Grinch Crinkle Cookies
These soft, buttery Grinch Crinkle Cookies are a delightful holiday dessert. Rolled in sugar and topped with a sweet red candy heart, they’re the perfect nod to the classic story of the Grinch, and they’re as fun to make as they are to eat!
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients:
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients:
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract optional for mint flavor
- Green gel food coloring
Toppings:
- ½ cup granulated sugar for rolling
- Red candy hearts
Instructions
Prep the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Mix Dry Ingredients:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
Cream Butter & Sugar:
- In a large mixing bowl, use an electric hand mixer to cream the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Add Wet Ingredients:
- Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract (if using).
Incorporate Dry Ingredients:
- Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture in small batches, mixing on low speed until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
Color the Dough:
- Add a few drops of green gel food coloring to the dough and mix until evenly colored. Adjust the amount of food coloring for your desired shade of green.
Chill the Dough:
- Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes (or up to 24 hours).
Shape Cookies:
- Roll chilled dough into 1-inch balls. Roll each ball in granulated sugar until fully coated.
Add Hearts:
- Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Gently flatten each cookie and press a red candy heart into the center.
Bake:
- Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are set but the centers remain soft.
Cool:
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.