Skip the creaming butter and the chilled dough — these Easy Grinch Cookies start with a box of white cake mix, so you’re down to just 5 ingredients and one bowl. Mix, tint it Grinch-green, top with a red M&M for that “two sizes too small” heart, and bake.
Whether you’re making a cookie tray for a party or squeezing in a quick baking activity with the kids, these go from mixing bowl to cooling rack in about 20 minutes.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe!
- Just 5 Ingredients: A boxed cake mix means no measuring flour, baking soda, or cream of tartar separately.
- One Bowl, No Mixer Required: Stir it together by hand — no creaming butter or hauling out the stand mixer.
- No Chilling: The dough is ready to scoop right away, so there’s no waiting around before you bake.
- Soft, Chewy, and Kid-Friendly: A tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture, plus simple enough steps that kids can help mix, scoop, and decorate.
I love making these Grinch cookies during the holidays because they are such a fun treat to make with the family and just $0.12 per cookie! The bright green color and little red heart make them instantly festive, and they always bring a smile to everyone who sees them. You may also want to try Easy Grinch Punch Recipe, Grinch Brownies and more Grinch Desserts for the perfect movie night.
Ingredients
- Boxed Cake Mix: A box of cake mix already has the flour, sugar, and leavening measured and balanced for you, so it takes the guesswork out of getting a soft, evenly baked cookie — and it’s a lot cheaper than buying all of those ingredients separately just for one batch of cookies.
- Eggs: Large eggs at room temperature help create a fluffy, tender texture.
- Vegetable Oil: Canola or coconut oil can be substituted for a moist, soft cookie.
- Green Food Coloring: Gel coloring gives a bright green color—perfect for the Grinch’s signature look.
- Christmas M&Ms: Red M&Ms represent the Grinch’s tiny heart, adding a playful and colorful touch to the cake mix cookies.
Skip to the bottom to find the complete ingredient list.
Step By Step Instructions
Step 1. Prepare the Oven – First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2. Get out a large mixing bowl and combine the cake mix, eggs and oil together. The batter will be thick, but this is normal). You can use a stand mixer or a hand mixer.
Step 3. Add the green gel food coloring, starting with about 1 teaspoon, and mix thoroughly until the dough is an even shade of green. Add a little more gel coloring if you want a deeper green — a little goes a long way.
Step 4. I started with 1 tsp and mixed thoroughly until the dough mixture was the perfect shade. You can adjust as necessary.
Step 5. Scoop Cookie dough balls onto cookie sheet using a cookie scoop. Then place on cookie sheets leaving about 2 inches between each cookie. Use a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
Step 6. Top the cookies with the Red M&M’s. Gently press them on top of the dough and slightly press down.
Step 7. Bake for 8–10 minutes, until the edges are just slightly brown and the tops look set and matte rather than shiny. Let the cookies sit on the pan for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
Recipe Tips
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure eggs are at room temperature for a smoother, more uniform batter.
- Use Gel Food Coloring: Gel gives a vibrant green color without thinning the batter.
- Rarely Needs Chilling: Because this dough is oil-based rather than butter-based, it typically doesn’t need to chill before scooping — that’s the main reason it’s faster than a traditional cookie dough. On a warm day, or if your eggs were extra-large, the dough may feel a little soft; if so, a quick 15–20 minute chill in the fridge makes it easier to scoop.
- Even Cookie Sizes: Use a cookie scoop or spoon to ensure uniform cookies that bake evenly.
Variations
- Different Cake Mix Flavors: Try vanilla, yellow, or even funfetti cake mix for a unique twist.
- Chocolate Version: Use a chocolate cake mix for a richer, cocoa-flavored cookie.
- Alternative Toppings: Swap red M&Ms for candy hearts, mini chocolate chips, red heart sprinkles or red icing.
- Nut-Free Option: Omit any nuts in decorations or toppings for a kid-friendly version.
- Frosting Fun: Add a dollop of whipped cream or green-tinted frosting for extra festive flair.
- Holiday Themes: Adapt the cookie colors and decorations to match other seasonal characters or themes.
Storage
Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days to keep cookies soft and fresh.
Refrigerator: Can be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Bring to room temperature before serving for best texture.
Freezer: Place cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
No — this dough is ready to scoop right away. If it feels too soft or sticky to work with (this can happen if your kitchen is warm or your eggs were extra large), pop it in the fridge for 15–20 minutes before scooping.
Yes. Scoop the dough into balls, freeze them on a baking sheet until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Bake straight from frozen, adding a minute or two to the bake time.
Gel food coloring gives a much more vibrant green than liquid drops without thinning out the dough. If your green looks pale or dull, mix in a little more gel, a small amount at a time, until you’re happy with the shade.
Easy Christmas Desserts
Bake these festive Grinch Christmas Cookies and add some playful holiday cheer to your cookie tray! Leave a comment to share your favorite decorating ideas or tips.
Grinch cookies
Ingredients
- 1 white cake mix
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 cup oil
- Green Gel Food Coloring
- Christmas M&M
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Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large bowl, mix together 1 box white cake mix, 2 eggs, and ⅓ cup oil until fully combined. The batter will be thick.
- Add 1 teaspoon green gel food coloring and mix thoroughly until the dough reaches your desired shade of green.
- Use a cookie scoop to portion the dough and place the cookies on a cookie sheet, leaving about 2 inches between each one.
- Press the red only m&ms on top of the dough and slightly press down into the dough. I like to use the red M&Ms only but you can use both colors if you prefer.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until cookies brown SLIGHTLY on the edges.
- Allow the cookies to set on the cookie sheets for 5 minutes and then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Enjoy!
Fun and easy to make
Fun and delicious!
Nieces and nephews loved them
Santa loved these cookies.