These easy Grinch cookies are a cute and festive cookie recipe made with cake mix! Inspired by the Christmas movie, they are tinted Grinch green, rolled in powdered sugar and decorated with a heart sprinkle.
Love Christmas cookies? Don’t miss my Christmas sugar cookies, red velvet cake mix cookies or snickerdoodle cake mix cookies, too.
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Easy Grinch Cookies with Cake Mix
I made this fun version of my favorite cake mix cookie recipe with the classic Christmas movie ‘The Grinch’ in mind. They are soft and chewy with that cake flavor everyone loves.
Adding green food coloring and an adorable heart sprinkle is sure to steal the hearts both kids and adults! They are perfect for cookies plates along with these Christmas reindeer cookies!
Why This Recipe Works
- Easy to make. Anyone can make these cookies from beginner baker to novice chef. You don’t even need any tools such as an electric mixer.
- Simple ingredients. These Grinch cookies ingredients are straightforward and you may already have most of them in your pantry!
- Festive. Grinch cookies along with a glass of Grinch punch will fill you with holiday spirit. Don’t be surprised if family and friends hearts grow 3 sizes just like the Grinch!
Ingredients
The cookie dough is made using boxed cake mix as the “flour” mixture rather than making the actual cake mix.
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Cake mix: You will only need the dry mix from a vanilla cake mix box. Pick your favorite brand and use the box mix for the dry ingredients in the dough.
- Butter and oil: Using both softened butter and vegetable oil adds moisture to the dough for a moist, soft cookie.
- Large eggs: These bind the cookie dough together so it holds its shape while baking.
- Powdered sugar and cornstarch: Are used to roll the cookies in before baking to give them a snowy effect as well as add a sweet touch.
- Food coloring: Green food coloring gives it a Grinch look while gel coloring helps “glue” the heart sprinkles on each cookie.
- Heart sprinkles: Add a heart sprinkle on top of the green cookies to show how grinch’s small heart and love grew in the end.
Substitutions and Variations
Feel free to make this recipe your own!
Use white cake mix instead of vanilla, skip the powdered sugar coating or even mix white chocolate chips into the dough.
For decorating, swap the sprinkles with a red hots, heart candies or red M&M’s. You can even use this pistachio cookie recipe as the base instead if you’d like!
How to Make Grinch Cookies
Have a fun night celebrating the Grinch with these special Christmas cookies! They are so easy to make and result in a cookie that is tender, chewy and cake-like.
- Mix together. In a large bowl, place the dry cake mix, butter, eggs and oil. Mix until well combined. Add green food coloring until desired color of green is reached. Mix together the powdered sugar and cornstarch.
- Use a cookie scoop. Roll dough into balls and into powdered sugar mixture and place onto cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or silicone baking mat.
- Bake. 8-10 minutes or until the centers have set, making sure not to let the cookies brown. Remove from oven and let sit 2 minutes before placing on wire rack to cool completely.
- Add hearts! Using green decorating gel or frosting, place a dot onto each cookie and add a heart sprinkle or red hot candy.
Tips for the Best Grinch Cookies
You can’t go wrong with these grinch Christmas cookies but here are some extra tips to know just what to do in order to make the perfect cookie recipe.
- Cookie dough from cake mix. Whether you are making cake mix cookies or cake mix bars, don’t follow the instructions on the back of the box, you aren’t actually making cake!
- Refrigerate. Cake mix cookie dough can be a bit sticky, so it helps to refrigerate the dough for about 30 minutes. This makes it easier to roll the cookie dough balls in confectioners sugar.
- Turn it green! For Grinch Christmas cookies start small with food coloring, then add more to reach the perfect shade of green. Once you add it, you can’t take it back.
- Under bake cookies. Once the centers are set, that’s when they’re ready. They should be soft and chewy in texture.
- Cool on a wire rack. Let the cookies cool completely before adding the red heart sprinkles on top with the gel food coloring.
Recipe FAQs
Cookies are a magical treat! There are so many variables to sugar cookies and baking. The type of dry ingredients, how many eggs, and how soft your butter is. These all play a key factor into making the most chewy or crispy kind of cookies.
No, but if you love thicker, softer cookies I recommend chilling them.. It is strange to say but the colder things are the thicker the cookies seem to be. Place your dough in the fridge for a few hours to set up before baking if you love thicker cookies.
The more fat you have in your cookies the more the cookie will flatten. The flour to butter ratio has to be balanced in order to have the cookies fluff up and stay in their shape. If the cookie dough is too soft either chill it for a few hours or add in more flour to balance it out.
For storage, these Grinch cookies will stay fresh in an airtight container or bag for about 3 to 4 days.
Yes, these freeze beautifully and will stay fresh in the freezer for up to 3 months. I like to flash freeze them on a baking sheet first until they harden, then add them to a freezer bag and store (the cookies won’t stick together this way). Let them thaw on the counter for about 2 hours prior to enjoying.
These are absolutely amazing! We made them for every holiday and were a hit! Honestly my new favorite cookie!
Looking for more ways holiday cookie recipes? Try Mexican wedding cookies, candy cane cookies or peanut butter blossoms for a few more favorites.
More Christmas Cookies
Grinch Cookies
Equipment
- Cookie Sheet
Ingredients
- 15.25 ounce box vanilla cake mix (dry mix)
- ½ cup butter , softened
- 2 eggs
- 1 Tablespoon oil
- green food coloring
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ½ cup cornstarch
- heart sprinkles , or red hots candies
- green decorating gel or frosting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. In a mixing bowl, place the dry cake mix, butter, eggs and oil. Mix until well combined.
- Add green food coloring until desired color of green is reached.
- Mix together the powdered sugar and cornstarch. Roll dough into balls and into powdered sugar mixture and place onto cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or silicone baking mat.
- Bake 8-10 minutes or until the centers have set, making sure not to let the cookies brown. Remove from oven and let sit 2 minutes before placing on wire rack to cool completely.
- Using green decorating gel or frosting, place a dot onto each cookie and add a heart sprinkle or red hot candy.
Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Recipe contributed by Mandy’s Recipe Box and inspired by Katrina’s Kitchen.
Pat Dau
I just made the with my grandsons and they decorated them for Easter. Not only delish, but so cute!!! I wish I could send a picture🐰🧡💛💚💙💜😁
I Heart Naptime Community
So fun!! I’m so glad you enjoyed the cookies Pat :)