My kids (even though we’re Jewish) loved watching The Grinch for the first time. Their endless questions about why he would steal Christmas turned into a fun kitchen project. As a busy mom of three and a big fan of cake-mix cookies, I knew these Grinch Cake Mix Cookies would be perfect for holiday baking — and silly enough to delight anyone who loves the lovable Dr. Seuss character.
After refining my cake-mix cookie technique with red velvet and lemon versions, The Grinch was next. I grabbed white cake mix and green food coloring and got to work creating bright, soft, chewy cookies that are easy to make and fun to decorate.
TL;DR – Grinch Cake Mix Cookies
- 💚Why you’ll love it: Bright green, soft, chewy cookies made from a simple cake mix — great for holiday parties and cookie swaps.
- #️⃣ Ingredients: 5
- ⏲️ Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 🔥 Bake Time: 8-12 minutes
- 🎄 Substitutions: If you don’t have white cake mix, yellow or Funfetti will work. No cake mix? A sugar cookie mix tinted green is a good alternative.
- 🌿 Pro Tip: Gel food coloring gives the most vibrant green, but liquid coloring works too.
Save this recipe for easy holiday baking!
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Key Ingredients
- White cake mix: Starts you with a neutral base so the green color pops. Any brand works; I like Duncan Hines.
- Green food coloring: Gel gives the best color; liquid works in a pinch.
- Vegetable oil: You can swap butter, canola, or coconut oil if you prefer.
- Eggs: Use large eggs for consistent results.
- Powdered sugar: For rolling the dough to get a festive crinkle finish.
Recipe Variations
These cake-mix cookies are great plain or dressed up. Here are easy ways to change them up for parties or seasonal treats:
- Grinch sandwich cookies: Pipe or spread vanilla buttercream between two similarly sized cookies for a fun sandwich.
- Green crinkle cookies: Roll each dough ball in powdered sugar before baking for a crinkled top.
- Mini Grinch cookies: Use a small scoop to make bite-size cookies for kids or dessert platters.
- St. Patrick’s Day: Skip the red heart and use shamrock sprinkles for a seasonal twist.
- Tu B’Shevat idea: Turn them into small “trees” by adding melted chocolate and pretzel sticks as trunks — a playful nod to the Jewish holiday of trees.
How to Make Grinch Cookies
Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 1: In a large bowl, combine the white cake mix, eggs, and oil. Add green food coloring a few drops at a time until you reach the desired shade. Stir just until no dry mix remains — avoid overmixing.
Step 2: Scoop dough into even balls (a cookie scoop helps). Roll each ball in powdered sugar, place on the prepared sheet about 2 inches apart, and press a red M&M or heart sprinkle lightly into each one.
Step 3: Bake 8–10 minutes, until the tops crack but the centers remain soft. Let the cookies cool on the tray briefly, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Decorating Tips for Grinch Cookies
These cookies are great plain, but decorating them turns baking into a family activity. Ideas we’ve tried:
- Mini M&M’s: Place a red mini M&M as the Grinch’s heart. Kids enjoy picking out the red pieces.
- Piping gel: Use red piping gel for a glossy heart; allow it to dry before storing.
- Heart sprinkles: Add heart sprinkles as a sweet accent or use them liberally for a festive red-and-green display.
- Green sanding sugar: Frost lightly with white or green frosting, then sprinkle sanding sugar for sparkle.
Storage Tips
Store baked cookies in an airtight container or zip-top bag at room temperature for up to 4 days. If cookies are decorated or sandwiched, separate layers with wax or parchment paper to prevent sticking.
Freezing: You can freeze baked cookies (cooled) for up to 2 months. The dough comes together quickly, so I usually bake first and freeze finished cookies.
Other Desserts from Boxed Baking Mixes
-
2-Ingredient Pumpkin Bread (with spice cake mix)
-
5-Ingredient Peach Cobbler With Cake Mix
-
3-Ingredient Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies
-
4-Ingredient Tahini Brownies
Did you try this recipe and love it? Tell me in the comments or leave a 5-star rating — I love hearing how your batch turned out!
📖 Recipe
Grinch Cake Mix Cookies
Marni Katz
Equipment
-
Food coloring
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Heart-shaped sprinkles or red mini M&M’s
Ingredients
- 1 15 oz White cake mix
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup oil
- 4 drops green food coloring
- 1 cup powdered sugar (for rolling)
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
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In a large bowl, mix cake mix, eggs, and oil. Add green food coloring a few drops at a time until you reach the shade you want. Stir just until combined.
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Scoop dough into balls, roll each in powdered sugar, place on the prepared sheet about 2″ apart, and press a red M&M or heart sprinkle into each ball.
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Bake 8–10 minutes, until cracks form on top but centers remain soft. Avoid overbaking.
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Remove from the tray and let cool completely on a rack.
Notes
Freezing: Bake and cool cookies, then freeze for up to 2 months. You can also freeze dough balls before baking if you prefer.
Nutrition
Tried this recipe?Let me know what you think!