Grinch Sugar Cookies

Make these delicious Grinch sugar cookies this holiday season! This easy-to-follow recipe is sure to make your Christmas even merrier.

As we get closer and closer to the holiday season, I can’t help but think about all the traditions that make this time of year so magical. Baking cookies is one of my favorite traditions – there’s something so cozy and comforting about working with dough and having your home fill up with the aroma of freshly baked treats.

This year, I thought it would be fun to get the kids involved in making Grinch sugar cookies. You know, the grouchy old green character from Whoville who “hated Christmas” but eventually learned the true meaning and spirit of the holidays.

Our cookies turned out so cute decorated with their red hearts. I hope you and your little elves enjoy this creative twist on a classic cookie recipe.

Tips for Making the BEST Grinch Sugar Cookies

• This recipe has been tested several times and can easily be doubled if needing a larger batch of cookies.
• Do not skip chilling the dough, or the cookies will come out much flatter.  It is completely worth it to chill the dough.  The cookies will spread less, and will be puffier and thicker.
• Do not over mix your dough after adding the dry ingredients, or your cookies will end up dense. Stir just enough to combine.

How to Store Grinch Sugar Cookies

Cookies should be stored in an airtight container and can be kept at room temperature for up to 6 days. Be careful with the hearts on the cookies and avoid stacking if possible.

Cookies can be chilled for up to 24 hours or can be frozen unbaked for one or two months.

Place the balls of dough in the freezer on a sheet pan for an hour.  Remove the dough, and then carefully place into a freezer bag.  Freeze in the freezer for 1 – 2 months. Defrost at room temperature before baking.  They should still be cool before baking, to avoid them spreading in the oven.

About the Equipment for Grinch Sugar Cookies

• Glass/metal bowls
• Stand mixer or hand mixer
• Spatula
• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Cookie Scoop

About the Ingredients for Grinch Sugar Cookies

Flour – All-purpose flour gives the cookies structure so they don’t spread too much. Make sure to measure using the scoop and level technique so that your cookies do not end up too dense.

Baking soda & powder – Baking soda and powder help he cookies rise in the oven so they stay soft and chewy. Make sure they are no more than 6 months old, and still active for the best results.You don’t have to chill the dough, but the cookies will come out much flatter.  It is completely worth it to chill the dough.  The cookies will spread less and will be puffier and thicker.

Cornstarch – The cornstarch helps to keep the cookies extra soft and moist.

Salt – use kosher salt when making baked goods.  Regular table salt can be used in these cookies but should be reduced to ½ teaspoon.

Butter – You can use salted butter instead of unsalted butter if you like. Just reduce the amount of additional salt by a ¼ teaspoon to account for salt in the butter.

Sugar – Just plain old white granulated sugar.

Egg – Use room temperature egg for the best results.

Vanilla – Pure vanilla extract is best, but artificial vanilla extract will still result in great flavour!

Gel food colouring – I recommend using a good brand of gel food coloring.  When recipe testing, I tried a couple of different food colorings.  The ChefMaster gel food coloring produced the best color.  I used 5 drops of the leaf green to get the color that shows in the photographs.  I also tested using the Walmart gel food coloring using a ½ teaspoon and the color was light minty green.  Using too much food coloring can cause the cookies to taste a bit weird and funky.

Chocolate – You can use white chocolate chips, royal icing, or buttercream as alternatives.  I recommended adding the hearts after baking so that you can place them where you want.  Because of the sugar coating and chill time, I don’t recommend placing it on the dough before baking.  Adding something like melting wafers, chocolate chips, or buttercream after baking works much better for this recipe.

Heart sprinkles – I found the heart sprinkles at Michaels.  You can also find them online via Amazon or other sprinkle companies.

Looking for More Christmas Cookie Recipes?

Check out more of my favourite Christmas cookies!

If you love fruitcake, these delicious and festive fruitcake cookies are the perfect addition to your holiday baking lineup.

These delicious chocolate peppermint kiss cookies are a perfect addition to your holiday cookie tray. They are easy to make and festive!

You’ll love this easy recipe for Christmas Chocolate Chip Cake Mix Cookies! Only a few ingredients are needed to make soft festive cookies.

How to Make Grinch Sugar Cookies

Yields: 10 Large Cookies | Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• Green gel food colouring
• 3 tablespoons for rolling in a seperate bowl
• White chocolate melting wafers
• Heart sprinkles

Directions:

Whisk to combine the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, cornstarch, and salt in a medium bowl. (Image 1) Set aside.

Cream the butter and sugar together on medium speed for 2 -3 minutes using an electric mixer. (Image 2)

Add the vanilla and egg to the wet mixture (Image 3), and mix until well combined.

Next, add the green gel food colouring to the wet mixture until the desired colour is reached. (Image 4)

Add the flour mixture to the wet mixture, and mix until combined. Avoid over-mixing. (Image 5)

Scoop the dough using a (3 tablespoon) cookie scoop. (Image 6)

Take each piece of dough and roll it into a ball using your hands.  Then, roll the dough in the bowl of sugar until completely covered. (Image 7)

Place the dough on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.  Chill in the refrigerator for 45 -60 minutes. (Image 8)

While the dough is chilling, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

On a separate sheet pan lined with parchment paper, place six of the dough balls on it spaced a few inches apart. (Image 9)

Bake for 10 – 12 minutes, until the bottoms are just lightly golden. Avoid over baking, as it can discolour the cookies and make them hard. (Image 10)

Remove the cookies from the oven. Allow the cookies to cool on the sheet pan for 10 minutes, and then transfer them to a wire rack.

Once all the cookies are baked, then melt the melting wafers according to the directions on the package.  Using a toothpick, apply a small bit of the chocolate onto the heart sprinkle and then attach it to the cookie.  Allow to completely dry before storing.