Grinch Crinkle Cookies

Name: Grinch Crinkle Cookies
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 82 min
Ingredients: 1 box vanilla or yellow cake mix; ½ cup vegetable oil; 2 large eggs; Green food coloring (green gel food coloring works best for a vibrant hue); ½ cup powdered sugar (for rolling); Jumbo red candy hearts

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Nothing screams holiday spirit like baking a batch of Grinch Crinkle Cookies!

A green crinkle cookie with a heart sprinkle resting on a wood surface.

One of my favorite Christmas movies, Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas, is the inspiration for these delightful, bright green cookies. They are perfect for adding a festive pop of color to your cookie platter this holiday season.

With their chewy sugar cookie texture, powdered sugar crinkles, and an adorable red heart sprinkle on top, these cookies will steal your heart—just like when the Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes.

If you are looking for holiday cookie recipes, don't miss my Snowball Cookies, Christmas Wreath Cookies, and Seven Layer Cookies. Another holiday dessert that would be a perfect companion to these Grinch Christmas cookies is my Christmas Tree Hand Pies.

These festive Grinch cookies look great packaged with some Christmas Chex Mix and Christmas Pretzel Toffee.

Whether you’re hosting a Grinch movie night, contributing to a cookie exchange, or simply looking for a fun activity with the whole family, this recipe is as easy as it is festive. You can whip these up using pantry staples and a boxed cake mix in no time!

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Super Simple. This is an easy cake mix cookie recipe that anyone can make; no advanced baking skills are required! Start with a box cake mix and add a few ingredients to make these easy Grinch cookies.
Adorable and Festive. The bright green color and red candy heart make these the ultimate holiday cookies for your next gathering.
Customizable. With a few tweaks, you can create your own version of these Grinch sugar cookies to match your style.
Family Fun. Kids will love helping mix the dough, roll it in powdered sugar, and add the heart to the top of each cookie.

Grinch Crinkle Cookies resting on a wire cooling rack.

Substitutions

Cake Mix - While this recipe uses a vanilla cake mix, you can substitute it with yellow cake mix or even a butter cake mix for a richer flavor.
Vegetable Oil - Swap out the oil for unsalted butter for a slightly denser texture. Melt the butter before adding it to the dough.
Green Food Coloring - If you’re out of food coloring gel, try using liquid food coloring. I like the gel version because it produces a more vibrant green, which is the right color for the Grinch.

Variations

Gluten-Free Option - Use a gluten-free boxed cake mix and adjust the wet ingredients slightly if needed.
Extra Sweetness - Add a drizzle of melted white chocolate, a handful of white chocolate chips, or pure vanilla extract to the dough for a hint of extra flavor.

Ingredients

*Please scroll down to the printable recipe card for specific ingredient amounts.

How To Make Grinch Crinkle Cookies

Step 1. Prepare Your Workspace. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

Step 2. Mix the Dough. In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients (boxed cake mix) with the wet ingredients (oil and eggs). Use a stand mixer on medium speed until the dough is smooth, about 2 minutes.

Step 3. Add the Color. Gradually add drops of green food coloring until the dough reaches your desired bright green color.

Step 4. Chill the Dough. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for 1 hour, or in the freezer for 30 minutes, until the dough is cool and no longer sticky.

Step 5. Roll and Coat. Use a cookie scoop or spoon to portion 2 tablespoons of dough. Roll each ball in a small bowl with powdered sugar until fully coated.

Step 6. Bake. Place the dough balls on the lined baking sheet, spacing them 2 inches apart. Bake on the center oven rack for 10-12 minutes until the edges are set and the centers are no longer shiny.

Rolling a ball of green cookie dough in powdered sugar.

Step 7. Add the Heart. While the cookies are still warm, press a red candy heart into the top of each cookie, slightly off-center.

Step 8. Cool. Transfer cookies to a cooling rack and let them set for about 5 minutes.

Storage and Freezing Instructions

Store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Freeze baked cookies in a single layer on a tray before transferring them to a plastic freezer bag. They’ll stay fresh for up to 3 months! You can also freeze the cookie dough before baking; roll it into balls, freeze them, and bake when needed (no need to thaw).

Natalie’s Pro Tip

Use a small scoop to portion out the dough for perfectly sized cookies. This ensures all cookies bake evenly, with the signature crinkly texture.

Grinch sugar cookies cooling on a wire rack.

Notes and FAQ

Can I use different brands of cake mix?

I prefer the white cake mix by Betty Crocker, but you can use any brand you like. Just note that some brands may produce slightly different textures.

Can I use liquid food coloring instead of gel?

Yes, but you’ll need more drops of food coloring to achieve the same bright green color.

What if my powdered sugar doesn’t stick?

Make sure the dough balls are slightly sticky before rolling them in the sugar. If needed, roll them twice for extra coverage.

What else can I use as a decoration?

If you can’t find red candy hearts, try red M&M candies or pipe a heart-shaped design with red icing.