Description
These festive Grinch Cookies are soft, peppermint-infused sugar cookies perfect for holiday celebrations. Made from a simple white cake mix base and colored vibrant green with gel food coloring, they are adorned with red heart-shaped sprinkles to capture the essence of the Grinch’s holiday spirit. The cookies offer a delightful peppermint and vanilla flavor with a tender, crumbly texture, making them an easy and fun holiday treat for families and cookie lovers alike.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 box (15.25 oz) white cake mix (e.g., Pillsbury)
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon peppermint or mint extract
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Green gel food coloring (about 1 teaspoon, adjust to preference)
Coating and Decoration
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (or tapioca starch/arrowroot powder)
- Red heart-shaped sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats to prevent sticking.
- Prepare the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the white cake mix, softened butter, eggs, peppermint extract, vanilla extract, and green gel food coloring. Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, blend the ingredients together until a smooth, evenly colored dough forms.
- Make the Coating Mixture: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and cornstarch to create the coating powder. This mixture will give the cookies a nice sweet exterior and prevent sticking.
- Form the Cookies: Scoop tablespoon-sized amounts of dough and roll them into balls. Toss each dough ball in the powdered sugar and cornstarch mixture until thoroughly coated.
- Add Sprinkles: Place the coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Gently press red heart-shaped sprinkles onto the tops of the dough balls to decorate.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden but the centers remain soft.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely. Enjoy these festive cookies fresh or store them in an airtight container for several days.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of green food coloring to achieve your preferred shade of green.
- Make sure butter is softened but not melted for the best dough consistency.
- Room temperature eggs help the ingredients combine smoothly.
- For a stronger peppermint flavor, increase the peppermint extract slightly, but be careful not to overpower the taste.
- These cookies freeze well; store in airtight containers or freezer bags for up to 3 months.
- Use parchment or silicone mats to prevent sticking and promote even baking.
