Easy Grinch Cake Mix Cookies (5-Ingredients)

My kids (even though we're Jewish) loved watching The Grinch for the first time. Between all the questions about why he would steal Christmas, they got very into the green, so we headed to the kitchen.

These Grinch cake mix cookies are soft and chewy, and they take just 5 ingredients (plus a red heart on top). They're done in about 20 minutes start to finish, you only need one bowl, and there's no chilling. The kids can help roll the dough and add the heart, which makes them perfect for Christmas cookie swaps, class parties, or any Dr. Seuss movie night.

If you're a cake mix cookie fan like me, you might also love my red velvet cake mix cookies and lemon cake mix cookies. For more holiday baking, try my cake mix Hanukkah cookies.

Key Ingredients

The full amounts are in the recipe card. Here's what's worth knowing about each one:

• White cake mix: White gives you the brightest green. I like Duncan Hines, but any brand works. Yellow cake mix works too, but the color comes out differently and the green won't be as bright.
• Green food coloring: I use 4 to 6 drops. Gel gives a slightly more vibrant color, but liquid is what I usually have on hand, and they work interchangeably. Start with 4 and add more if you want. It's easier to add than to tone it down.
• Oil: Vegetable oil is what I use. Canola, butter, or coconut oil will work too. Using oil with no water is part of why these cookies stay chewy instead of cakey.
• Powdered sugar: This is for rolling the dough balls. It gives them that cracked, crinkle look.
• Mini red M&M's: These are the Grinch's heart. They hold their shape and their red color in the oven, which is why I use them. I haven't found a bag of only red ones, but my kids are great at picking them out for me.

Why These Are Chewy, Not Cakey

Cake mix cookies can lean cakey, but these don't. The cake recipe on the box calls for more eggs plus water and oil. These cookies use just 2 eggs and oil, with no water, and that's what keeps them chewy. And no, you don't need to chill the dough. I never chill my cake mix cookie dough, and these go straight from the bowl to the oven.

How to Make Grinch Cookies

Preheat your oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Step 1: Mix the dough. In a large bowl, add the cake mix, eggs, and oil and mix a few times. Add 4 drops of green food coloring and stir until you can't see any dry cake mix. Add a couple more drops if you want a deeper green. Don't overmix.

Step 2: Scoop and roll. Use a cookie scoop so all your cookies are the same size. Roll each ball in powdered sugar, then place them on the baking sheets about 2 inches apart.

Step 3: Add the heart and bake. Press one mini red M&M into the center of each dough ball. Bake for about 12 minutes, until you see cracks on top. Be careful not to overbake them. Let the cookies cool on the pan for a few minutes, then move them to a rack or plate.

3 Easy Variations

1. Grinch sandwich cookies: Pick two cookies that are the same size. Put a dollop of vanilla buttercream on one, top with the other, and press down gently.
2. Mini Grinch cookies: Use a small cookie scoop to make mini cookies for decorating a cake or for small hands.
3. Not just for Christmas: Skip the red heart and add a shamrock sprinkle for St. Patrick's Day. For Tu B'Shevat (the Jewish birthday of the trees), watch The Lorax, then use melted chocolate to attach pretzel sticks to the cookies to make little trees.

Ways to Decorate Grinch Cookies

These are delicious plain, but they're also fun to decorate as a family. Here's what we've tried:

• Mini M&M's: My favorite, since they bake right on top and stay put.
• Heart sprinkles: Cute, but in my testing they're more likely to fall off, so I stick with M&M's. They're still fun to scatter over frosted cookies.
• Red piping gel: Pipe on a heart and let it dry completely before you store the cookies.
• Green sanding sugar: Spread a thin layer of white or green frosting on top and sprinkle the sanding sugar over it for a little sparkle.

Did you try this recipe and and love it? 😍 Let me know by leaving a comment below or 5 ⭐ rating!

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