Grinch cookies are soft, buttery cookies. This easy, one-bowl recipe takes just minutes to make – no chilling necessary, so you can whip up a batch in less time than it takes to watch the movie!
How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a classic Christmas movie for a reason! Even though it’s a kids’ movie, it’s an all-ages favorite because of its message.
These buttery cookies are fun Christmas cookies that pay tribute to the movie. They are quick and easy to make, and they’re made in one bowl (so there’s less to clean up)!
Whip up a batch of these cookies, and you may find a new favorite Christmas cookie or movie night treat.
Ingredients and substitutions
- Butter – I use salted butter. If using unsalted butter, add an additional 1/4 teaspoon of salt.
- Granulated sugar
- Large egg
- Egg yolk – The egg yolk helps to add a bit of chew to the cookies.
- Vanilla extract – Feel free to add more vanilla if you’d like.
- All-purpose flour – It’s important to properly weigh the flour. Either weigh it or sift/stir it to break it up. Then lightly spoon into a measuring cup and level.
- Cream of tartar
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Green food coloring – Green gel food coloring or regular green food dye will work.
- Granulated sugar – The granulated sugar helps add flavor.
- Powdered sugar
- Heart sprinkles – I used candy red heart sprinkles with a small heart inside of a bigger heart (affiliate link). I liked the heart within a heart because the Grinch’s small heart grows three sizes in the movie.
How to make Grinch cookies
Preheat oven to 350F and line cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.
In a large bowl, use an electric hand mixer or a stand mixer to beat butter and sugar together until well-combined, about 3 minutes on medium.
Add egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract. Beat until well-combined.
Add flour, cream of tartar, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Stir in just until combined.
Add food coloring, and stir in just until combined. Using a cookie scoop, scoop dough into tablespoon-sized scoops.
Roll in granulated sugar.
Then roll the cookie dough in powdered sugar.
Place the cookie dough balls 2″ apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake for 8-10 minutes. The edges should be set, and the centers should be soft.
Immediately, gently press a heart candy sprinkle into each cookie. Remove to a wire rack to cool.
Can I add the heart sprinkles before baking?
That will depend on your sprinkles. I used Wilton heart sprinkles, and mine melted in the oven when I added them before baking.
Storage
The cookies will keep for up to 4 days in an airtight container at room temperature. You may notice that the powdered sugar melts in as the cookies sit.
More Christmas cookie recipes!
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Grinch Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter at room temperature
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg + 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons cream of tartar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon green food coloring
- Granulated sugar
- Powdered sugar
- Heart sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F and line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar together until well-combined
- Add egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract. Beat until well-combined.
- Add flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt.
- Stir in just until combined.
- Add food coloring, and stir in just until combined.
- Scoop dough into tablespoon-sized scoops.
- Roll in granulated sugar and then in powdered sugar.
- Place 2″ apart on prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes. The edges should be set, and the centers should be soft.
- Immediately gently press a heart sprinkle into each cookie.
- Remove to wire racks to cool.
Notes
- Butter – I use salted butter. If using unsalted butter, add an additional 1/4 teaspoon of salt.
- Egg yolk – The egg yolk helps to add a bit of chew to the cookies.
- Vanilla extract – Feel free to add more vanilla if you’d like.
- All-purpose flour – It’s important to properly weigh the flour. Either weigh it or sift/stir it to break it up. Then lightly spoon into a measuring cup and level.
- Green food coloring – Green gel food coloring or regular green food dye will work.
- Granulated sugar – The granulated sugar helps add flavor.
- Heart sprinkles – I used candy red heart sprinkles with a small heart inside of a bigger heart (affiliate link). I liked the heart within a heart since the Grinch’s small heart grows three sizes in the movie.
- Nutrition values are estimates.
Nutrition
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Comments & Reviews
Cindy says
These are delicious, so cute, and easy to make! Great recipe! The only difficult part was finding the heart sprinkles (I did, on Amazon, but I had to purchase a whole big pack of Valentine’s Day sprinkles to get them in time for the 12 days of Krismas. Which is fine!).
Lena says
My grandkids loved these cookies. The grinch is one of our favorites.
Kate says
Thank you! Ours too!