Fun and festive Easy Grinch Cookies with a soft, colorful base and holiday decorations. A playful treat for Christmas cookie trays, parties, or seasonal baking fun.
These Grinch Cookies are a fun and festive holiday treat that everyone will love. Soft, colorful, and decorated to resemble the mischievous Grinch, they’re perfect for cookie trays, parties, or simply spreading holiday cheer at home.
Easy to make and full of personality, these cookies are a playful addition to your seasonal baking. Also, try Easy Grinch Punch Recipe along with more Grinch Desserts for the perfect movie night.
What's in this post: Easy Grinch Cookies Recipe
Why We Love This Recipe
- Festive and Fun: Bright colors and playful designs make them perfect for holiday celebrations.
- Soft and Chewy: A tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture that both kids and adults enjoy.
- Easy to Decorate: Simple designs with candy that allow for creativity without stress.
- Family-Friendly: Fun to make with kids or as a group activity during the holidays.
- Perfect for Cookie Trays: Stand out on dessert tables with a cheerful, whimsical treat.
Ingredients
- Boxed Cake Mix: White cake mix works perfectly for soft, flavorful cookies. You can also use our Homemade Cake Mix for a from-scratch option.
- 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.
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.
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 and dye the cookie dough.
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 Cookie for 8-10 minutes until just slightly brown on the edges. Allow to set for 5 minutes and then transfer 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.
- Chill Dough if Needed: If the dough feels too soft, chill for 15–20 minutes to make scooping and shaping easier.
- Even Cookie Sizes: Use a cookie scoop or spoon to ensure uniform cookies that bake evenly.
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.
More Grinch Recipes
- Easy Grinch Puppy Chow Recipe
- 3 Ingredient Grinch Punch Recipe
- Grinch Brownies
- Easy Grinch Cake Mix Cookie Recipes
Easy Christmas Cookies
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
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Mix the cake mix, eggs and oil together in a large bowl. (Batter will be thick).
- Dye the cookie dough with the green gel food coloring. I start with 1 tsp and mix thoroughly until the dough is the color that you desire.
- Use a cookie scoop to scoop out the cookies and place on cookie sheets leaving about 2 inches between each cookie.
- 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.