Every year when the holiday season rolls around, my kids immediately ask when we are baking these vibrant green treats. I love how the bright color and festive red candies instantly bring a smile to everyone’s face during our annual movie marathon.
This Grinch Cookies recipe captures the playful spirit of Christmas with a soft texture that feels like a bakery favorite. You will appreciate how the subtle peppermint flavor pairs perfectly with the rich buttery dough for a nostalgic winter bite.
What Makes This Grinch Cookies a Keeper for Years to Come
The dough comes together in minutes without any need for chilling, which is a total lifesaver during the busy holiday rush. I find that the texture stays incredibly soft and chewy for days, making them ideal for gifting to friends and neighbors.
You only need simple pantry staples to create this showstopping dessert that looks impressive on any platter. My favorite part is adding the little red heart detail that mimics the classic story we all know and love.
These cookies offer a refreshing change from standard sugar cookies thanks to the gentle hint of cool mint. I promise this Grinch Cookies recipe will become a requested tradition in your home just like it is in mine.
If you enjoyed this festive treat, you’ll want to try my Savory No Bake Cheesecake Recipe next, plus the Quick Peanut Butter Blossoms Recipe delivers the same bold flavors. Both recipes share the same simple approach that makes weeknight cooking stress-free.
Everything You Need for Perfect Grinch Cookies
Here is the simple shopping list you will need to get started:
- All-purpose flour: Provides the structure for the cookie, but measure carefully to avoid a dense texture.
- Cornstarch: The secret ingredient that keeps the cookies thick, soft, and prevents them from spreading too thin.
- Baking powder: Helps the cookies rise just enough to be fluffy.
- Baking soda: Works with the acidity in the dough to encourage browning and lift.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the buttery flavor.
- Unsalted butter: Needs to be softened to room temperature so it creams perfectly with the sugar.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the cookies and helps create crisp edges.
- Eggs: Use room temperature eggs to bind the dough together smoothly.
- Vanilla extract: Adds a warm background flavor that complements the mint.
- Peppermint extract: Provides that signature holiday flavor, but be sure not to use spearmint.
- Green food coloring: Gel coloring works best here to get a vibrant lime green without watering down the dough.
- Red and Green M&Ms: Adds the festive crunch and color, with some reserved for the “heart” on top.
My Method for Perfect Grinch Cookies
Let’s get baking!
- Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and lining your baking sheets with parchment paper. In a large bowl or stand mixer, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together on medium speed until the mixture looks pale yellow and fluffy. This step is crucial for aerating the dough, so take your time and scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Add the room temperature eggs, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract to the butter mixture. Beat these wet ingredients together until they are fully combined and the mixture looks smooth and creamy. The peppermint smell should be fragrant but not overpowering at this stage.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until no lumps remain. Gradually add these dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing on low speed just until the flour streaks disappear. Be careful not to overmix the dough once the flour is added, as this can make the cookies tough.
- Add the green food coloring to the dough and mix until the color is evenly distributed and reaches your desired shade of Grinch green. Gently fold in about one cup of the M&Ms using a spatula, being careful not to crush the candy shells. Reserve the remaining candies for pressing into the tops of the warm cookies later.
- Scoop the dough using a 1.5 tablespoon scoop and drop rounded mounds onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them at least 2 inches apart. Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are just barely set and the centers still look slightly soft. Do not let them brown too much, or you will lose the vibrant green color.
- Remove the baking sheet from the oven and immediately press a few extra red M&Ms or heart sprinkles into the tops of the hot cookies. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for at least 10 minutes so they can firm up before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
My Grinch Cookies Secrets
Use gel food coloring rather than liquid drops to achieve that vibrant green shade without altering the consistency of the dough. I always recommend adding the coloring gradually until you reach that signature electric lime hue that makes these stand out.
Be careful not to overbake these or you might lose that tender, chewy texture that makes them so delightful. I usually pull my Grinch Cookies out when the edges are just set but the centers still look slightly underdone.
If you prefer a purely vanilla flavor, you can easily swap the peppermint extract for more vanilla or even almond extract. My family loves the minty kick, but the recipe works just as well as a classic buttery sugar cookie.
Serving Your Grinch Cookies
I love arranging these on a platter with other holiday favorites for a colorful and inviting dessert spread. They pair beautifully with a steaming mug of hot cocoa topped with extra marshmallows for the ultimate cozy night in.
You can also wrap a small stack in clear cellophane bags tied with red ribbon for adorable edible gifts. This Grinch Cookies recipe is sturdy enough to travel well, making it ideal for cookie exchanges or school parties.
I’d love for you to follow along on Pinterest for more holiday inspiration.
Print
Grinch Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 35 min
- Yield: 34 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Soft and chewy green sugar cookies with a hint of peppermint and festive red hearts, perfect for holiday movie nights.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups red and green M&Ms, divided
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Green gel food coloring
- 1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
Instructions
- Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and lining your baking sheets with parchment paper. In a large bowl or stand mixer, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together on medium speed until the mixture looks pale yellow and fluffy. This step is crucial for aerating the dough, so take your time and scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Add the room temperature eggs, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract to the butter mixture. Beat these wet ingredients together until they are fully combined and the mixture looks smooth and creamy. The peppermint smell should be fragrant but not overpowering at this stage.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until no lumps remain. Gradually add these dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing on low speed just until the flour streaks disappear. Be careful not to overmix the dough once the flour is added, as this can make the cookies tough.
- Add the green food coloring to the dough and mix until the color is evenly distributed and reaches your desired shade of Grinch green. Gently fold in about one cup of the M&Ms using a spatula, being careful not to crush the candy shells. Reserve the remaining candies for pressing into the tops of the warm cookies later.
- Scoop the dough using a 1.5 tablespoon scoop and drop rounded mounds onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them at least 2 inches apart. Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are just barely set and the centers still look slightly soft. Do not let them brown too much, or you will lose the vibrant green color.
- Remove the baking sheet from the oven and immediately press a few extra red M&Ms or heart sprinkles into the tops of the hot cookies. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for at least 10 minutes so they can firm up before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
If you don’t like peppermint, simply omit it and increase the vanilla extract to 3 teaspoons. For a more traditional look, use a large red heart sprinkle on each cookie.
- Prep Time: 25 min
- Cooling Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 165
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: Grinch Cookies, easy Christmas cookies, holiday baking, peppermint cookies