit.
- Use gluten-free cake mix and alternative flour options to make these cookies accessible for those with dietary restrictions without compromising taste or texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 124 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 110 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 0.2 g
- Protein: 1.4 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg