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Grinch Crinkle Cookies Recipe

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  • Author: Mia
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 8 minutes
  • Total Time: 28 minutes
  • Yield: 24 cookies
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

Celebrate the holiday season with these festive Christmas Grinch Crinkle Cookies. Soft and chewy green cake mix cookies are rolled in powdered sugar for a classic crinkle effect, then decorated with melted chocolate and red heart candies to create the Grinch’s iconic mischievous grin. Perfect for holiday parties and gifting, these easy-to-make cookies combine a fun appearance with a deliciously tender texture.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Cookies:

  • 1 box (15.25 oz) white cake mix
  • ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Green gel food coloring, several drops
  • ½ cup powdered sugar (for rolling)

For Decoration:

  • Red heart-shaped candies (red chocolate hearts or heart-shaped sprinkles)
  • ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 teaspoon coconut oil or vegetable shortening (for melting the chocolate)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Cookie Dough: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. In a large mixing bowl, combine the white cake mix, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract. Stir well until evenly blended. Add several drops of green gel food coloring and mix thoroughly to achieve a vibrant Grinch-green color. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for 15–20 minutes to prevent spreading during baking.
  2. Roll and Bake: After chilling, scoop approximately 1 tablespoon of dough and roll it into a smooth ball. Generously coat each dough ball in powdered sugar, ensuring all sides are covered. Place the coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheet spaced about 2 inches apart. Bake in the preheated oven for 8–10 minutes or until the cookies are just set with a crackled surface. Avoid overbaking to keep them soft and chewy. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
  3. Decorate the Grinch’s Face: Melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips with coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl by heating in 20-second intervals, stirring between each interval, until smooth. Transfer melted chocolate to a piping bag or a small ziplock bag with the tip snipped off. Pipe a small dot of chocolate in the center of each cooled cookie and immediately press a red heart-shaped candy onto the chocolate to adhere. Use the remaining melted chocolate to pipe the Grinch’s mischievous smile by drawing two upward-curved lines on each side of the heart candy, then add small lines above the smile and between the eyes to create facial creases if desired. Let the chocolate set for 10–15 minutes at room temperature or refrigerate for faster setting.

Notes

  • Chilling the dough before baking is essential to prevent excessive spreading and maintain the crackled surface.
  • Use gel food coloring for a more vibrant and intense green color without altering the dough consistency.
  • Be careful not to overbake; cookies should remain soft and chewy inside.
  • If you don’t have heart-shaped candies, small red sprinkles or red M&Ms can be used as alternatives.
  • The melted chocolate can be gently reheated if it thickens before decorating all the cookies.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cookie
  • Calories: 120
  • Sugar: 12g
  • Sodium: 110mg
  • Fat: 5g
  • Saturated Fat: 3g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 2g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 18g
  • Fiber: 0.5g
  • Protein: 1.5g
  • Cholesterol: 30mg

Find it online: https://mealsbymia.com/grinch-crinkle-cookies-recipe/