Grinch cookies are soft, chewy sugar cookies tinted bright green with a little red heart on top—simple to make, festive, and perfect for holiday baking.
Grinch cookies bring a soft, chewy sugar cookie base with that fun bright-green look and a little red heart. Kids love them and they always pop on a Christmas cookie tray.
They’re quick to mix, easy to bake, and perfect for gifting, cookie boxes, or pairing with hot cocoa.
Why you'll love this recipe
- Fun look : that bright-green cookie with a tiny red heart always stands out on a Christmas tray.
- Easy dough : a simple sugar cookie base that’s quick to mix and bakes soft and chewy.
- Perfect for gifting : they pack well and make a cute homemade treat for holiday boxes.
Ingredients you need
- Butter softened for a smooth cookie dough
- Sugar granulated for the classic sweet base
- Egg at room temperature
- Green gel food coloring for a bright Grinch color
- Flour all-purpose for soft, chewy cookies
- Baking soda for lift and texture
- Vanilla extract plus a little salt
- Red sugar hearts for the Grinch look
Tips for this recipe
- Use gel coloring it gives a vibrant green without thinning the dough.
- Don’t overmix once the flour is in, mix just until combined to keep the cookies soft.
- Chill if sticky a quick 10 minutes in the fridge helps shape cleaner cookies.
- Bake lightly remove them when the edges are just set for a soft Grinch cookie.
- Add hearts after baking press the red heart on warm cookies so it sticks perfectly.
How To Make Grinch Cookies
Beat the softened butter and sugar in a large bowl until creamy, then mix in the egg, vanilla, and green gel coloring.
Add the sifted flour, baking soda, and salt, and mix just until a smooth green cookie dough forms.
Scoop the dough into balls and roll them in powdered sugar.
Place the dough balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving space for spreading.
Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 8–10 minutes, until the edges look set but the centers stay soft.
Press a red sugar heart on each warm cookie, then cool completely on a wire rack.
Recipe Variations
- Grinch Crinkle Cookies - Roll the dough twice in powdered sugar for a deeper crinkle effect.
- Grinch Chocolate Chip Cookies - Add white chocolate chips or semi-sweet chips to the dough.
- Soft Grinch Sugar Cookies - Use melted butter instead of softened for a softer, denser texture.
- Grinch Stuffed Cookies - Place a small marshmallow inside each dough ball before baking.
- Grinch Sprinkle Cookies - Top the warm cookies with green or red sprinkles along with the heart.
Recipe Questions
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes, chill the cookie dough up to 48 hours before baking.
Why did my cookies not spread?
The dough was too cold or too much flour was added.
Can I freeze the baked cookies?
Yes, freeze them for up to 3 months in an airtight container.
Which food coloring works best?
Use gel coloring to get that bright Grinch green without thinning the dough.
Can I replace the red heart?
Use red sprinkles or a small red M&M if you don’t have sugar hearts.
More Grinch Recipes
I hope you’ll love this recipe! Rate it ★★★★★ and leave a quick comment — it always helps. Happy baking!
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Grinch Cookies
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 cookies
Description
Grinch Cookies, a recipe for green Christmas cookies with a little sugar heart in the center (makes 12 cookies).
Ingredients
- 115 g (½ cup) unsalted butter, softened
- 130 g (⅔ cup) granulated sugar
- 1 egg, at room temperature
- 180 g (1 ½ cups) all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 pinch of salt
- Green food coloring
- Sugar hearts
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and prepare a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, mix the flour, baking soda (or baking powder), and salt, then set aside.
- In another bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar until creamy.
- Add the egg, vanilla extract, and a few drops of green food coloring to color the dough. Mix until the color is even.
- Gently fold in the dry ingredients with a spatula until the dough is smooth. (Refrigerate the dough if it’s too sticky.)
- Form 12 equal-sized dough balls and roll them in powdered sugar or granulated sugar to coat.
- Place the dough balls on the baking sheet, spacing them slightly apart.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the edges are slightly firm and the center is still soft.
- Once out of the oven, gently press a red sugar heart onto each warm cookie.
- Let the cookies cool completely before enjoying.
Notes
Storage: Store the cookies in an airtight container, away from moisture, for up to 5 days or freeze them for up to 1 month.
Tips:
- Use gel food coloring: It provides an intense green color without altering the dough's texture.
- Weigh the dough balls: For uniform cookies, weigh each portion or use a cookie scoop.
- Roll the dough balls in sugar: This ensures a nice sugary crust after baking.
- Add the sugar hearts immediately: Gently press the decorations onto the cookies as soon as they come out of the oven so they stick properly.
- Monitor baking: Don't let the cookies brown too much; they should stay soft in the center.
- Reshape the cookies: Right out of the oven, use a round cookie cutter and gently spin it around each warm cookie to reshape them into perfect circles.
- Use a kitchen scale: For more accurate measurements and consistent cookie sizes, a kitchen scale is a great tool.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: cookies
- Cuisine: American
Emma
Just tried these with my kids and they turned out so cute! The green color and little hearts were a hit. Thanks for the fun idea!