These playful Grinch cookies are a little sweet, a little cheeky, and just the kind of holiday treat that makes hearts grow three sizes bigger with every bite.
I so totally love holiday baking that’s a little playful, a little mischievous, and a lot delicious, so I adore making these Christmas Grinch Cookies.
Seriously, they’re one of my favorite festive treats to make and like this Grinch Dip, they are ridiculously cute with their bright green color and tiny red heart sprinkles. They’re totally beginner-friendly and won’t break the bank.
Bonus is that they’re so versatile. I whip them up for our yearly Grinch movie marathon snack, our family friendly Christmas cookie tray, a Grinch movie and they are a big part of our yearly edible gifting traditions. And if you love cookies, check out these Valentines Day Cookies and these Christmas Cookies too.
Ingredient Notes And Variations
The best part about these Christmas cookies recipe is that it is super flexible, and you can easily swap ingredients to taste / occasion.
- Butter. I love using unsalted butter so I can control the salt, but if you only have salted on hand then test that out too.
- Sugar. I tend to use white granulated sugar, but adding in some brown sugar gives the cookies that soft, chewy middle with the right hint of caramel flavor.
- Flour. I simply use all-purpose flour. Spoon and level for best texture.
- Baking powder. Measure and level out for the best results.
- Eggs. Room temperature eggs make for smoother mixing and a better texture. Plan ahead for this.
- Vanilla. Don’t skip it! It gives that fragrant holiday cookie smell. Add a drop of peppermint extract for a cool, festive flavor.
- Lemon juice and zest. I love the bright citrus flavor from adding in fresh lemon juice and fresh lemon zest. Bottle juice works in a pinch.
- Green food coloring. A little goes a long way to get that signature Grinchy shade. Gel food coloring works best for a vibrant look.
- Candy hearts. Red candy hearts make the cookies instantly recognizable and so much fun. Use sprinkles too.
- Sugar for rolling. Have some extra extra granulated sugar and powdered sugar for rolling for that crinkle look. Vanilla sugar would work too. Roll in sparkly sugar before baking for a little holiday shimmer.
How To Make Grinch Cookies
So, let’s put this recipe together in easily. Get the full ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.
- In a large mixing bowl, rub the lemon zest into the sugar with your fingertips or a spatula until fragrant.
- Add lemon juice, vanilla, and melted butter. Mix until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time until well incorporated.
- Sift in flour and baking powder and stir until just combined.
- Add a few drops of green food coloring and mix until you reach a vibrant “Grinch” green. The dough will be VERY sticky—don’t add extra flour.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 3–4 hours.
- Scoop about 30 g of dough (about 2 tablespoons) and roll into balls. Coat each ball first in granulated sugar, then generously in powdered sugar.
- Place coated dough balls on a tray and freeze for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 160 degrees C (320 degrees F) about 12 minutes before baking. Just before placing in the oven, roll the dough balls once more in powdered sugar so they’re fully covered. Arrange on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving space between each cookie. Bake for 12–15 minutes, checking at 10 minutes since ovens vary.
- As soon as you remove the cookies from the oven, gently press a heart-shaped candy or sprinkle into the center of each cookie. Let cool on the tray for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
Bintu’s Tips
- Rolling the dough twice in sugar helps the crinkles pop beautifully as they bake.
- The dough will be sticky but please don’t be tempted to add extra flour. A good chill or quick freeze makes it workable.
- Fresh lemon zest and juice cut the sweetness with a bright, tangy note.
- Use gel food coloring for that bold Grinch green that stays vibrant in the oven.
- If the powdered sugar disappears while baking, the coating wasn’t thick enough, roll generously right before baking.
- Press the little heart candies on while cookies are still warm so they stick.
- For a twist, swap lemon juice for lime.
- Want extra sparkle? Add a dusting of edible glitter on top.
- Wrap in clear bags with red ribbon for the perfect Grinchy gift.
More Holiday Recipes
If you like this, you will like these recipes too.
- Easy Grinch Dip.
- Easy Christmas Appetizers.
- Easy Christmas Cocktails.
- Favorite Christmas Mains.
- Plate clearing Christmas Sides.
- Easy Christmas Chicken.
- Easy Party Recipes.
- Fun Brie Appetizers.
Tools
- Kitchen appliances like an air fryer, Instant Pot, and Crockpot will make holiday meal prep easy.
- This handy thermometer to check your food for doneness.
- For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.
Did you make this recipe? Then I would love to hear how it turned out. Please leave a comment and star rating below. And I really appreciate you sharing this recipe with your family and friends. Enjoy every mouthful 😊🍲 – Bintu
Grinch Cookies
I adore making these Christmas Grinch Cookies perfect for Christmas day or as edible gifts.
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Servings: 20 servings
Calories: 138kcal
Ingredients
- ¾ cup + 4 table spoon (180g) granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 tablespoon (90g) unsalted butter melted and slightly cooled
- 2 small eggs room temperature
- 2 ½ cups (300g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- Green food coloring gel recommended
- ½ cup Extra granulated sugar for rolling
- 1 cup Powdered sugar for rolling
- Heart-shaped candies or sprinkles for decorating
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, rub the lemon zest into the sugar with your fingertips or a spatula until fragrant.
- Add lemon juice, vanilla, and melted butter. Mix until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time until well incorporated.
- Sift in flour and baking powder and stir until just combined.
- Add a few drops of green food coloring and mix until you reach a vibrant “Grinch” green. The dough will be VERY sticky—don’t add extra flour.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 3–4 hours.
- Scoop about 30 g of dough (about 2 tablespoons) and roll into balls. Coat each ball first in granulated sugar, then generously in powdered sugar.
- Place coated dough balls on a tray and freeze for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 160 degrees C (320 degrees F) about 12 minutes before baking. Just before placing in the oven, roll the dough balls once more in powdered sugar so they’re fully covered. Arrange on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving space between each cookie. Bake for 12–15 minutes, checking at 10 minutes since ovens vary.
- As soon as you remove the cookies from the oven, gently press a heart-shaped candy or sprinkle into the center of each cookie. Let cool on the tray for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
Notes
- The double coating in sugar ensures the “crinkle” effect shows up strongly when the cookies bake.
- The dough will be very sticky—resist adding flour. Proper chilling and freezing are key.
- The lemon zest and juice add a refreshing balance to the sweet cookie.
- Use gel food coloring for a bold Grinch green that won’t fade in the oven.
- If your powdered sugar “melts” into the cookie while baking, it usually means the coating wasn’t thick enough—make sure to re-roll right before baking.
- Press the heart candies immediately after baking while the cookies are soft, so they stick.
- Swap the lemon juice for lime juice for a different citrus twist.
- Make them extra festive by dusting a little edible glitter over the powdered sugar.
- Gift-wrap in clear bags tied with red ribbon for a Grinch-themed holiday treat.
Nutrition
Calories: 138kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 24mg | Potassium: 21mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 107IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg
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