I can’t believe how simple it was to make this easy Grinch cookie recipe. In just a few minutes, I had cookies baked and ready for icing–and just a few minutes later and we were chomping down! I love that these are on our list of amazing Grinchmas ideas!
If you’re looking for more amazing Christmas cookies, be sure to check out these awesome Christmas cookie recipes for cookie decorating parties! There are a ton of great cookies here that are just waiting for a baker! There is a reason that these are our favorite yummy cookie recipes!
Back to these grumpy-adorable Grinch cookies. I don’t even draw well, but somehow, I made these–freehand! I guess it’s because it’s such a simple drawing, but I did make myself a little proud.
And, the way I made the Grinch face?! That was totally clever, right?! Oh, wait, I haven’t told you what I did. So, let’s get to that.
How to Make This Grinch Christmas Cookies Recipe:
Making these Christmas cookies is super easy. I preheat my oven to 350 degrees and mix my ingredients together in a large bowl.
I ran out of eggs (oops) and so I made this without oil and eggs. Well, I used coconut oil so I guess that’s oil. But no eggs–look, ma, no hands!
Instead, I used aquafaba (bean juice). I’ve always wanted to try baking with it, and this worked out great–you won’t find this idea in grandma’s recipe box!
I used about a 1/2 cup of juice from black beans and the color in them did not affect the color of the cookie dough or resulting cookies at all. I’m excited to try this now in all sorts of cookies, like crinkle cookies (you know, the ones where you drop by tablespoon into confectioners sugar and roll into balls before baking), those dough ball truffles (the ones you make a ball of dough and then drop them in chocolate), all of ’em.
Once the cookie dough is made, I roll it out on a sheet of parchment paper and get ready to cut. Yeah, you read that right, no chilling the dough, no waiting, just whip it up, cut ’em out and put ’em on a baking sheet into the oven.
To make the cookie cutter, I just squeezed a pumpkin cookie cutter a bit and made it into a Grinch head. Once you’ve cut the heads out, use a little of the leftover cookie dough to make some sprigs of hair and then it’s 8-10 minutes in the oven.
I let those cool and make some icing with gel food coloring and pipe that cool decoration on. I thought about adding a red heart that was two sizes too small, but it’s a face…sooo…heart seems out of place a little.
But whatever, you do you–if a heart is what you want, do it.
Specialty Ingredients:
The following ingredients are affiliate links on Amazon because they may be a bit hard to find in your normal store. I wanted you to be able to see exactly which things we are using.
- Powdered Sugar
- Aquafaba (just kidding, it’s beans)
- Neon Green Food Coloring
Reminder, not all ingredients in the Grinch Face Cookies are linked above, just the ones that may be a bit difficult to find or that you might be unsure of what to look for.
Must Have Resources:
When making this recipe for Grinch cookies at home, you really need to have the following Amazon affiliate tools on hand.
Make it a Meal:
Main Dish: Hawaiian Pulled Pork and Rice
Vegetable Side: Orange Coconut Salad
Starch Side: Sweet Potato Oven Steak Fries
Refreshing Drink: Green Appletini
Best Grinch Recipes and Ideas:
Once you make this How the Grinch Stole Christmas Cookies Recipe, you’re going to need a few more grinch-worthy ideas to keep your kiddo happy. You’ll need a ton of fun to keep that grinch occupied. Good news for you, I have a ton of Grinch recipes and ideas right here for you.
- Grinch Cake Mix Cookies
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas Printables
- Grinchmas Recipes and Activities for a Grinch Movie Night
What kind of icing should be used for the Grinch cookies?
When it comes to the Grinch cookies, there are a few different types of icing that can be used.
The most popular option is a simple sugar cookie icing, which can be made with either powdered sugar or cream cheese.
Another popular choice is a green tinted vanilla frosting, which gives the cookies a nice pop of color.
If you want to get really creative, you could even try a white chocolate ganache or a green candy melts coating.
Whatever type of icing you choose, make sure to let it harden before adding any decorations. That way, the Grinch cookies will be sure to stay put when they’re being eaten!
Should the cookies be baked before or after they are decorated?
The answer to this question depends on a number of factors, including the type of cookie and the desired outcome. For instance, if you are making sugar cookies, it is generally best to bake them before decorating them. This gives the cookies time to firm up, making them less likely to break or crumble when you add the icing.
However, if you are making gingerbread cookies, you may want to wait until after they are baked to add the decorations. The spice in gingerbread dough can make it difficult to work with, so it is often easier to add the frosting and other embellishments after the cookies have been baked.
Ultimately, the decision of whether to bake before or after decorating should be based on what will produce the best results for your particular recipe.
How long do Grinch cookies last?
Grinch cookies are a popular Christmas treat, but how long do they actually last? While the answer may depend on how they are stored, most Grinch cookies will remain fresh for at least a week.
However, if they are kept in an airtight container, they may last for up to two weeks. Ultimately, the key to keeping Grinch cookies fresh is to make sure that they are stored in a cool, dry place.
By following these simple storage tips, you can enjoy your Grinch cookies long after the holidays have ended.
Can I make the Grinch cookies ahead of time?
According to most cookie recipes, the dough can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 48 hours. This allows the flavors to meld and develop, giving the cookies a richer taste.
However, it is important to note that this is only true for certain types of dough. For instance, shortbread and gingerbread doughs should not be made ahead of time, as they will become too hard when baked.
If you are planning on making Grinch cookies, it is best to wait until the day of baking to prepare the dough. This will ensure that your cookies turn out soft and chewy, just the way they should be.
What is the best way to store Grinch cookies?
Most people are familiar with the traditional methods of cookie storage, such as keeping them in a jar or Tupperware container. However, these methods are not always ideal, as cookies can become stale or crushed.
The best way to store Grinch cookies is in an airtight container that is lined with parchment paper. This will help to keep the cookies fresh and prevent them from being damaged.
Another option is to freeze the cookies. This will prolong their shelf life and prevent them from becoming stale. However, it is important to thaw the cookies before eating them, as they can be hard to bite into when frozen.
Whatever method you choose, make sure to store your Grinch cookies in a cool, dry place to prevent them from going bad.
How can I make my Grinch cookies extra special?
The Grinch is a classic Christmas character, and his story is beloved by children and adults alike. When it comes to baking Grinch cookies, there are a few things you can do to make them extra special.
First, consider using green fondant or green frosting to decorate the cookies. This will give them a festive look that is sure to please the Grinch himself!
You can also use green sprinkles or green icing to add some extra color. Finally, consider adding a small heart-shaped candy to each cookie. This will add a touch of sweetness and show that even the grinchiest of hearts can be melted by the holiday spirit!
What if I don’t have all the ingredients for a Grinch cookie recipe?
One of the great things about baking is that it is relatively forgiving when it comes to recipe deviations. If you don’t have all of the ingredients for a given recipe, there are usually plenty of substitutions that can be made.
When it comes to the Grinch cookie recipe, for example, there are a few key substitutions that can be made if you don’t have all of the necessary ingredients on hand.
First, if you don’t have any green food coloring, you can add a few drops of yellow food coloring to achieve the desired shade of green.
Second, if you don’t have any peppermint extract, vanilla extract can be used as a substitute.
Finally, if you don’t have any candy canes, crushed up mint chocolate chips can be used to give the cookies a minty flavor. With a little creativity, it’s easy to make delicious Grinch cookies even if you don’t have all of the necessary ingredients on hand.
More Easy Cookie Recipes:
If you’re just here for the cookies, I don’t blame you. There’s a lot of love in me for cookies. So, I’ve pulled together some of the best cookie recipes around just for you!
- Egg-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies with Quinoa
- Butterfinger Brownie Cookies
- 30+ Cookie Exchange Party Cookie Recipes
Easy Grinch Cookies
I can't believe how simple it was to make this easy Grinch cookie recipe. In just a few minutes, I had cookies baked and ready for icing--and just a few minutes later and we were chomping down!
Ingredients
Cookies
- 1 cup coconut oil, room temperature
- 1 cup aquafaba, about 1/2 cup or 2 eggs (I ran out of eggs so I used bean juice)
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 tspn vanilla extract, clear
- 2 tspn baking powder
- 3 cups flour
Icing
- 6 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup aquafaba (or 2 egg whites)
- 1/2 tspn vanilla extract
- Neon green food coloring
- Yellow food coloring
- Black gel decorating icing
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350-degrees.
- Cream sugar and oil together.
- Add aquafaba (or eggs) and extract, mixing thoroughly. Set aside.
- Mix flour and baking powder together in a second bowl.
- Add flour to the sugar bowl and mix thoroughly.
- Dough will be crumbly, but turn it out anyway--it's fine.
- Roll out the dough to a consistent 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch thickness.
- To make the Grinch faces, I squeezed a pumpkin cookie cutter a little. Then, when it was narrow, I pulled the bottom down a little to make it look a little longer. I even pinched the stem a little to make a tighter "hair" on his head.
- Cut your cookies out of the dough, and, with some leftover cookie dough, make an additional sprig of hair to add to the Grinch's head.
- Move the parchment paper to a baking sheet.
- Bake in the oven for 10 minutes.
- Allow the cookies to cool to room temperature while you whip-up the icing.
- Combine all the icing ingredients in a small bowl and mix until creamy.
- Place 5-8 tablespoons of icing into another bowl.
- With the bigger amount of icing, add 4-6 drops of neon green food coloring and 3-5 drops of green food coloring. Stir until consistent throughout.
- With the smaller portion of icing, add 8-10 drops of yellow food coloring. Stir until consistent. Set yellow icing aside, covered.
- Place green icing into a decorating bag with your smallest round tip.
- Pipe the outer edge of the cookie and immediately fill this in to cover the face of the grinch cookie.
- Set each cookie aside and allow to dry for 2-3 hours.
- Using the yellow icing, pipe the outline of an eye shape (flat on top and canted inward for an evil look) on each side of the face in the more narrow area.
- Allow they yellow icing to dry.
- With the black gel icing, add bushy eyebrows, eyeballs and eyelash to each of the grinch faces.
- Also with the black gel icing, give each Grinch a nose and wicked, wonky smile.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 18 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 388Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 21mgSodium: 68mgCarbohydrates: 65gFiber: 1gSugar: 48gProtein: 3g