Our Grinch Christmas Cookies are the best treat to get you and your family in the holiday spirit. Christmas time is a time of baking goodies and spending time with family, and these adorable Grinch cookies are the perfect treat to do both!
These 4-ingredient Grinch cookies are as easy to make as they are fun to eat. They only take 25 minutes from start to finish (to make all of them) and the kids will love them, especially when you enjoy them while watching the Grinch Stole Christmas on TV or reading the classic book!
I wanted to make up these Grinch cookies because I love anything pistachio flavored. I thought this would be a great way to get the fun green color with that fantastic flavor all in one incredible Christmas cookie! Plus, who doesn’t love a good Dr. Seuss story?
Although they aren’t quite as easy as our semi-homemade Christmas cookies or our Christmas crack, they almost are. Plus they only have a few ingredients, all that are easy to find at your local grocery store. This makes it so easy to whip them together last minute, like if you forget you are attending a cookie exchange later that day (I speak from experience…).
I personally love that they are so festive looking. Kids love coming home to them after school in December. I love making both this easy cookie recipe and our gluten-free ginger molasses cookies (my FAVORITE holiday cookie recipe) which takes just a touch more time but not much and they are SO worth it!
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If you are more of a classic cookie maker, you can get the green look with these pistachio cookies as well. And, they are delicious! Another yummy cookie you should try are my Gluten-Free Snickerdoodles.
What do you need to make them?
What I love about this recipe, besides what delicious cookies they are, is that you only need a few ingredients to make them. While one of my favorite holiday traditions is baking, I do not want to spend all day in the kitchen. This is a great recipe that does not take a long time to bake at all.
Gluten-free cake mix
You can use any cake mix you want, but since I have celiac disease, I use Pamela’s cake mix or Pillsbury gluten-free. For flavor, a white or yellow cake mix is the way to go. Plus, a white mix or yellow mix are a great base for the green hue of the Grinch cake mix cookies.
Pistachio pudding mix
I found that pistachio pudding mix creates a bright green color for these Grinch Christmas cookies. Since the recipe uses pudding mix for the color, you do not need to use green food coloring, which can sometimes make a mess.
Candy heart sprinkles
These are optional, but cute little Candy heart sprinkles are perfect to add on top to represent the Grinch’s heart. They add the final touch and will make the cookies look great on cookie platters.
How to make them
Making these cookies really couldn’t be any more simple. They take just a few minutes to put together and will be a new favorite for your family during the holidays!
- Start by preheating the oven to 375 degrees
- In a stand mixer, combine the dry cake mix, the dry pistachio pudding mix, butter and eggs, then mix well
Pro Tip: Any gluten-free cake mix will do but I prefer this easy to find Pillsbury gluten-free yellow cake mix.
- Using a small cookie scoop, roll dough into about 1” balls
- In a small bowl, combine the powdered sugar and cornstarch
- Roll each cookie dough ball in the powdered sugar and cornstarch mixture
- Place balls on a silicone mat lined cookie sheet and bake cookies 8-10 minutes or until the cookies are lightly brown on the bottom and still soft to the touch on top (I like them just undercooked)
- Remove cookies from the oven and immediately press small red candy hearts gently into the corner of each
- Let the cookies rest for 1-2 minutes then transfer to a wire rack
You bet you can! Simply use a dairy-free butter stick and a dairy free, gluten-free cake mix.
Absolutely! I love to freeze them and pull just one or two out when I want them. They only take 15 minutes or so to thaw. Although, I love them cold and a bit frozen. Make sure you place parchment paper between the layers of cookies so they do not stick together.
Leftovers can be store in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Make sure to let them cool to room temperature before putting them in a container with the lid. Also, keep them in a cool, dry place so the powdered sugar doesn’t get moist.
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Grinch Cookies (4-Ingredient)
Ingredients
- 17 ounce (1 box) gluten-free yellow cake mix dry
- 1 box pistachio pudding mix, dry
- 8 tablespoon butter, softened
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- jumbo candy heart sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees
- In a stand mixer, combine the dry cake mix, the dry pistachio pudding mix, butter and eggs then mix well
- Using a mini cookie (icecream) scoop, roll dough into about 1” balls
- In another bowl, combine the powdered sugar and cornstarch
- Roll each cookie dough ball in the powdered sugar and cornstarch mixture
- Place balls on a silicone mat lined baking sheet and bake cookies 8-10 minutes or until the cookies are lightly brown on the bottom and still soft to the touch on top (I like them just undercooked)
- Remove cookies from the oven and immedietely press a candy heart gently into the corner of each
- Let the cookies rest for 1-2 minutes then transfer to a wire rack
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally posted on December 20, 2019 and has since been updated with new information in 2022. Here is the original photo.
Dani says
These are so cute! I’m excited to make them with my kids again for Christmas!
Crystal says
These look great and excited to try it. Do you happen to know of any brands of heart sprinkles and pistachio pudding mix that are labeled as gluten free?
Chandice says
Hey Crystal, they the pudding is Jell-O and the sprinkles are Wilton.
Crystal says
Thank you. Neither of those brands are labeled gluten free, I was wondering if you had ever come across brands of those products that are. I will contact Kraft about the pudding and look for another brand of heart sprinkles because I know many Wilton products are made on shared equipment and not tested.
Chandice says
From what I found, they are gluten-free though you are right, not labeled as such.
martutz says
Gotta try this! I’m also struggling for a healthier me, I’ve even start running with SportMe marathon training app and I can say I’m on the right track now. Nutrition is an important part of my losing weight plan, and your blog posts are a true inspiration!