Description
These festive Grinch Cookies are soft, peppermint-flavored treats with a vibrant green color and a charming red heart on top. Made with white cake mix and infused with peppermint and vanilla extracts, they’re perfect for holiday celebrations or any time you want a fun, minty cookie. The cookies are rolled in a sweet powdered sugar and cornstarch coating before baking, creating a delicate outer texture with a moist interior.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 15.25 ounces (432 g) white cake mix
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons peppermint extract or mint extract
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Green gel food coloring, to desired color
Coating
- ¼ cup (32 g) powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
Topping
- Red heart-shaped sprinkles or cinnamon hearts
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside for easy cleanup.
- Mix the wet and dry ingredients: In a mixing bowl, use a hand-held or stand mixer to blend together the white cake mix, softened butter, and eggs until thoroughly combined and smooth.
- Add flavor and color: Stir in the peppermint (or mint) extract, vanilla extract, and green gel food coloring. Mix on low speed until just combined; the dough will be thick and sticky.
- Prepare the coating: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and cornstarch until well mixed.
- Shape and coat the dough: Using a 1 1/2 tablespoon cookie scoop, portion out dough balls. Roll each ball in the powdered sugar and cornstarch mixture to coat completely. Place the coated dough balls about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake the cookies: Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are set and the tops appear dry.
- Add the heart topping: Immediately after removing the cookies from the oven, press a red heart-shaped sprinkle gently into the center of each cookie so it adheres.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before serving or storing.
Notes
- Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
- To freeze, let cookies cool completely, then place them in an airtight freezer-safe Ziploc bag. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature or in the fridge overnight.
- If you don’t have red heart sprinkles, cinnamon hearts make a flavorful alternative.
- Leftover Valentine’s Day sprinkles work perfectly for decorating these cookies.
- Using green gel food coloring helps achieve a vibrant color without altering the dough consistency.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 110mg
- Fat: 4.5g
- Saturated Fat: 2.7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 0.3g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
