Description

These festive Grinch Sugar Cookies are a fun holiday treat featuring vibrant green sugar cookie dough, topped with red heart sprinkles for a pop of color. Soft and slightly chewy, these easy-to-make cookies are perfect for holiday parties or gifting, with a delightful vanilla flavor and a touch of sweetness.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Dough

1 stick (4 ounces/8 tablespoons) unsalted butter
2/3 cup granulated sugar, plus extra for rolling
2 large egg yolks (no egg whites!)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3–5 drops green food gel coloring
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon fine salt

Decoration

12 red heart sprinkles

Instructions

Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper or use a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking and help with even baking.
Make the Dough Base: Melt the unsalted butter in a mixing bowl using the microwave, then stir in the granulated sugar, egg yolks, vanilla extract, and 3 drops of green food gel coloring. Mix thoroughly until fully combined. Add more green coloring as desired to reach your preferred vibrant green shade.
Add Dry Ingredients: Evenly sprinkle the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and fine salt over the wet dough mixture. Stir just until combined to avoid overmixing and keep the dough tender.
Divide the Dough: Press the dough flat and evenly into the bowl. Then, visually divide the dough into two equal halves. Each half should yield 6 cookies, totaling 12 cookies.
Shape and Sugar the Cookies: Roll each half into balls with your hands. Lightly roll each dough ball in extra granulated sugar to create a sparkling crust, then space them evenly on the prepared baking sheet to allow for spreading.
Bake the Cookies: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake the cookies for 10 to 11 minutes. The cookies should spread out, begin to crackle on top, and look dry on the surface when done.
Add Sprinkles and Cool: Immediately after removing from the oven, press one red heart sprinkle into the top of each warm cookie so it adheres nicely. Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 2 minutes to firm up, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

Use only the egg yolks for a richer texture; egg whites are omitted to keep cookies tender.
Adjust green gel coloring depending on desired intensity of color.
Rolling the cookies in extra sugar before baking adds a subtle crunch and sparkle.
Press sprinkles into warm cookies to ensure they stick properly and don’t fall off after cooling.
Store cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness for up to a week.
You can substitute red heart sprinkles with any other small decorative candies.

Prep Time: 7 minutes
Cook Time: 11 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Grinch sugar cookies, Christmas cookies, green sugar cookies, festive cookies, holiday baking, vanilla sugar cookies