Grinch Crinkle Cookies Recipe
Introduction
These Grinch Crinkle Cookies are a festive and fun treat perfect for holiday celebrations. With their bright green color and charming red heart topping, they capture the whimsy of the season in every bite. Plus, they come together quickly with just a few simple ingredients.

Ingredients
- 1 (15.25 ounce) box yellow cake mix
- 1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
- 2 large eggs
- Green gel food coloring (to desired shade)
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 18 large red heart sprinkles
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, combine the yellow cake mix, vegetable oil, and eggs. Stir until everything is fully incorporated.
- Step 3: Add a few drops of green gel food coloring to the dough and mix well, adjusting the amount until you reach a Grinchy shade of green.
- Step 4: Using a medium cookie scoop, scoop out the dough and roll each ball in powdered sugar, ensuring each ball is fully coated.
- Step 5: Place the powdered dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake for 9-12 minutes, or until the cookies are set and crinkled on top.
- Step 6: While the cookies are still warm, gently press a red heart sprinkle onto the top of each cookie.
- Step 7: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Tips & Variations
- Use gel food coloring for a more vibrant green without altering the dough’s consistency.
- Try rolling the dough balls in colored sugar instead of powdered sugar for a different texture and sparkle.
- Substitute the red heart sprinkles with mini chocolate chips or other festive toppings if preferred.
- Make cookies smaller or larger by adjusting the size of your cookie scoop; just adjust baking time accordingly.
Storage
Store the cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. To keep them fresh longer, you can freeze them for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, let frozen cookies thaw at room temperature. Reheating is generally not necessary but can be done briefly in a low oven if desired.
How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I use a different cake mix flavor?
Yes, you can experiment with other cake mix flavors, but yellow or white cake mix works best to achieve the bright green color.
Why do I roll the dough balls in powdered sugar?
Rolling the dough in powdered sugar before baking creates the signature crinkle effect and adds a beautiful contrast to the green cookies.
Print
Grinch Crinkle Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 18 cookies 1x
Description
These Grinch Crinkle Cookies are a festive and fun treat perfect for holiday celebrations. Made with a yellow cake mix tinted a vibrant green and rolled in powdered sugar, these soft, crinkly cookies are topped with adorable red heart sprinkles inspired by the Grinch’s heart-growing moment. Easy to prepare and perfect for kids and adults alike, these cookies bring a playful twist to classic crinkle cookies.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1 (15.25 ounce) box yellow cake mix
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil or canola oil
- 2 large eggs
- Green gel food coloring, as needed to reach desired shade
Coating and Decoration
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 18 large red heart sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent the cookies from sticking.
- Mix Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the yellow cake mix, vegetable or canola oil, and eggs. Stir the ingredients together until fully combined and the dough is smooth.
- Add Coloring: Add a few drops of green gel food coloring to the dough. Mix thoroughly, adding more drops as needed until you achieve a bright Grinchy green color.
- Form and Coat Cookies: Using a medium cookie scoop or spoon, portion out the dough into balls. Roll each dough ball thoroughly in powdered sugar, ensuring they are fully coated.
- Arrange and Bake: Place the powdered sugar-coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them approximately 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. Bake in the preheated oven for 9 to 12 minutes, or until the cookies are set and the tops develop the characteristic crinkled texture.
- Add Sprinkles: While the cookies are still warm, gently press a red heart sprinkle onto the top of each cookie to decorate.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- You can adjust the quantity of green food coloring to reach your preferred shade, but gel colors work best to avoid altering the dough consistency.
- For best results, let cookies cool before removing them from the baking sheet to prevent breaking.
- These cookies keep well in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- If you prefer a different festive color, try using red or white food coloring for variation.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Grinch cookies, crinkle cookies, holiday cookies, Christmas cookies, green cookies, cake mix cookies

