Description
These whimsical Grinch Cake Mix Cookies are a fun and festive treat perfect for holiday celebrations or any time you want a cheerful, sweet snack. Made from a vanilla cake mix base and brightened with green food coloring, they are soft, chewy, and coated in a delightful dusting of powdered sugar and cornstarch. Decorated with candy hearts or sprinkles, these cookies bring a playful pop of color and a touch of holiday magic to your dessert table.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 box vanilla cake mix (e.g., Betty Crocker)
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Green gel food coloring (amount to achieve desired color, about 10-15 drops)
Coating
- ⅓ cup confectioners’ sugar
- ⅓ cup cornstarch
Decoration
- Candy hearts or sprinkles for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the vanilla cake mix, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract. Add green gel food coloring gradually, mixing until the dough reaches a vibrant green shade.
- Mix Thoroughly: Stir the ingredients well until fully incorporated. The dough should be soft but not sticky.
- Prepare the Coating: In a separate small bowl, mix together the confectioners’ sugar and cornstarch evenly to create the cookie coating.
- Shape the Cookies: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll each into a ball. Then roll each ball in the confectioners’ sugar and cornstarch mixture until evenly coated.
- Place on Baking Sheet: Arrange the coated dough balls onto an ungreased baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Bake the Cookies: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are just set but the center remains soft.
- Cool and Decorate: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cool, decorate with candy hearts or sprinkles as desired.
Notes
- For a more intense green color, use gel food coloring instead of liquid to avoid altering the dough’s consistency.
- Do not overbake; cookies should remain soft in the center for best texture.
- The cornstarch in the coating helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- You can substitute vegetable oil with melted coconut oil or canola oil if preferred.
Keywords: Grinch cookies, green Christmas cookies, cake mix cookies, festive holiday cookies, easy cookie recipe