Description
Playful Christmas Grinch cookies blend whimsical green sugar cookies with peppermint zest. Cheerful holiday treats delight guests with festive colors and spirited seasonal cheer.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 15.25 ounces (432 g) white cake mix
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 8 tablespoons (113 g) unsalted butter, softened
Flavoring and Coloring:
- 2 teaspoons peppermint extract or mint extract
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Green gel food coloring
Coating and Decoration:
- 1/4 cup (32 g) powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- Red heart-shaped sprinkle or cinnamon
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper, ensuring a non-stick surface for your festive treats.
- Combine cake mix, softened butter, and eggs in a mixing bowl, using an electric mixer to create a smooth, uniform batter.
- Incorporate peppermint and vanilla extracts, then add green food coloring to achieve a vibrant Grinch-like hue. Mix thoroughly until color is evenly distributed.
- Prepare a coating mixture by blending powdered sugar and cornstarch in a separate small bowl, creating a light dusting mixture.
- Utilize a cookie scoop to form uniform dough balls, then generously roll each one in the sugar-cornstarch mixture, ensuring complete coverage.
- Arrange cookie dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them approximately one inch apart to allow for spreading during baking.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, watching for set edges and a dry surface that indicates perfect doneness.
- Immediately after removing from the oven, delicately press a heart-shaped sprinkle onto the center of each warm cookie, creating a whimsical Grinch-themed decoration.
- Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack to achieve complete cooling and optimal texture.
Notes
- Customize Color Intensity experiment with different shades of green food coloring to match your Grinch theme perfectly, ranging from pale mint to deep emerald.
- Enhance Peppermint Flavor boost the mint profile by adding an extra 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract or using crushed candy canes as a topping for more festive crunch.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation swap the regular cake mix with a gluten-free cake mix alternative to make these cookies accessible for those with wheat sensitivities.
- Storage Strategy store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking and maintain their delicate texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg