Bright, festive, and just a little mischievous, Grinch Cookies bring holiday cheer in every bite. These soft sugar cookies studded with green sugar sprinkles and finished with a Hershey’s Kiss look like they stepped right out of a storybook. They smell buttery and sweet while baking, and the finished cookies are tender inside with a slight crisp at the edges. They’re simple to make and fun to share.
Recipe Information
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Servings: About 24 cookies
- Difficulty Level: Easy
Nutrition Information
(Approximate per cookie)
- Calories per serving: 275 kcal
- Protein: 3 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fat: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Sugar: 26 g
- Sodium: 110 mg
Why Make This Grinch Cookies
These Grinch Cookies are a cheerful holiday treat that everyone recognizes. They are quick to mix and bake, fun to decorate, and perfect for cookie exchanges, classroom parties, or a cozy night with hot cocoa. The green sprinkles give a playful crunch and bright color, while the Hershey’s Kiss at the center adds a smooth chocolate surprise. The cookies are mildly sweet, buttery, and lightly golden at the edges—comforting and festive.
How to Make Grinch Cookies
Make the dough in one bowl and bake small scooped cookies for even cooking. The method keeps the cookies soft with slightly crisp edges. Pressing a warm chocolate kiss into the center gives a shiny, melty top that sets as the cookie cools. Use a tablespoon scoop for uniform cookies. Replace the green sprinkles with colored sanding sugar if you prefer a different texture or color.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup green sugar sprinkles
- Hershey’s Kisses candy
Directions:
Step 1: Preparation
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat so cookies don’t stick. Have a tablespoon or small cookie scoop ready for portioning.
Step 2: Mixing
In a large bowl, cream together the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs and vanilla until well combined. In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Stir in the green sugar sprinkles. Scoop out tablespoon-sized balls of dough and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving space between each cookie.
Step 3: Cooking
Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Watch the first batch closely; oven temperatures vary and smaller scoops may bake faster.
Step 4: Finishing
As soon as you remove the cookies from the oven, press a Hershey’s Kiss into the center of each cookie. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. The chocolate will set and the bottoms will firm up as they cool.
How to Serve Grinch Cookies
Serve warm for soft cookies with melty chocolate centers. Place on a festive platter for holiday parties or pack in cookie boxes for gifts. They pair well with hot chocolate, coffee, or a spiced tea. For a party display, arrange with red-and-white candy canes or green candies to enhance the Grinch theme.
How to Store Grinch Cookies
- Room temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Place parchment between layers to prevent sticking.
- Refrigerate: Keep in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
- Freeze: Freeze baked cookies (without the Hershey’s Kiss) in a single layer on a baking sheet until firm, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw and press fresh chocolates into the warm cookies or bake from frozen and add kisses after a minute out of the oven.
- Freeze dough: Scoop dough balls onto a tray and freeze, then transfer to a bag for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen, adding 1–2 minutes to the time.
Expert Tips for Perfect Grinch Cookies
- Use room-temperature butter and eggs so the batter mixes smoothly and traps air for tender cookies.
- Don’t overmix once you add flour. Stop mixing when no streaks of flour remain.
- Use a tablespoon scoop for even-sized cookies so they bake consistently.
- For softer centers, remove the cookies when the edges are set but the center still looks slightly underbaked.
- If using salted butter, reduce added salt by half or taste the dough.
- Chill dough 15–30 minutes if it feels too soft to scoop; chilled dough spreads less.
- Press the Hershey’s Kiss gently into the cookie so it keeps its shape without cracking the cookie.
Delicious Variations
- Peppermint Grinch Cookies: Use peppermint Hershey’s Kisses and top with crushed candy cane for a minty twist.
- White Chocolate Grinch Cookies: Use white chocolate chips instead of Kisses and add a drop of green gel food coloring to the dough.
- Nutty Grinch Cookies: Fold in 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts for crunch.
- Cake Mix Shortcut: For a faster version, use a green-tinted sugar cookie mix or try a cake mix base (see conclusion link for inspiration).
- Gluten-free: Substitute a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend and chill dough slightly before baking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?
A: Yes. If you use salted butter, reduce or omit the added salt to prevent the cookies from tasting too salty. Taste the dough (raw eggs aside) and adjust if needed.
Q: My cookies spread too much. What went wrong?
A: Dough that’s too warm or too thin will spread. Chill the dough 15–30 minutes before baking. Also make sure you measured flour correctly—too little flour causes extra spread.
Q: Can I make these without Hershey’s Kisses?
A: Yes. You can use chocolate chips, a small square of baking chocolate, or a dollop of chocolate ganache. Add the chocolate while the cookie is still warm so it melts slightly and adheres.
Q: How do I get a brighter green color?
A: Use vibrant green sanding sugar for the outside or add a tiny amount of gel food coloring to the dough. Gel color won’t thin your dough like liquid food color.
Q: Can I freeze the finished cookies with the Hershey’s Kiss on them?
A: Freezing after assembly can change the chocolate’s texture and shine. For best results, freeze baked cookies without the Kiss and add fresh chocolate after thawing, or freeze assembled cookies in a single layer and use within 1 month.
Q: How do I make these softer or chewier?
A: For softer cookies, bake at the lower end of the time range and remove when centers still look slightly soft. Adding a tablespoon of corn syrup or an extra egg yolk can increase chewiness.
Q: Can I double the recipe?
A: Yes. Double all ingredients and bake on multiple sheets. Rotate sheets halfway through if your oven has hot spots.
Conclusion
These Grinch Cookies are a fuss-free, festive treat that make holiday baking feel playful. They’re quick to mix, fun to decorate, and great for sharing. If you want another quick take on a Grinch-style cookie, check this alternative: Easy Grinch Cookies Recipe (Made with Cake Mix). Give these cookies a try—bake a batch, breathe in that warm buttery aroma, and enjoy the smiles they bring.
Print
Grinch Cookies
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Bright, festive cookies with green sugar sprinkles and a surprise Hershey’s Kiss for holiday cheer.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup green sugar sprinkles
- Hershey’s Kisses candy
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cream together the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs and vanilla until well combined.
- In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add to the wet mixture and stir in the green sugar sprinkles.
- Scoop tablespoon-sized balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each cookie.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden.
- Remove cookies from the oven and press a Hershey’s Kiss into the center. Let cool on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack.
Notes
Serve warm for soft cookies with melty chocolate centers. Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 275
- Sugar: 26g
- Sodium: 110mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 37g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
