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These homemade Grinch sugar cookies are the happiest little treats for any holiday season, especially if you have a soft spot for festive family baking. With a bright green hue and a single red heart, these cookies capture all the whimsy of the classic tale and bring big smiles to every bite. You can whip them up with simple pantry ingredients and a handful of red heart sprinkles, perfect for making memories with kids or jazzing up an office cookie platter.
The first time I made these cookies was during a snow day stuck at home and my whole family was obsessed. They have become a must every December — our favorite little touch to any cookie box.
Gather Your Ingredients
- Unsalted butter: Delivers classic richness and helps cookies stay tender. When using butter, make sure it is unsalted for pure control over flavor.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the dough and makes for a sparkly sugar crust. Use fine white sugar for best mixing and rolling.
- Egg yolks: Add richness and chewy texture. Separate carefully for best results.
- Vanilla extract: Rounds out the flavors with cozy warmth. Real vanilla matters here for fullest aroma.
- Green food gel coloring: Brings that festive Grinchy look. Gel type keeps color vivid without thinning the dough.
- All-purpose flour: Sets the cookie structure. Use fresh flour and spoon it lightly into the cup for accurate measuring.
- Baking soda: Helps cookies spread and crackle. Classic leavening for signature sugar cookie ridges.
- Fine salt: Sharpens flavors and balances the sweetness.
- Red heart sprinkles: Give the cookies their iconic look. Seek larger style heart sprinkles for best drama and press on quickly while cookies are hot.
How to Make It
- Preheat and Prep:
- Set your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and get your baking sheet lined with parchment or a silicone mat right away. This step not only ensures even cookies but helps cleanup later.
- Mix Wet Ingredients:
- Melt your stick of butter fully in a mixing bowl. Use thirty second bursts in the microwave so you do not scorch it. Stir in your sugar and whisk till smooth. Mix in your egg yolks, vanilla, and drops of green coloring. Blend very well until the mixture is all one vibrant green shade. You can adjust with more color as needed.
- Combine Dry Ingredients:
- Sprinkle flour, baking soda, and salt right over your green mix. Use a spatula to fold until you have a thick and soft dough. You should stop mixing as soon as no white streaks remain for the most tender results.
- Shape and Roll:
- Press the dough into an even disk then divide in half by eye. Each half will make six balls. Use your hands to roll out a dozen equal balls. Roll each one gently in extra sugar for sparkle.
- Bake the Cookies:
- Place cookies evenly on the sheet leaving room to spread. Bake for ten to eleven minutes. Cookies should just crack on top but not brown deeply.
- Decorate the Cookies:
- Right when you pull them out, press one red heart sprinkle onto the center of each cookie. Do this while the cookies are still warm so the heart sticks. Let them rest two minutes before moving to a rack.
I am convinced that green food coloring can turn any rainy afternoon into a party. The vanilla scent and the pop of the little red heart bring back the best memories of baking with my cousins and laughing over our wild cookie shapes.
Flavor Boosters
Chill the dough balls for ten minutes before baking if your kitchen is especially warm. This helps them bake up thick and even, and using real vanilla extract will give wonderful aroma in every bite.
Serving Suggestions
Pile these cookies high on a holiday dessert table or let kids set them out for Santa. They look adorable paired with cocoa or peppermint bark and work as edible gifts tucked in a cellophane bag with a red ribbon.
Creative Twists
To change things up for other times of year, swap the coloring for blue and use star sprinkles for winter, or use yellow and smiley faces for springtime. These cookies are a blank canvas for any color and celebration.
Enjoy your festive, chewy Grinch sugar cookies and make every holiday brighter. The single red heart is sure to bring a smile to everyone around the table!
Common Questions About This Recipe
- → How do I achieve the vibrant green color?
Add 3-5 drops of green food gel coloring, mixing well. Adjust the amount until the dough reaches your preferred shade of green.
- → Why only use egg yolks and not egg whites?
Egg yolks give the cookies a rich, tender texture, while omitting egg whites helps keep the cookies soft and chewy.
- → When should I add the red heart sprinkles?
Press a red heart sprinkle into each cookie immediately after they come out of the oven while they're still warm, so the sprinkles adhere properly.
- → Can I prepare the dough in advance?
Yes, you can make the dough ahead of time and refrigerate it. Allow it to come to room temperature before rolling and baking.
- → How do I prevent cookies from spreading too much?
Chilling the dough or ensuring your baking sheet is cool before adding cookies can help prevent excess spreading during baking.