These adorable Grinch Cookies are a fun way to bring a little Christmas cheer into your kitchen! With their bright green color, soft crinkle tops, and sweet red candy hearts, they’re almost too cute to eat. Almost!
I originally made these cookies for my daughter’s Dr. Seuss Day celebration at school, and they were such a hit with her friends. I love a good homemade cookie, but sometimes a simple cake mix recipe is just what you need when you’re planning a party or baking with the kids. If you’re filling a holiday cookie tray, you’ll also love my Christmas Cookie Recipes for more festive inspiration.
Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 20 minutes
- ❄️ Chill Time: 10 to 15 minutes
- 🔥 Bake Time: 8 to 10 minutes at 350°F
- ⏳ Total Time: about 45 minutes
- 🍪 Makes: about 24 cookies
- ⚡ Calories: about 145kcal per cookie
- 💚 Flavor Profile: soft, cake like vanilla cookies with a powdered sugar crinkle
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, great for baking with kids
Quick Answer
Grinch Cookies are soft, cake like Christmas crinkle cookies made with vanilla cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, green food coloring, and powdered sugar. Each cookie is topped with a red candy heart inspired by the Grinch’s growing heart. They take about 45 minutes, including a short chill, and make approximately 24 cookies. They’re perfect for Christmas parties, cookie exchanges, and Dr. Seuss celebrations.
Jump to:
- Quick Look
- Quick Answer
- Why This Recipe Works
- Why You’ll Love These Grinch Cookies
- Ingredient Notes
- How to Make Grinch Cookies
- Tips for the Best Grinch Cookies
- Fun Grinch Christmas Party Ideas
- Fun Dr. Seuss Party Ideas
- Grinch Cookie FAQs
- More Christmas Cookies to Try
- Easy Grinch Cookies with Cake Mix and Candy Hearts
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique
- Cake mix shortcut. A box of vanilla cake mix gives a soft, cake like cookie with only a few added ingredients.
- A short chill. Ten to fifteen minutes in the fridge makes the soft dough easy to roll.
- A generous powdered sugar coat. It cracks as the cookies bake and creates the pretty crinkle tops.
- Pull them just set. The cookies keep firming up as they cool, so they stay soft in the center.
Why You’ll Love These Grinch Cookies
- Easy to make: Start with a box of vanilla cake mix and a few pantry ingredients.
- Soft and fluffy: These cookies have a tender, cake like center and a pretty powdered sugar coating.
- Kid friendly: Children will love rolling the dough and adding the little red hearts.
- Perfect for celebrations: Make them for Christmas, a Grinch movie night, or a Dr. Seuss birthday party.
- Great for gifting: Their festive colors make them a fun addition to Christmas cookie boxes. See my edible Christmas gifts for more homemade gift ideas.
Ingredient Notes
These adorable Grinch Cookies start with a simple cake mix and a few everyday ingredients. You don’t need anything fancy to make these festive little treats!
- Vanilla or White Cake Mix: This is the shortcut that makes these cookies so easy. White cake mix creates a brighter green color, while vanilla cake mix adds a lovely flavor. Use the package size listed in the recipe card.
- Eggs: Help hold the cookie dough together and give the cookies their soft, cake like texture.
- Vegetable Oil: Keeps the cookies moist and tender. Use a neutral flavored oil so it doesn’t overpower the vanilla flavor.
- Green Food Coloring: Gives the cookies their signature Grinch green appearance. Gel food coloring works especially well because it creates a vibrant color without adding much extra liquid.
- Powdered Sugar: Rolling the cookie dough in powdered sugar creates the pretty crinkle coating as the cookies bake.
- Red Heart Sprinkles: The finishing touch! These little hearts represent the Grinch’s heart growing three sizes. Choose oven safe sprinkles or add delicate candy hearts immediately after baking.
You’ll find the exact ingredient measurements in the printable recipe card below.
How to Make Grinch Cookies
These cookies are easy enough for a beginner baker and make a wonderful activity to enjoy with children. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Combine the cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and green food coloring until a soft dough forms. Refrigerate for 10 to 15 minutes to make it easier to handle.
- Scoop tablespoon sized portions of dough and roll them into balls, coating each generously in powdered sugar. Place the dough on a prepared baking sheet and gently press a red candy heart into the center of each cookie.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until the cookies are just set. Let them rest on the baking sheet for two minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
- Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack before serving. Enjoy!
For exact measurements and complete instructions, see the printable recipe card below.
Tips for the Best Grinch Cookies
- Choose the right cake mix. Vanilla or white cake mix works best because it allows the green coloring to show through. Different brands may produce slightly different dough textures.
- Don’t overbake. The cookies should look just set when you remove them from the oven. They will continue to firm up as they cool. 9 minutes worked best for these.
- Use enough food coloring. The dough may lighten slightly during baking, so aim for a shade a little brighter than your desired finished color.
- Chill sticky dough. If the dough is difficult to roll, refrigerate it for another 10 minutes.
- Be generous with powdered sugar. A good coating helps create those pretty crinkle tops.
- Choose oven safe candy hearts. If your hearts are delicate or prone to melting, gently press them onto the cookies immediately after baking instead.
- Love cake mix cookies? Try my funfetti cake mix cookies, carrot cake mix cookies, and Valentine cake cookies too.
Fun Grinch Christmas Party Ideas
These Grinch Cookies are a fun addition to Christmas celebrations, especially if you have little ones who love the Grinch! Their bright green color and sweet red hearts make them perfect for holiday dessert tables, Christmas cookie exchanges, and family movie nights.
- Host a Grinch Christmas Movie Night. Gather the family, make some hot chocolate, and enjoy these cookies while watching your favorite Grinch movie. Add cozy blankets, Christmas pajamas, and a few holiday treats for a memorable evening.
- Create a Grinch Christmas Dessert Table. Decorate with red and green napkins, candy canes, and heart shaped decorations. Arrange the cookies on a festive platter alongside other Christmas goodies. You could even add a little sign that says, “Maybe Christmas Means a Little Bit More!” Find more fun ideas in my Grinch gifts for Christmas.
- Give Grinch Cookie Gifts. Place a few cookies in clear treat bags tied with red ribbon. Add a little heart shaped gift tag with a cheerful Christmas message. These make thoughtful homemade gifts for teachers, neighbors, and friends.
- Plan a Grinch Christmas Tea Party. Serve these colorful cookies with your favorite holiday tea, finger sandwiches, and a few festive desserts. They’re especially cute displayed on a tiered serving tray with red and green decorations. My Ultimate Christmas Tea Party guide has everything you need.
- Add Them to a Christmas Cookie Exchange. These bright green cookies will stand out on any Christmas cookie platter! Pair them with traditional favorites like my Christmas Snowball Cookies for a pretty combination of festive colors and flavors.
Whether you’re hosting a Christmas party or enjoying a cozy evening at home, these little green cookies are sure to bring some holiday cheer!
Fun Dr. Seuss Party Ideas
These Grinch Cookies aren’t just for Christmas! Since Dr. Seuss’s birthday is March 2, they’re also a sweet addition to classroom celebrations, reading parties, or a fun afternoon with the grandchildren.
- Host a Dr. Seuss Reading Party. Gather a few favorite Dr. Seuss books, set out colorful pillows, and create a cozy reading corner. Serve these green cookies while everyone enjoys a story together. My children’s tea party books are fun to add to the pile.
- Create a Grinch Dessert Table. Decorate a small table with red and green napkins, heart shaped decorations, and a platter of Grinch Cookies. Add a few colorful treats and a little sign that says, “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch!”
- Make a Heart Growing Craft. Cut small hearts from red construction paper and let the children write something kind they can do for someone else. Display their hearts around the dessert table as a sweet reminder that kindness is what makes the Grinch’s story so special.
- Plan a Grinch Movie Night. Turn an ordinary afternoon into a fun celebration with a Grinch movie, cozy blankets, and a plate of freshly baked cookies. You could even prepare little bags of cookies for everyone to take home!
- Create a Dr. Seuss Tea Party. For a whimsical afternoon tea, serve these cookies on colorful dessert plates alongside small sandwiches, fruit, and lemonade for the children. For more inspiration on setting a pretty table and planning your menu, visit my Easy Steps to Create a Tea Party.
Grinch Cookie FAQs
Yes! You can bake them a day or two before your celebration. Store the cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.
The green food coloring may fade slightly during baking. White cake mix can help produce a brighter shade, and you can add more coloring to the dough before baking.
Yes! White or vanilla cake mix works best for the traditional Grinch appearance, but you can experiment with other flavors and colors for different holidays.
Yes. Once completely cooled, place the cookies in a freezer safe container with parchment paper between layers. Freeze for up to two months for best quality. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
You can press oven safe candy hearts into the dough before baking. For delicate sprinkles or candies that might melt, add them immediately after removing the cookies from the oven.
About 24 cookies when you scoop tablespoon sized portions of dough.
More Christmas Cookies to Try
If you’re planning a holiday cookie exchange or putting together homemade gifts, these other Candiland recipes would make wonderful additions.
- Christmas Snowball Cookies: buttery, melt in your mouth cookies covered in powdered sugar.
- White Chocolate Dipped Lemon Shortbread Cookies: a lovely combination of buttery shortbread, bright lemon, and sweet white chocolate.
- Chocolate Shortbread Cookies: rich chocolate button cookies made with six ingredients.
- Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies and Cranberry Orange Ricotta Cookies for cranberry and orange lovers.
- Christmas Crack M&Ms for an easy no bake treat.
- Christmas Cupcakes and Peppermint Bark Cupcakes for the dessert table.
- Tea Party Cookies: a collection of pretty cookies for tea parties, holidays, and special celebrations.
Whether you’re baking these for a Christmas cookie exchange, celebrating Dr. Seuss’s birthday, or enjoying a cozy family movie night, these Grinch Cookies are sure to bring a few smiles.
I think the little red hearts are my favorite part. They’re a sweet reminder that even the smallest acts of kindness can make someone’s day brighter.
Until next time, keep life sweet, one bite at a time.
I hope you enjoy this Grinch Cookies! If you make it, please leave a ⭐ star rating in the recipe card below, and come say hello on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook. I love seeing your tea time treats.
Easy Grinch Cookies with Cake Mix and Candy Hearts
Ingredients
- 1 box vanilla cake mix This recipe used Betty Crocker French Vanilla 375g box
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- green food coloring a few drops, or until desired color is reached, this recipe used 4 drops
- 1 cup Confectioners' sugar for rolling
- 24 Sprinkles or candies 24 large heart-shaped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F.
- In the bowl of your mixer, mix together cake mix, food coloring, oil, and eggs.
- Chill the dough for 10-15 minutes. If still too stickly add another 10 minutes in refridgerator.
- Using a cookie scoop, portion the dough into tablespoon-sized balls. Roll each ball generously in confectioners' sugar.
- Place on baking sheet and press 1 large heart candy in center of each cookie.
- Bake for 8 – 10 minutes until just set. 9 minutes worked best for these.
- Let cool 2 minutes on pan before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.
Erin says
those look so good!
Candi Elm says
They are a lot of fun to make.
michelle james says
These are the cutest cookies EVER!! I am pinning.
Candi Elm says
Thanks I think they are so cute.
Jodie @ Growing Book by Book says
A fun recipe to go with a Christmas classic!
Candi Elm says
Yes, You could do a fun party with them on movie night.
Cassie @ 3Dinosaurs.com says
That looks fun and yummy!
Candi Elm says
They are a lot of fun and very soft and moist.
Heather says
I love these Candi. Such a cute idea!!
Candi Elm says
Thanks Heather, I am glad you liked them.
Sharon Rowe says
Hi I am popping over from How To Get Organized At Home and just wanted to say thank you for sharing your post. I love the Grinch and these cookies look like fun, thanks again for sharing:)
Barb @ A Life in Balance says
Thank you for posting to Motivation Monday!
Crystal & Co. says
Oh, these are precious for such a naughty Grinch. Love the hearts!