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Our family can't get through December without these Grinch Sugar Cookies now. I first whipped them up for my children's classroom Christmas celebration, and they've stuck as our most cherished holiday custom. There's something magical about watching kids push those tiny red hearts into the soft green treats – it's exactly like seeing the Grinch's heart expand threefold right there in our home.
Simple Holiday Wonder
The best thing about these treats is how quick they are to make. You don't need to wait for dough cooling, so we can enjoy warm cookies in less than half an hour. Everyone grins when they see that vibrant green, and they keep grabbing more because of the soft, chewy bite.
What You'll Need
- Unsalted Butter: ½ cup (1 stick), melted down, creating depth and making mixing easier.
- Granulated Sugar: ⅔ cup for the sweet taste, with extra for coating the balls of dough.
- Egg Yolks: 2 large, giving you that perfect soft texture and helping everything hold together.
- Vanilla Extract: 1 teaspoon, adding that cozy, sweet background note.
- Green Gel Food Coloring: 3-5 drops, creating that signature Grinch green color.
- All-Purpose Flour: 1⅓ cups, forming the foundation of your cookies.
- Baking Soda: ½ teaspoon, helping them rise slightly.
- Salt: ¼ teaspoon, cutting through the sweetness.
- Red Heart Sprinkles: 1 for each cookie, adding that festive finishing touch.
Let's Make Some Grinch Magic
- Get Ready
- First warm up your oven and grab your cookie sheet.
- Mix Your Base
- Blend the melted butter sugar egg yolks and vanilla until everything looks smooth.
- Add the Grinch Color
- Mix in green food coloring until you've got that perfect Grinchy tone.
- Make Your Dough
- Stir in the flour and remaining dry stuff until it all comes together nicely.
- Shape and Sugar
- Form small dough balls and coat them in shimmering sugar.
- Time to Bake
- Let them cook until they've puffed up just enough.
- Add Those Hearts
- Push the red hearts into the warm cookies as soon as they're out of the oven.
Make Them Your Own
We sometimes coat them in green sparkly sugar for more glitter or put in a tiny bit of peppermint extract for extra holiday spirit. My kids love trying different toppings but we always come back to those classic red hearts.
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Keep Them Fresh
Store these treats in a sealed container and they'll stay soft for several days. I always keep some frozen dough balls ready to pop in the oven whenever we want a fast batch of holiday treats.
Holiday Joy
These Grinch cookies add so much delight to our Christmas season. My own heart swells when I watch tiny fingers pressing hearts into warm cookies and notice the grins spreading when folks spot them on the dessert platter.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Why are only yolks used?
- Yolks bring extra fat, which makes the cookies softer and richer. It’s key to that chewy texture.
- → Can these cookies be frozen?
- Sure! Freeze the dough or baked cookies for up to 3 months. Add an extra minute or two when baking straight from frozen.
- → When do the heart sprinkles go on?
- Pop the hearts on right after they leave the oven. The warmth helps them stay put perfectly.
- → How can I get the best green tint?
- Go for gel food dye instead of liquid. Add a bit at a time to get the bold Grinch green you're going for.
- → How long do they last?
- Keep them sealed in a container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Their sugar content keeps them fresh.
Conclusion
These cheerful cookies perfectly capture the playful holiday vibe.Bake vibrant green treats topped with red hearts to share some cozy Christmas fun.