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.
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 bar cookies, 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.
5 star review
These are absolutely amazing! We made them for every holiday and were a hit! Honestly my new favorite cookie!
– Emily
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
HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all the newest recipes!
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.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Recipe contributed by Mandy’s Recipe Box and inspired by Katrina’s Kitchen.
Categorized as: American, Cake Mix Cookies, Christmas, Cookies, Desserts, Freezer-Friendly, Holiday Cookies, Kid-Friendly, Nut-Free, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
Just whipped these up and they are delicious! I added a tsp of vanilla bean paste, but other than that, followed the directions. Turned out perfectly. If you apply a little candy heart while they are still fairly warm, there is no need to use frosting or something else to make the tiny heart stay in place.
these are the cutest and most easy little cookies recipe, thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe!
These were so fun to make with my kids, I wish I took a picture! I was so proud how they came out and now they’re all gone lol!
Loved it! My kids are obsessed with The Grinch so perfect snack for movie night and so yummy! ❤️
Ah I’m so glad to hear! Thanks for your review :)
Hi,
If I use white cake mix should I add in some vanilla extract?
You can! I’d add about 1 teaspoon vanilla :)
Can I use yellow cake mix? Thanks Mary,Happy Holidays😊
It may change the color since the cake is yellow, but you could always give it a shot!
why add the cornstarch to the powdered sugar?
Adding the cornstarch will help the powdered sugar stick to the cookies without being absorbed.
We hosted a Grinch movie watch party last night for our daughters and all of their cousins, and I decided to make these for the kids! They were a huge hit! So easy and absolutely delicious!
That sounds so fun!! So happy the kids loved them :) Thanks for your comment and review, Alisha!
Do you place the hearts on the cookies after they completely cooled or while they are still warm?
After they have cooled completely. Just use the green decorating gel as “glue” to add them on :)
These cookies are so fun! My kiddos loved them, and I overheard them telling their friend about them. If that’s not a win, I don’t know what is!?
My family loves these cookies! I make them all the time. I just froze some for Christmas!
So glad they are a hit with your family!
I am totally in love with these cookies! They are super easy, fun to make, delicious, and they are just so festive!
3.5 eggs? How does one add 3.5 eggs??
The recipe calls for 2 eggs for 24 servings :)
How long in advance can I make these without them getting hard? Since Christmas is next Friday.
Hi Cammy! I think these cookies are best within 3 or 4 days.
But a slice of bread at the bottom of your container and they will stay soft 😊
How to roll into balls when sticking to hands, spoons?
Hi Sharon! You could try lightly spraying your hands with cooking spray or lightly dusting with powdered sugar to help roll.
These cookies turned out Wonderful!
I’m so glad you enjoyed them! :)
Do you know if these cookies freeze well? I plan to bake them and freeze them 3 days ahead of time. I will of course add the powdered sugar and heart after but wanted to ask if they tasted just as good out of the freezer. Thanks!
Hi Wendy! Since these cookies are rolled in powdered sugar before baking, I don’t think they would work as well. You could try freezing the dough and then then rolling in powdered sugar before baking the day of.
These are absolutely amazing! We made them for every holiday and were a hit! Honestly my new favorite cookie!
So glad you enjoyed the grinch cookies :)