Grinch Cookies – Step into our kitchen, where the enchantment unfolds and today’s enchantment revolves around our recipe, for Grinch Cookies! Ideal for the holiday season these whimsical treats are not only a delight to behold but incredibly scrumptious. Bursting with the flavors of peppermint and vanilla and adorned in a shade of green these cookies are destined to be a crowd pleaser at any festive gathering.
I still remember that December evening when I first whipped up these Grinch Cookies. Yearning to embark on something for the holiday season I decided to bring those storybook characters to life through cookies. To my delight not only did they turn out flawlessly but they also won over my family in an instant. Even my husband, who typically shies away from sweets couldn’t resist stopping at one bite. And witnessing the joy in my child’s eyes upon discovering these treats was truly heartwarming. That magical moment firmly established these cookies as a cherished holiday tradition in our household.
What makes this Grinch Cookies truly special?
What sets apart these Grinch Cookies is their fusion of merriment and delectable flavors. The vivid green color of the cookies pays homage to the Dr. Seuss character. Adds an eye-catching touch, to any holiday table setting.
The combination of peppermint and vanilla extracts provides a flavor that’s not overly sugary making it enjoyable, for both adults and children. Moreover their ease of preparation makes them a perfect option for bakers of any expertise. Whether you want to engage in a baking activity with your kids or create a treat for a festive gathering these Grinch Cookies are guaranteed to be a hit, with everyone.
What You Need To Make This Grinch Cookies Recipe?
White Cake Mix: The cornerstone of our Grinch Cookies, this mix provides a foolproof foundation, ensuring light and fluffy cookies every time. It’s like a blank canvas waiting to be transformed into a festive masterpiece.
Unsalted Butter: The unsung hero of baking, softened unsalted butter here isn’t just a fat source; it’s what gives our cookies their rich, melt-in-your-mouth texture. It’s the butter that brings comfort to these cookies.
Eggs: Acting as the glue that binds our cookie universe together, room-temperature eggs ensure a uniform batter, guaranteeing each cookie bakes evenly and rises to the occasion.
Peppermint Extract: Here’s the twist! Peppermint extract is like the spirit of the holidays distilled into a liquid form. It’s what takes these cookies from simply green to genuinely Grinchy.
Vanilla Extract: The aroma of vanilla extract is like a warm hug on a cold day. It balances the peppermint and adds a classic, homely sweetness to the cookies.
Green Gel Food Coloring: This is where the magic happens! A few drops turn our dough from ordinary to extraordinary, embodying the mischievous charm of the Grinch in every bite.
Powdered Sugar: This isn’t just for sweetness; it’s for the snowy effect on our Grinch cookies, reminiscent of a Whoville winter wonderland.
Cornstarch: Cornstarch here plays a dual role – it helps the powdered sugar coating to adhere to the cookies and also provides a delicate, tender texture.
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Red Heart-Shaped Sprinkle or Cinnamon: The heart on each cookie is a nod to the Grinch’s heart growing three sizes. It’s the final, loving touch that brings the whole theme together.
Steps To Make Grinch Cookies:
Step 1: To begin preheat your oven to a temperature of 375°F. Prepare your baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper. Next using a mixer blend together the cake mix, softened butter and eggs until they form a harmonious mixture. Now comes the exciting part. Stir in the peppermint and vanilla extracts to infuse your dough with flavors. Give it a touch by adding some green food coloring to transform the dough into a vibrant hue reminiscent of holiday cheer. The dough will have a thick consistency. May be slightly sticky just, like how the Grinch’s heart was before it expanded three sizes!
Step 2: In a bowl whisk together sugar and cornstarch until well combined. Using a scoop that holds 1 1/2 tablespoons of dough per cookie shape your cookie dough into balls. Gently roll them in the sugar mixture for an added touch of sweetness. Arrange these creations on your baking sheet ensuring they have enough space to spread while baking.
Step 3: Now it’s time for these beauties to bake in the oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Once they are out of the oven quickly add a heart-shaped sprinkle on top of each cookie to give them that Grinch-inspired touch. Allow them to rest for 5 minutes before transferring them onto a wire rack to cool
Step 4: Enjoy these treats once they have cooled down! They are sure to bring joy and holiday spirit like our green-hearted character, from Dr. Seuss tale.
Tip:
To achieve the best results it’s important to refrigerate the cookie dough for a minimum of 30 minutes before baking. This process helps to firm up the content, in the cookies resulting in a reduced spread, during baking and ultimately yielding softer cookies. Chilling the dough also improves the flavor profile. Makes it easier to handle particularly since it tends to be sticky. Taking this act of patience will greatly reward you with shaped evenly baked and delightfully flavorful Grinch Cookies that are sure to leave a lasting impression!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I use regular food coloring instead of gel?
Of course! You can definitely use food coloring instead of gel. Just remember that if you’re using liquid food coloring you might need to add drops to get the bright color.
How do I store these cookies?
To keep these cookies fresh simply store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They should stay delicious for a week.
Can I make these cookies in advance?
If you want to make these cookies ahead of time no problem! You can prepare the dough in advance. Refrigerate it. Just make sure to let it come back, to room temperature before baking.
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Planning to try this recipe soon? Pin it for a quick find later!
<Remember it later>
Planning to try this recipe soon? Pin it for a quick find later!
Grinch Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 15.25 oz. white cake mix 432 grams
- 8 tbsp unsalted butter softened
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 2 tsp peppermint extract or mint extract
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- Green gel food coloring
- ¼ c powdered sugar 32 grams
- 3 tbsp cornstarch
- Red heart-shaped sprinkle or cinnamon for decoration
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.
- In a mixing bowl combine the white cake mix weighing 15.25 oz. softened butter (8 tbsp) and 2 large eggs. Mix thoroughly until blended.
- Add 2 tsp of peppermint or mint extract and ½ tsp of vanilla extract, to the mixture. Adjust the color by adding gel food coloring until you achieve your desired shade.
- In a bowl mix together sugar (¼ cup or 32 grams) and cornstarch (3 tbsp).
- Using a cookie scoop that measures 1 ½ tbsp, scoop out portions of dough. Roll each portion in the sugar mixture to coat it evenly. Place the coated dough balls on the baking sheet leaving about an inch of space between them.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the edges are set and the tops appear dry.
- Soon as they come out of the oven gently press a heart-shaped sprinkle onto each cookie.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack, for cooling.
- Enjoy these Grinch Cookies for your festive celebrations!
Notes
I’m Bitty, owner of nodashofgluten.com, where I share simple, delicious recipes for all tastes, including gluten-free. Check out my “About Me” page for more info!
