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These crinkle Grinch cookies are whimsical, festive and incredibly simple to make. Using a shortcut of boxed cake mix, they come together quickly with just a few ingredients. The bright green dough gets rolled in icing sugar for that signature crinkle effect, while a single red heart candy pressed in the center adds a cute Grinch-inspired touch. They’re a great idea for holiday baking.
Crinkle Grinch cookies are made with cake mix, food coloring and icing sugar for a festive treat. They’re soft, chewy and finished with a red heart.
You might also enjoy cranberry lemon pistachio cookies, cranberry pistachio bark and these Starbucks copycat cranberry bliss bars.
Why You’ll Love It
Festive look: Bright green cookies with a red heart are eye-catching.
Quick recipe: Cake mix keeps prep simple and fast.
Kid-approved: Fun to make and decorate with little helpers.
Soft and chewy: Perfect cookie texture that everyone loves.
Grinch Cake Mix Cookies Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Vanilla cake mix: The base that makes this recipe quick and simple.
Eggs: Help bind the dough and give structure.
Green food coloring: Brings the classic Grinch look. I recommend food coloring gel instead of liquid because it makes the color more vivid.
Icing sugar: Adds sweetness and creates the signature crinkle top.
Heart-shaped sprinkles: A red candy heart makes the Grinch theme complete.
How to Make Grinch Crinkle Cookies
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Mix dough: Beat cake mix, oil, eggs and food coloring until combined.
Chill: Refrigerate the dough briefly until firm.
Shape cookies: Roll dough into balls and coat in icing sugar.
Add heart: Press a red heart candy into the center of each cookie.
Chill again: Refrigerate briefly before baking.
Bake: Cook on a parchment paper lined baking sheet until the cookies are set and lightly crinkled.
Cool: Let cookies cool before transferring to a rack.
Substututions and Variations
Gluten-free: Use a gluten-free cake mix to make these cookies gluten-free.
Colors: Swap the green food coloring for red and use white sprinkles for another holiday theme. You could also divide the dough into 2 portions and make one green and one red or any color you want.
Flavor twist: Try chocolate or lemon cake mix instead of vanilla.
Decorations: Add festive sprinkles around the heart for extra flair.
Serving Suggestions
With savory bites: Enjoy Christmas tree puff pastry appetizers and Christmas tree themed antipasto.
With more sweet treats: Serve reindeer Rolo pretzels and marshmallow pops.
With a festive drink: Enjoy cranberry margaritas, eggnog pudding shots or a Grinch green melon cocktail with crinkle cookies.
How to Store Crinkle Grinch Cookies
Store: Keep the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, somewhere cool and dry such as in the pantry. They’re best eaten the same day but will stay fresh for 4 to 5 days.
Freeze: Freeze them in an airtight bag or container for up to 2 months.
Thaw: Let them thaw on the counter before serving.
Top Tips
Chill dough: Cold dough is easier to shape and prevents spreading.
Use parchment: Lining the baking sheet helps cookies bake evenly.
Don’t overbake: They should look soft when removed, as they firm while cooling.
Press hearts gently: Press the sprinkles lightly so they stay in place without flattening the cookie.
Crinkle Grinch Cookie FAQs
Yes, chill the dough overnight and bake the next day.
These green Christmas cookies go by many names, from crackle cookies to snow-topped mountains. Some even call them dirty snowballs, but I like to call them Grinch cake mix cookies because of their bright green color. As they bake, the dough spreads and forms those signature crinkles. Fun fact: the original Grinch was drawn in black and white with pink eyes, and it wasn’t until the 1966 animation that he became the green character we all know today.
Use any red candy piece or cut fondant hearts instead.
Crinkle Grinch Cookies Recipe
Crinkle Grinch Cookies
Equipment
- Stand Mixer or Electric Mixer
Ingredients
- 1 Box vanilla cake mix
- ⅓ Cup vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- green food coloring
- icing sugar, for dusting
- 20 heart shaped sprinkles, large, red
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- With a stand mixer or electric mixer, cream together cake mix, food coloring, oil, and eggs.
- Chill the dough for 15 minutes.
- Roll a tablespoon of dough into a ball and then roll in icing sugar.
- Place on a parchment lined baking sheet and press a large heart sprinkle in the middle.
- Place baking sheet and cookies in the fridge to chill for 5 minutes.
- Bake for 6 to 8 minutes.
- Let cool on pan and then remove to cool completely on a wire rack
Notes
Use parchment: Lining the baking sheet helps cookies bake evenly.
Don’t overbake: They should look soft when removed, as they firm while cooling.
Press hearts gently: Press the sprinkles lightly so they stay in place without flattening the cookie.
Nutrition
Crinkle Grinch cookies are a playful and festive addition to your holiday treats. With bright green crinkled tops, dustings of icing sugar and a signature red heart, they’re just as fun to look at as they are to eat. The boxed cake mix shortcut makes them quick and approachable, while still delivering soft, chewy texture. Kids and adults alike will love making and eating these cute Grinch Christmas cookies.
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
I make these every year! So cute