15 Minute Grinch Cookies (Easy 5-Ingredient Recipe)

These 5-ingredient Grinch cookies are as easy to make as they are fun to eat. They only take 15 minutes from start to finish 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?

They are just as easy as our 15-minute gluten free cake mix cookies and our Christmas crack, which are always winners. Plus they only have a few ingredients, all that are easy to find at your local grocery store, just like my chocolate crinkle cookies. 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!

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

This post was originally posted on December 20, 2019 and has since been updated with new information in 2022. Here is the original photo.