These Grinch crinkle cookies are a fun and easy Christmas cookie! These brightly green cookies are started with a box cake mix that gets transformed into a cookie.
Crinkle cookies are rolled in powdered sugar and soft to nibble on.
We’re also sharing a recipe on how to make Grinch Crinkle Cookies from scratch as well.
Both recipes for Grinch cookies are listed below.
Grinch Crinkle Cookies | Holiday Recipe
One of our favorite holiday movies we watch every holiday season is How the Grinch Stole Christmas. There are so many great messages in this movie, reminding us of the true meaning of Christmas.
We also love the animated version, The Grinch, which came out in 2018. Honestly, I think I almost prefer this version. It’s a modern take on the classic movie, and I love the upbeat music.
These Crinkle Cookies are easy to make and we’re sharing two ways you can name them.
First, if you prefer to save yourself time, you can use a box cake mix for the crinkle cookies. (The box cake mix recipe is listed towards the bottom of the blog.)
Also, be sure to check out our Grinch Kabobs for another themed Grinch treat.
Ingredients Needed
All-purpose flour. Baking Powder. Baking Soda. Sugar. To make this crinkle cookie recipe from scratch, you will need these dry ingredients for the dough. If preferred, you can use a cake mix to save steps.
Butter. Eggs. Vanilla Extract. These ingredients are what you will mix with the above dry ingredients to turn into cookie dough.
Powdered Sugar. Once the cookie dough is formed, you roll it in powdered sugar. As you bake it, it crackles on the top, giving a fun twist to the look of your cookies!
Food coloring. Green gel food coloring is what you will use to color the dough. You may have to adjust your drops, depending on how green you want your cookies to be.
From Scratch Crinkle Grinch Cookie
serving size: 18-20 (depending on the scoop size)
Ingredients:
- 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 4-6 drops of green food coloring (add more as needed)
- assorted pink and red candy hearts
- red candy melts
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Using a stand mixer, cream together the sugars and softened unsalted butter
- Add the pure vanilla extract, then add one egg at a time, adding the second egg only after the first is fully incorporated.
- Add 4-6 drops of green food coloring and blend on a medium setting. Add more drops of coloring until you get the shade of green you want.
- In a separate mixing bowl, add the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon.
- Mix the dry ingredients together using a wire whisk or a fork.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients a little at a time.
- Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl as needed.
- Wrap the finished cookie dough in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for 20-30 minutes or until firm enough to scoop. (Note: if you have a warmer kitchen, you may need to adjust the time and add another 10 minutes.)
- Using a medium scoop, scoop cookie dough into the palm of your hand, work it into a ball, dredge each ball of cookie dough through the powdered sugar, and coat evenly.
- Arrange six cookies on a cookie sheet lined with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. Make sure to leave 3-4 inches between cookies to allow the cookies to expand.
- Place the cookie sheet on the center rack of the preheated oven and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are set and the centers are still slightly soft.
- Remove the cookies from the oven, and while they are warm, press a red candy melt into the center of each cookie, then place a pink or red candy heart on top of the candy melt. Note: If the candy melts seem to firm, try popping them into the microwave for 5-10 seconds.
- Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Serve.
Ingredients Needed For Grinch Crinkle Cookie Using a Box Cake Mix
Cake Mix. Use any brand of white cake mix for the base. You could even do a yellow cake mix if that is what you have on hand.
Butter, Egg, Oil. These are the ingredients you will mix with the cake mix to make cookie dough.
Powdered Sugar and Cornstarch. Once the cookie dough is formed, you roll it in powdered sugar. As you bake it, it crackles on top, giving your cookies a fun twist in their look!
Food coloring. Green gel food coloring is what you will use to color the dough.
How to make Crinkle Cookies with Cake Mix
Ingredients:
- 18.25 oz Box Vanilla Cake Mix
- 1 stick of unsalted butter, melted
- 2 Eggs
- 1 cup Powdered Sugar
- 1 tbsp Corn Starch
- 1 tbsp Vegetable Oil
- 4-6 drops of green food coloring (add more as needed)
- assorted pink and red candy hearts
- red candy melts
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 375.
- Cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix together corn starch and powdered sugar in a shallow dish.
- In a large bowl, mix together butter, cake mix, and eggs (this will be thick).
- Add enough green food coloring to get bright green (a lot).
- To keep your hands from getting all green, use 2 spoons to gather a chunk of dough and drop it into the sugar starch mixture.
- Roll the spoons around to cover well. Then, pick up and roll into a ball and place on a cookie sheet.
- Make sure you don’t place them too close together, as they will spread a bit.
- Bake for about 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are set and the centers are still slightly soft.
- Remove the cookies from the oven, and while they are warm, press a red candy melt into the center of each cookie, then place a pink or red candy heart on top of the candy melt. Note: If the candy melts seem to firm, try popping them into the microwave for 5-10 seconds.
- Allow the cookie sheet to cool for several minutes before transferring to the cooling rack.
Do These Cookies Spread When Baked?
These cookies will spread as they bake, so leave room between each cookie.
You will roll into balls, dredge into a powdered sugar mixture, and then place on the baking sheet.
As they bake, they will spread a bit and fill your home with a rich buttery cookie aroma.
How to Store Crinkle Cookies?
Room Temperature. These Grinch crinkle cookies can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container.
Just allow the cookies to fully cool before placing them in a container.
Freezing. You can freeze these cookies for 3-4 months if you want.
Then just thaw on the counter until they are thawed and enjoy.
How to Know When Cookies Are Done?
Cookies are done when they are soft but have a little firm texture. You can take a toothpick and stick it in the center, and if it comes out clean from wet batter, the cookies are fully done.
Don’t overbake, as the cookies can turn a little brown around the edges. Place the cookies on a cooling rack to fully cool, then enjoy!
Grinch Crinkle Cookies From Scratch
Ingredients
- 1 stick unsalted butter melted
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 4-6 drops of green food coloring
- assorted pink and red candy hearts
- red candy melts
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Using a stand mixer, cream together the sugars and softened unsalted butter
- Add the pure vanilla extract, then add one egg at a time, adding the second egg only after the first is fully incorporated.
- Add 4-6 drops of green food coloring and blend on a medium setting. Add more drops of coloring until you get the shade of green you want.
- In a separate mixing bowl, add the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon.
- Mix the dry ingredients together using a wire whisk or a fork.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients a little at a time.
- Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl as needed.
- Wrap the finished cookie dough in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for 20-30 minutes or until firm enough to scoop. (Note: if you have a warmer kitchen, you may need to adjust the time and add another 10 minutes.)
- Using a medium scoop, scoop cookie dough into the palm of your hand, work it into a ball, dredge each ball of cookie dough through the powdered sugar, and coat evenly.
- Arrange six cookies on a cookie sheet lined with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. Make sure to leave 3-4 inches between cookies to allow the cookies to expand.
- Place the cookie sheet on the center rack of the preheated oven and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are set and the centers are still slightly soft.
- Remove the cookies from the oven, and while they are warm, press a red candy melt into the center of each cookie, then place a pink or red candy heart on top of the candy melt. Note: If the candy melts seem to firm, try popping them into the microwave for 5-10 seconds.
- Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Serve.
Grinch Crinkle Cookies Using Box Cake Mix
Ingredients
- 18.25 oz Box Vanilla Cake Mix
- 1 stick unsalted butter melted
- 2 Eggs
- 1 cup Powdered Sugar
- 1 tbsp Corn Starch
- 1 tbsp Vegetable Oil
- 4-6 drops of green food coloring add more as needed
- assorted pink and red candy hearts
- red candy melts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375.
- Cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix together corn starch and powdered sugar in a shallow dish.
- In a large bowl, mix together butter, cake mix, and eggs (this will be thick).
- Add enough green food coloring to get bright green (a lot).
- To keep your hands from getting all green, use 2 spoons to gather a chunk of dough and drop it into the sugar starch mixture.
- Roll the spoons around to cover well. Then, pick up and roll into a ball and place on a cookie sheet.
- Make sure you don't place them too close together, as they will spread a bit.
- Bake for about 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are set and the centers are still slightly soft.
- Remove the cookies from the oven, and while they are warm, press a red candy melt into the center of each cookie, then place a pink or red candy heart on top of the candy melt. Note: If the candy melts seem to firm, try popping them into the microwave for 5-10 seconds.
- Allow the cookie sheet to cool for several minutes before transferring to the cooling rack.
Created 12/23/2013 | Updated 12/10/2021
Cathy says
Never thought about making cookies from a cake mix and they look absolutely delicious. Pinning them. Thank you for sharing at Share It One More Time. Cathy