If you’ve been craving a little holiday magic without adding another “project” to your already endless to-do list, these Grinch Cookies are about to become your new December lifesaver. Soft, sweet, peppermint-kissed, and so adorably green, they’re everything we love about Christmas—minus the stress.
As a busy mom myself, I’m all about recipes that look impressive but require very little effort. And let me tell you, these cookies deliver big smiles with minimal work. They start with a simple cake mix, come together in minutes, and bake into melt-in-your-mouth treats that even the “grinchiest” family member won’t be able to resist.
Whether you’re making them for classroom parties, office potlucks, or a cozy movie night with The Grinch playing in the background, these cookies bring festive cheer to any table.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love These Grinch Cookies
Let’s be honest—December gets busy. Between the shopping, the decorating, the wrapping, and that one family member who asks you for gift ideas on December 23rd… who has time for complicated baking?
These Grinch Cookies are:
- Quick: Ready in under 30 minutes.
- Easy: Cake mix does most of the work for you.
- Festive: That bright green color and heart sprinkle? Instant holiday joy.
- Kid-approved: Perfect for little helpers (even if their help doubles the mess).
- Crowd-pleasing: They disappear faster than you can say “Merry Grinch-mas.”
And yes, your house will smell like a cozy peppermint hug—because who doesn’t want that?
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s everything that goes into these Christmas-movie-night-worthy treats:
- 15.25 ounces white cake mix (one standard box)
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons peppermint extract (or mint extract)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Green gel food coloring
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- Red heart-shaped sprinkle (or cinnamon candy)
How to Make These Festive Grinch Cookies
Take a deep breath, grab a mixing bowl, and let your inner Whoville baker shine. Here’s how to make these cookies step by step:
1. Preheat and Prep
Set your oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. This saves you cleanup time and keeps your cookies from sticking—because nothing ruins cheer like scraping baked sugar off a pan.
2. Mix the Base
In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to combine:
- White cake mix
- Softened butter
- Eggs
Mix until everything looks smooth and well combined.
3. Add That Peppermint Magic
Pour in the peppermint (or mint) extract, vanilla extract, and a few drops of green gel food coloring.
Mix on low until fully combined. The dough will be thick and a little sticky—that’s exactly what we want.
4. Create the Sugar Coating
In a small bowl, whisk together:
- Powdered sugar
- Cornstarch
This coating gives the cookies their snowy, crackly look.
5. Scoop and Coat
Use a 1½-tablespoon cookie scoop (or your favorite trusty spoon) to form dough balls. Roll each one in the powdered sugar mixture so they’re fully coated.
Place the balls about an inch apart on the baking sheet.
6. Bake to Perfection
Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges look set and the tops appear dry. Don’t overbake—these cookies are best when they stay soft.
7. Add the Famous Grinch Heart
Right after the cookies come out of the oven, gently press a red heart-shaped sprinkle into the center of each cookie. It’s the cutest finishing touch and instantly gives each cookie that “heart grew three sizes” vibe.
8. Cool and Enjoy
Let the cookies cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer them to a wire rack. This helps them set without drying out.
Tips for Perfect Grinch Cookies
- Sticky dough? Totally normal. If it gets tricky to handle, chill the dough for 10 minutes.
- Want a deeper green? Add more gel coloring—start small and build up.
- Baking with kids? Roll the dough balls for them and let them do the powdered-sugar “snowstorm.”
- Mint not your thing? Use vanilla only for a simple, sweet sugar-cookie flavor.
These saved me the week I had three potlucks, two gift exchanges, and absolutely zero time to function like a normal human. Sometimes you just need a recipe that doesn’t judge you—and this one is it.
FAQs About Grinch Cookies
Can I use a different cake mix?
Yes! A vanilla or yellow cake mix works great. Just keep the color light so the green food coloring shows well.
Can I make these Grinch Cookies ahead of time?
Absolutely. Bake them up to two days in advance and store them in an airtight container.
How do I store leftovers?
Keep them at room temperature in a sealed container. They stay soft for 3–4 days—if your family doesn’t inhale them first.
Can I freeze the dough?
You sure can. Roll the dough into balls (skip the powdered sugar for now), freeze on a tray, then store in a freezer bag. Coat in powdered sugar right before baking.
Bringing Holiday Cheer to Your Kitchen
There’s something so heartwarming about baking Grinch Cookies—it’s like inviting a little extra whimsy into your home during a season that can feel hectic. These green, peppermint-infused cookies are simple enough for any weeknight but special enough to share with the people you love.
Bake a batch, pour some hot cocoa, put on your coziest socks, and enjoy a moment of Christmas magic. After all, even the Grinch found his holiday spirit—one cookie at a time.
More Festive Treats to Keep the Holiday Magic Going
If these Grinch Cookies brought a little extra cheer to your kitchen, you’re going to love these other cozy, Christmas-ready goodies. Whether you’re planning a holiday dessert board, baking with the kids, or just craving something sweet while you wrap gifts, here are a few reader-favorites that pair perfectly with the festive spirit:
- For another easy, crowd-pleasing dessert, try these soft and delicious Christmas Cookie Bars—they disappear fast, so you might want to make a double batch.
- If you loved the peppermint twist in the cookies, you’ll adore the melt-in-your-mouth goodness of Peppermint Meltaways—they’re basically Christmas in a bite.
- Snuggle up with a warm mug of Crockpot Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate—it’s creamy, rich, and perfect for sipping while your cookies cool.
- And if you want to keep the Grinch theme going (because why stop the fun?), these adorable Grinch Mini Cheesecakes make the cutest addition to any holiday dessert spread.
Feel free to mix, match, and bake your way through them—your holiday treat lineup just got a whole lot sweeter!
Print
Grinch Cookies
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 18–20 cookies 1x
Description
These soft and festive Grinch Cookies are flavored with peppermint, rolled in powdered sugar, and topped with a cute red heart — the perfect Christmas treat that comes together in minutes using simple cake mix shortcuts.
Ingredients
15.25 ounces white cake mix (1 box)
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons peppermint extract (or mint extract)
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Green gel food coloring
¼ cup powdered sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
Red heart-shaped sprinkles or cinnamon candies
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a mixing bowl, beat together the cake mix, softened butter, and eggs until well combined.
Add peppermint extract, vanilla extract, and green food coloring. Mix on low until the dough is thick and evenly colored.
In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar and cornstarch.
Scoop dough using a 1½ tablespoon cookie scoop, then roll each ball in the powdered sugar mixture.
Arrange cookie dough balls 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges look set and the tops appear dry.
While warm, gently press a red heart sprinkle onto the center of each cookie.
Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely
Notes
Dough will be sticky — chilling it for 10 minutes makes scooping easier.
Add more green gel coloring for a deeper Grinch-like shade.
Swap peppermint for vanilla if you prefer a classic sugar cookie flavor.
Cookies stay soft for 3–4 days in an airtight container.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 125 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 140 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg