These Green Grinch Cookies are light green crinkle cookies with a sprinkle heart to represent the Grinch's tiny heart. They're soft, chewy, made in 30 minutes in one bowl, and are sure to impress around the holidays!

I have a Christmas cookie obsession. Well, I have a cookie obsession... my overflowing cookie section is proof. But, if you are looking for other Christmas cookies, you'll love these Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies, Peppermint Brownie Cookies, or these No Chill Gingerbread Cookies.
Why You'll Love These Green Cookies
- soft, chewy, and fudgy texture
- simple recipe made in just 30 minutes
- one-bowl recipe that is fun and easy to make with kids
- fun and festive for the holiday season

Ingredients
- Unsalted Butter: You'll use cool unsalted butter for the best texture and flavor. If you need to use salted butter, reduce the salt in the recipe from ½ teaspoon to ¼ teaspoon.
- Light Brown Sugar & Granulated Sugar: Together, these two work to create moist and sweet cookies.
- Eggs: Eggs add structure and contribute to chewiness.
- Vanilla Extract: Vanilla rounds out the flavor of the cookies.
- All Purpose Flour: All purpose flour that is measured properly creates a soft and chewy texture.
- Baking Powder & Baking Soda: Together, both of these leavening agents give the cookies a nice dome and texture.
- Salt: Salt enhances sweetness and brings out overall flavor.
- Green Food Coloring: To create the green color, you'll want to use food dye. I use Leaf Green from Americolor since I only need a few drops of it for a deep color.
- Powdered Sugar: You'll roll the cookies in powdered sugar before baking to create the crinkle effect.
- Heart Sprinkles: You'll stick a heart sprinkle into the top of the cookie right before you put them in the oven to create the Grinch effect. I use these from Amazon.
Step by Step Process
STEP 1: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and line baking sheets with parchment paper.


STEP 2: In a large bowl with a hand mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer that is fitted with a paddle attachment, beat cool butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar on low speed until combined.
STEP 3: Add your room temperature eggs and vanilla extract into the dough and beat on medium speed until combined throughout.


STEP 4: Pour properly-measured all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into the bowl and mix on low speed only until you see the dry ingredients disappear into the dough.
STEP 5: Add green food coloring to the dough and mix until dispersed throughout.


STEP 6: Divide the dough into 1 ½ tablespoon-sized (35g) balls. Roll the balls in powdered sugar before placing them on your prepared pans at least two inches apart. Top each dough ball with a candy or sprinkle heart.
STEP 7: Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes until the tops are cracked, edges are slightly firm, and the centers look shiny and slightly soft.

Frequently Asked Questions
Crinkle cookie have a powdered sugar coating and defined cracks in the top of the cookies. Rolling the cookies in powdered sugar draws out the moisture in the tops of the cookies to create the classic crinkle look.
If your cookies fall flat, you either undermeasured your flour or underbaked your cookies. Either refers to a lack stability and structure in your cookies, leading them to spread or fall flat while baking or after baking.
Store the cookies in an airtight container, tightly covered, or individually wrapped at room temperature for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 4 months.

Expert Tips
Food Dye: I use Americolor since I'm able to use the least amount of dye to get a deep color, but you can use any green you'd like. Start with a small amount since a little can go a long way, and you can always add more!
Bake Time: Make sure to only bake the cookies until the centers are soft, tops are cracked, and edges are just starting to firm up. Overbaking will lead to dry and dense cookies and a brown tint in color.
Related Recipes
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Green Grinch Cookies
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Cookies, Crinkle Cookies, Christmas Cookies
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Green Grinch Cookies are light green crinkle cookies with a sprinkle heart to represent the Grinch’s tiny heart. They’re soft, chewy, made in 30 minutes in one bowl, and are sure to impress around the holidays!
Ingredients
- ½ cup (110g) unsalted butter, cool
- ⅔ cup (160g) light brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup (53g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs (100g), room temperature
- 1 teaspoon (4g) vanilla extract
- 1 ¾ cup (245g) all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- green food coloring
- ½ cup (60g) powdered sugar
- red heart sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl with a hand mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer that is fitted with a paddle attachment, beat cool butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar on low speed until combined. Then, mix on medium-high speed until smooth, light, and creamy.
- Add your room temperature eggs and vanilla extract into the dough and beat on medium speed until combined throughout.
- Pour properly-measured all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into the bowl and mix on low speed only until you see the dry ingredients disappear into the dough.
- Add green food coloring to the dough and mix until dispersed throughout. Add more color until desired color is reached.
- Divide the dough into 1 ½ tablespoon-sized (35g) balls. Roll the balls in powdered sugar before placing them on your prepared pans at least two inches apart. Place a red heart candy or sprinkle into the top of each dough ball to create the grinch effect.
- Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes until the tops are cracked, edges are slightly firm, and the centers look shiny and slightly soft.
- Allow them to cool on the pan for at least 5 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack or a plate.
- Once fully cooled, store the cookies in an airtight container, tightly covered, or individually wrapped at room temperature for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 4 months.
Notes
Bake Time: Make sure to only bake the cookies until the centers are soft, tops are cracked, and edges are just starting to firm up. Overbaking will lead to dry and dense cookies and a brown tint in color.
Keywords: Green Cookies, Grinch Cookies, Christmas Cookies
Cindy Brueggen says
So delicious and fun to make for all ages!❤️
★★★★★
Elise says
Yay! I'm so glad to hear you think so, Cindy!
Molly says
So delicious! Made them vegan and gluten free, and they turned out great!
★★★★★
Elise says
This is great to hear, Molly! Thank you for sharing!
Leah says
Me and my 13 year old daughter made these and they came out PERFECT!!! Love this recipe and these cookies taste SO yummy.
We also made the m&m cookie bars😍
Love all Elsie’s recipes
★★★★★
Elise says
Thank you so much, Leah! Happy Holidays!