Can I use regular liquid food coloring instead of gel?

You can, but gel food coloring is highly recommended. It’s more concentrated, so you get a vibrant color without thinning the dough. If you use liquid, you’ll need more, and that can alter the dough’s texture slightly.

Do I need to chill the dough?

No chilling is required at all. This recipe was designed to be fast and fuss-free. You can go from mixing bowl to oven in under 10 minutes.

Can I make these with cake mix?

Technically, you could make Grinch cookies using a cake mix base, but you’d miss out on the chewy texture and crispy edges this scratch-made version provides. This recipe is easy enough that cake mix isn’t necessary—and the results are far more satisfying.

Grinch Sugar Cookies: The Best Easy Recipe to Win Holiday Hearts

Grinch Sugar Cookies

Print Recipe

Bright green, chewy sugar cookies inspired by the Grinch, featuring a soft center, crisp edges, and topped with a single red heart sprinkle. These cookies are festive, fun, and perfect for the holiday season, requiring no chill time and just one bowl.

Author: Benchi
Prep Time: 12 minutes
Cook Time: 11 minutes
Total Time: 23 minutes
Yield: 12 cookies
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

1 stick unsalted butter, melted
2/3 cup granulated sugar, plus extra for rolling
2 large egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3–5 drops green gel food coloring
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
12 red heart sprinkles

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
Melt the butter in a mixing bowl and stir in the granulated sugar, egg yolks, and vanilla extract.
Add 3–5 drops of green gel food coloring and stir until the dough is evenly green.
Sprinkle the flour, baking soda, and salt over the mixture and stir until fully combined.
Press the dough flat in the bowl and divide it in half. Form 6 dough balls from each half for a total of 12 cookies.
Roll each dough ball in granulated sugar to coat.
Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them evenly.
Bake for 11 minutes, or until the cookies puff and appear dry on top.
Remove from oven and immediately press one red heart sprinkle into the center of each cookie.
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

Use gel food coloring for a more vibrant color without altering dough consistency.
For extra crinkles, bake on parchment instead of a silicone mat.
Cookies can be frozen after baking or as dough balls; add 1–2 minutes baking time when baking from frozen.

Find it online: https://www.cookwithbenchi.com/grinch-sugar-cookies/