The Best Grinch Cookie Recipe for Christmas
These are the best Grinch Cookies – totally easy and fun to make, great for Christmas time! The candy hearts add the perfect festive touch.
Inspired by Dr. Seuss’s, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, these cookies are sure to delight! Delicious sugar cookies, filled with decadent cream cheese frosting and topped with a small red heart.
Too busy to make this right away? Pin it for later! Pin this post to your favorite board on Pinterest and it will be there when you’re ready!
We love this christmas movie as shown by this pin the heart on the Grinch activity, this roll a Grinch game or this Grinch mug gift idea. So be sure to poke around the blog a bit for more fun holiday crafting ideas.
Why use sugar cookie dough?
Pre-made sugar cookie dough can be found at the grocery store and is super versatile. It can easily be rolled into fun shapes and ingredients like holiday sprinkles can be added for a fun pop of color.
As a busy mom, I like to take short cuts like this during the busy holiday season. You could also use cake batter mix as a cookie base for a quick alternative for these delicious cookies.
This holiday cookie recipe is so much fun for kids of all ages to make and take to holiday parties or events.
I love, love, love how these adorable Grinch cookies turned out! They would be fun to pack up individually, wrap with a bit of baker’s twine and gift to friends and family.
How to make Grinch Christmas Cookies
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Ingredients
- Package sugar cookie mix
- Butter, softened
- Egg
- Holiday sprinkles
- Cream cheese, room temperature
- Large package vanilla pudding
- Milk
- Green food coloring
- Green sugar sprinkles
- Mini red candy hearts
Tip: homemade sugar cookie dough works just as well as store bought. Check out my grandmas classic sugar cookie recipe for our favorite homemade dough.
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees f.
2. Lightly grease a mini muffin tin (24 count). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. In a large bowl mix your sugar cookie dough, butter and egg until combined.
4. Add in holiday sprinkles.
5. Roll the dough into walnut sized dough balls.
6. Place one dough ball into each greased muffin cup. Spread the dough up the sides of the tin to form a cup shape.
7. Bake until cookies are lightly brown around the edges, 10-12 minutes.
8. Remove the tray from the oven and while still hot, use a spoon or a little shot glass to press down the middle of the cookie cups. Let cool.
9. Using a stand mixer or a medium bowl with hand mixer, whip the cream cheese until fluffy.
10. In a separate bowl, combine the pudding mix with milk. Whisk until well incorporated.
11. Add the pudding to the cream cheese and whip together. Add drops of food coloring to achieve desired Grinch-like vibrant color.
12. Place the cookie on the prepared cookie sheet or wire rack (optional).
13. Spoon the cheesecake filling into a piping bag. Tip: a freezer bag can also be used.
14. Cut the tip from the bag and pipe filling into the cups.
15. Top with green sprinkles and red heart sprinkles.
How to store these Grinch treats:
Store these sweet treats in a large freezer bag or airtight container for a week or in the freezer for up to three months. They are a fun addition to a holiday cookie exchange!
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Some of my kitchen essentials:
- I love using this non-stick bakeware for all of my baking.
- These silicone mitts are perfect for grasping hot pans and baking dishes.
- This Henckel Knife is my favorite for slicing and dicing in the kitchen.
- These parchment paper bags are perfect for packaging and these large Rubbermaid food storage containers are great for storing baking in the freezer.
Be sure to check out these Grinch Inspired Chocolate Bark and Grinch Rice Krispie Treat recipes too! They would be great for adding to a Grinch themed party or event.
If you love this Grinch cookie recipe, please give it a five star review and help me share it on Facebook or Pinterest so that others can enjoy it too!
The Best Grinch Cookie Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 – 17.5 oz package sugar cookie mix
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon holiday sprinkles
- 8 oz cream cheese room temperature
- 1 – 5.1 oz large package vanilla pudding
- 2 cups milk
- Green food coloring
- 1/2 tsp green sugar sprinkles
- 1 tsp mini red candy hearts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees f.
- Lightly grease a mini muffin tin (24 count). Line baking tray with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl mix your sugar cookie dough, butter and egg until combined.
- Add in holiday sprinkles.
- Roll the dough into walnut sized dough balls.
- Place one dough ball into each greased muffin cup. Spread the dough up the sides of the tin to form a cup shape.
- Bake until cookies are lightly brown around the edges, 10-12 minutes.
- Remove the tray from the oven and while still hot, use a spoon or a little shot glass to press down the middle of the cookie cups. Let cool.
- Using a stand mixer or a medium bowl with hand mixer, whip the cream cheese until fluffy.
- In a separate bowl, combine the pudding mix with milk. Whisk until well incorporated.
- Add the pudding to the cream cheese and whip together. Add drops of food coloring to achieve desired Grinch-like green color.
- Place the cookie on the prepared baking sheet (optional).
- Spoon the cheesecake filling into a piping bag. Tip: a freezer bag can also be used.
- Cut the tip from the bag and pipe filling into the cups.
- Top with green sprinkles and candy hearts.
If I use the homemade sugar cookie recipe do I still need to chill the dough before making the “cups”
Yes, this helps to prevent the cookie dough from spreading and puffing up too much.