Desserts

Christmas Grinch Sugar Cookies

Name: Christmas Grinch Sugar Cookies
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon baking powder; 1 cup unsalted butter, softened; 1 1/2 cups white sugar; 1 egg; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 teaspoon almond extract; 1/2 teaspoon salt; Green food coloring; Red sugar or icing for decoration

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These Christmas Grinch Sugar Cookies are bright, buttery, and fun to make. They bake up crisp at the edges with soft centers, and the bold green color and red sugar accents create a playful Grinch look that smells of vanilla and butter. They are easy to mix, quick to bake, and perfect for holiday cookie plates, classroom parties, or gifting.

Recipe Information

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes (per batch)
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: about 36 cookies
Difficulty Level: Easy

Nutrition Information

(Approximate per cookie; values will vary by size and exact ingredients)

Calories per serving: 115 kcal
Protein: 1.2 g
Carbohydrates: 15 g
Fat: 5.2 g
Fiber: 0.3 g
Sugar: 8.5 g
Sodium: 80 mg

Why Make This Christmas Grinch Sugar Cookies

These cookies are festive, fast, and kid-friendly. The dough is forgiving and simple to handle. The bright green color and red sugar make them instantly recognizable and fun for decorating. They taste like a classic sugar cookie — buttery, sweet, and vanilla-scented — with a soft interior and slightly crisp edge. They work well for cookie swaps, holiday trays, and decorating parties.

How to Make Christmas Grinch Sugar Cookies

You will make a classic sugar cookie dough, tint it green, shape small balls, and bake until edges turn golden. The process is quick: prepare dry ingredients, cream butter and sugar, combine, color, shape, and bake. Use gel food coloring for the best green hue without adding extra liquid. Chill briefly if dough feels too soft so cookies keep their shape.

Ingredients:

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
Green food coloring
Red sugar or icing for decoration

Directions:

Step 1: Preparation

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or use ungreased cookie sheets. Measure out your dry ingredients so they are ready.

Step 2: Mixing

In a small bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set this dry mix aside. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until smooth and fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, almond extract, and salt. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients until a soft dough forms. Add green food coloring a little at a time until you reach your desired Grinch-green color.

Step 3: Cooking

Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls and place them onto the prepared cookie sheets about 2 inches apart. Flatten each ball slightly with your fingers or the bottom of a glass. Sprinkle the tops with red sugar or add small dots of red icing for decoration.

Step 4: Finishing

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until the edges are set and lightly golden. Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely. Once cool, add any extra icing details if desired.

How to Serve Christmas Grinch Sugar Cookies

Arrange on a festive platter with green and red accents.
Serve warm with a glass of cold milk, hot cocoa, or mulled cider.
Add a small frosting face or candy eyes for a party display.
Package in cellophane bags with ribbon for neighbor or teacher gifts.

How to Store Christmas Grinch Sugar Cookies

Room temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days. Keep layers separated with parchment paper.
Refrigerator: Store up to 1 week in an airtight container (bring to room temp before serving for best flavor).
Freezer: Freeze baked cookies in a sealed container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature. You can also freeze shaped dough balls on a tray, then transfer to a bag; bake from frozen adding a minute or two to the bake time.

Expert Tips for Perfect Christmas Grinch Sugar Cookies

Use gel food coloring for bright color without thinning the dough.
Measure flour by spooning into the cup and leveling; too much flour makes dry cookies.
If dough feels too sticky, chill it 15–30 minutes to firm up before rolling.
Don’t overbake — remove when edges are set and centers still look slightly soft; they firm as they cool.
Press decorations gently so cookies don’t crack.
For consistent size, use a small cookie scoop or measure by teaspoons.

Delicious Variations

Grinch Sandwich Cookies: Pipe green buttercream on the flat side of one cookie and sandwich with another.
Lime-Infused Grinch Cookies: Add 1 teaspoon lime zest to dough for a citrus twist that complements the green color.
Peppermint Grinch Cookies: Mix in 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract instead of almond and top with crushed candy cane.
Cut-Out Grinch Cookies: Chill dough, roll to 1/4" thickness, and use small cookie cutters or cut shapes; decorate with royal icing.
Chocolate Grinch Cookies: Replace 1/2 cup of flour with 1/2 cup cocoa for a chocolate base with green tinted icing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: My cookies spread too much. What went wrong?
A: Too-soft butter or too-warm dough causes spreading. Chill the dough 15–30 minutes and make sure your baking sheet is cool. Measure flour correctly — slightly under-measured flour can cause extra spread.
Q: Can I use liquid food coloring instead of gel?
A: You can, but liquid color can thin the dough and change texture. Use gel or paste coloring for vivid green without altering consistency.
Q: Can I make this recipe gluten-free or vegan?
A: For gluten-free, substitute a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend that includes xanthan gum. For vegan, use a vegan butter and replace the egg with a flax egg (1 tbsp ground flax + 3 tbsp water, chilled). Expect slight texture differences.
Q: How do I keep the green color from fading?
A: Use gel food coloring and avoid overbaking. Store cookies away from direct sunlight, which can fade color over time.
Q: Can I freeze the dough?
A: Yes. Scoop dough balls onto a tray and freeze until solid. Transfer to a bag and freeze up to 3 months. Bake from frozen, adding 1–2 minutes to the bake time.
Q: How can I make decorations look more like the Grinch face?
A: Use small candy eyes, a dot of white and black icing for pupils, and red sugar or a small dab of red icing for a heart or ornament. Pipe a tiny sour cream or cream cheese smile with a fine tip for character.

Conclusion

These Christmas Grinch Sugar Cookies are a cheerful, easy-to-make holiday treat with buttery flavor, a soft center, and a festive look. They are ideal for baking with kids, gifting, or adding to any cookie exchange. For another great guide and decoration ideas, check out this Grinch Sugar Cookies – BEST Easy Recipe (https://www.dessertfortwo.com/grinch-sugar-cookies/). Give them a try — the bright green color and sweet, vanilla scent make them a holiday favorite.