Grinch Cake Mix Crinkle Cookies
These easy Grinch crinkle cookies with cake mix are a sweet treat for fans of How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss. Whether you are watching the movie or reading the book together, they make the perfect extra sweet snack.
They are one of my favorite Grinch recipes for the holidays, and I love that they start with a boxed cake mix, because it means they are easy!
Remember, in the story, when the Grinch’s heart grows three sizes? I love that these cookies are red and green, just like the Grinch. The green is all grump, and the red is that big heart hiding inside. Every cookie gets a little of both, which feels just about right for the holidays!
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What You Need for Grinch Crinkle Cookies
The recipe card lists just a few things: a box of white cake mix, vegetable oil, 2 large eggs, red and leaf green gel food coloring, and white sanding sugar. A few of these are linked on Amazon so you can see exactly which things we use.
- White Cake Mix: Personally, I don’t really see much difference in any of the boxes. I buy Pillsbury, Betty Crocker, Duncan Hines, and store brand. They are all pretty even.
- Red Gel Food Coloring: I am a Wilton baker and always have been. However, I am not opposed to using AmeriColor.
- Leaf Green Gel Food Coloring: The green that comes in the Wilton set above is really not the right green. You need a brighter green. So, I like this one from, you guessed it, AmeriColor. 🙂
- White Sanding Sugar: Wilton has a beautiful sparkling sugar that I like to keep on hand. After the dough forms, you roll it into this sugar. It bakes so pretty!
How to Make Grinch Crinkle Cookies with Cake Mix
Here is the quick version. The exact steps and times are in the recipe card below.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix the cake mix, oil and eggs in a stand mixer until combined.
- Divide the dough between two bowls.
- Color one bowl green and the other bowl red.
- Take a little red dough and a little green dough and gently press them together into one ball, so the red and green land randomly on each cookie. Don’t mix the colors!
- Roll each ball in sanding sugar, set them about 2 inches apart, and press each one down a little.
- Bake for 7 to 8 minutes and let them cool completely.
Can You Use a Different Cake Mix?
This recipe is written for a white cake mix, and the brand doesn’t really matter to me. Stick with white so the red and green colors stay bright.
Tools That Make These Easier
When making Grinch crinkle cookies at home, these are the tools I really like to have on hand.
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- Stand Mixer: I know that KitchenAid is the most popular, but I have the Kenmore stand mixer and am still in love with it.
- Mixing Bowls: The linked glass bowl set from Pyrex is the best investment I ever made in my kitchen. These glass bowls with lids are perfect for mixing and storing.
- Cookie Scoops: A million years ago, when Pampered Chef parties were all the rage, I hosted a TON of them. I will never regret it and wish that all newly married couples would do it. I got so many cool gadgets and amazing recipes. But, my best gadgets were my scoops. We use these things for nearly everything!
- Cookie Sheets: I am beginning to sound like a broken record or a brand snob, but I really love these Wilton cookie sheets. I have had them for nearly 20 years, and they are still going strong. That is a big seller for me.
- Parchment Paper: This stuff is a game changer for a baker. Here’s a tip for those that hate it slipping all around: put a small dab of butter on your cookie sheet. Then, place your parchment paper down. The parchment will stick a bit to the butter, causing it to stay still while you put your dough down.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the questions folks search for most about these cookies.
Grab your cake mix and let’s make some Grinch cookies!
Grinch Cake Mix Crinkle Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 box of White cake mix
- ⅓ Cup(s) vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- Red and leaf green gel food coloring
- 1 container of white sanding sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven at 350º F.
Using a standing mixer, combine cake mix, vegetable oil, and 2 eggs until combined.
Divide the dough between two bowls.
Mix red food coloring into one bowl.
Mix green food coloring into the other bowl.
Take a little red dough and a little green dough and press them together into small balls, so the red and green land randomly on each cookie.
Gently combine the two colors into one ball. Do not mix the colors!
Pour the sanding sugar into a bowl
Roll cookie dough into the sanding sugar
Place cookie dough balls about 2 inches apart on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
Lightly push each cookie dough ball down so that it becomes a thick but flat disk.
Bake for 7 to 8 minutes.
Allow cookies to completely cool before Enjoying!
Nutrition
More Grinch Recipes
Keep the Whoville fun going with more of my Grinchmas ideas, or try one of these.
- Easy Grinch Cookie Recipe Kids Love
- Grinch Cheese Ball
- Grinch Charcuterie Board
- Sweet Grinch Dip
- The Grinch Recipes and Activities for Kids
- Cat in the Hat drink
- Glorious Green Grinch Freakshake from Hey Mom! What’s Cooking?
- Grinch Donuts from A Cultivated Nest
- Grinch Cupcakes from Simplistically Living
How many cookies does it make? 24
You should be able to make 12 cookies with this cake mix recipe! Thanks!
I think it should be 2 Tblsp green and 1 Tblsp red if 2/3 dough is green and 1/3 is red. Don’t want anyone to be confused by the directions.
Yes, that can be a variation as well. Thanks!
Okay, these are too stinkin’ cute! I’m going to make some…doesn’t matter that it is no longer Christmas…cookies are great any time of year! 🙂 Have a great day!
Thank you for bringing these to FF!
Love these cookies. So cute. Found you at Best of the Weekend.
Lovely colors and so festive. Great step-by-step instructions.Thanks for sharing on Fiesta Friday group.
Cookies look so colorful and tempting!! going to a hit among the kids!!
Its look delicious.Amazing tips!Thanks for sharing!!