Christmas Grinch Cookies
These soft and buttery Christmas Grinch Cookies are festive, delicious, and so easy to make! Perfect for holiday cookie exchange, gifting, and Christmas parties.
Grinch Cookie Magic
Every Christmas celebration needs a touch of Whoville magic, and these charming Grinch Cookies are the perfect way to spread holiday cheer. With their bright green color and sweet little candy hearts, these cookies are a fun nod to the classic tale, and they taste just as good as they look!
Thanks to the irresistible mix of butter and cream cheese, these cookies bake up incredibly rich, soft, and buttery. They’re the kind of treat you can’t eat just one of! My daughter and husband both admitted they’re better than any sugar-style cookie they’ve ever tried.
Ingredients you need for Christmas Grinch Cookies
To keep things easy (especially during the busy holiday season) we start with a box cake mix. It eliminates the need to measure multiple dry ingredients and guarantees consistent results. Cake mix cookies are known for their super soft, chewy texture, making this shortcut both practical and delicious.
- Yellow or white box cake mix
- Egg will help bind the ingredients.
- Butter
- Cream cheese for ultimate richness.
- Vanilla extract
- Green food coloring
- Powdered sugar
- Candy hearts are optional but add a festive touch. I purchase mine here off amazon.
Helpful Make Ahead Tip
These cookies freeze exceptionally well and thaw beautifully, keeping their soft, buttery, and delicious texture. Make a batch ahead of time, pop them in the freezer, and you’ll have ready-to-serve cookies whenever the Christmas festivities begin.
Simple To Make Grinch Cookies
- Preheat your oven to 350℉ and prepare two sheet pans with a silicone mat or parchment paper.
- Combine butter, cream cheese, egg, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
- Next stir in cake mix until the dough just starts to come together, then add green food coloring and combine well. Chill dough for 20-30 minutes.
- Use a small cookie scoop to portion out dough and roll into balls then lightly coat with powdered sugar. Place cookie balls on prepared sheet pan and repeat steps with the rest of the dough.
- Bake cookies in preheated oven until puffed and set in the center. Place on a cooling rack to cool.
Fun Variations and Add-Ins
- Peppermint Twist– Add 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract for a mint-kissed holiday flavor.
- White Chocolate Chip Grinch Cookies– Fold in 1/2 cup white chocolate chips for extra sweetness.
- Add crunch with 1/2 cup roasted and chopped pistachios.
Ang’s Helpful Tips
- Don’t over-bake the cookies. They will continue to set as they cool.
- Press candy hearts in while the cookies are still warm. This helps them stick securely.
- Chill the dough. Because the dough is naturally sticky, chilling it makes it much easier to handle and roll into smooth balls.
How To Store Christmas Grinch Cookies
Cookies will keep at room temperature in a sealed container for 3-4 days, otherwise, place them in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. To freeze, make sure they are completely cooled, then seal in a freezer safe container or bag for 3 months. Thaw at room temperature and enjoy!
Christmas Grinch Cookies
Equipment
- medium bowl
- 2 large sheet pans
- hand or stand mixer
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened make sure it's full fat
- 8 tbsp salted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 box, yellow or white cake mix
- green food color, 6-8 drops
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- candy hearts for decorating optional
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350℉ and prepare 2 half sheet pans with silicone mats or parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl use an electric hand mixer or stand mixer to combine cream cheese, butter, egg, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
- Next add in the box of cake mix. Use a large spoon to mix together just until combined.
- Add 6-8 drops of green food color, or as much or little for desired color, and combine with the cookie dough until all the batter is green. Place in the refrigerator, covered, for 20-30 minutes.
- When the dough is chilled, use a small cookie scoop or tablespoon to portion out the dough and roll into balls. Gently roll in powdered sugar then place at least 1-inch apart on prepared sheet pan.
- Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes or until puffed and just set in the center. Remove from the oven and immediately press one candy heart into the cookie. Transfer cookies to a cooling rack to cool.
Notes
Nutrition
Try These Easy Holiday Treats Next!
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Ritz Cracker Christmas Crack
- White Christmas Chex Party Mix
- M&M Christmas Cookies
- Cowboy Chocolate Christmas Bark
- Pistachio Mini Chip Snow Ball Cookies
Note: Some of the links on my website are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra charge to you.
Quick question, Ang. I don’t use salted butter. Should I add salt to this batter?
You might want to do a pinch but the cake batter also has sodium so it should be fine if you don’t want to add it.