Grinch cookies are the bright green, Cool Whip–based crinkle cookies I love to bake when I want a festive Christmas treat that looks straight out of Whoville with almost no effort. I stir together a white cake mix, fluffy whipped topping, and neon green food coloring, roll the sticky dough in powdered sugar, and press a single red heart sprinkle into each cookie so it looks just like the Grinch’s heart growing three sizes.
Why You’ll Love These Grinch Cookies
I love this Grinch cookies recipe because it uses a boxed cake mix and Cool Whip to create soft, chewy cookies with a crinkled, snowy coating and a fun holiday color. The dough comes together in a single bowl with just a spatula—no mixer required—and it bakes up into cookies that kids, neighbors, and coworkers recognize instantly from the classic holiday movie. With their bright green centers, powdered sugar “snow,” and red candy heart, they’re perfect for cookie exchanges, school parties, and Christmas movie nights.
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Ingredients You’ll Need
- 15.25 ounces white cake mix
- 8 ounces Cool Whip, thawed
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon neon green gel food coloring (more as needed)
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- Red heart sprinkles
The white cake mix gives you a neutral, sweet base that takes on the green color nicely and bakes into soft, slightly cakey cookies. Cool Whip replaces the usual butter or oil and makes the dough light, sticky, and tender once baked. Neon green gel food coloring gives you the classic Grinch-green shade without thinning the dough, while powdered sugar creates the snowy crinkle coating and the heart sprinkles finish the look.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prep the oven and pan
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. This keeps the sticky cookie dough from sticking and makes cleanup quick. - Mix the dough
In a large mixing bowl, add the white cake mix, Cool Whip, egg, and neon green gel food coloring. Use a rubber spatula to stir everything together just until combined. The dough will be very sticky and thick; that’s exactly how it should look. Adjust the green coloring if you want a deeper shade. - Form and coat the cookies
Place the powdered sugar in a small bowl. Using a medium cookie scoop, scoop balls of dough directly from the bowl and drop them straight into the powdered sugar without touching the dough with your hands. Toss gently to coat, then roll lightly until each ball is covered in powdered sugar. Place the coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. - Bake
Bake the cookies for 12–13 minutes, or until the edges feel firm and the tops look set and crinkly. The centers will still be soft but shouldn’t look wet. - Add the heart sprinkles
Remove the baking sheet from the oven and immediately press a single red heart sprinkle onto the top of each warm cookie, gently pressing so it sticks in place. - Cool and serve
Allow the cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet so they finish setting. Once cooled, transfer them to a serving plate or an airtight container.
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