These adorable Grinch Cookies will cause even the smallest of hearts to grow! They have a tender and chewy texture from cream cheese, and the perfect flavor thanks to the combination of vanilla extract and almond extract. They’re such a fun addition to holiday cookie trays and great for Santa!
Like many families, watching the Grinch movies has been part of our holiday tradition since the kids were little. We’ve seen all of the different versions and everyone has their own opinion on which one is best. They’re grown now, but I still love making themed treats to go with our family movie nights, like these Grinch rice krispie treats that I shared a few years ago, and now these adorable Grinch sugar cookies. If you’ve got small kids or grandkids, this is a fun recipe to get them involved with – they’re really easy to make!
What’s in this Grinch Cookies Recipe?
These Grinch sugar cookies are made with standard cream cheese sugar cookie ingredients, plus the green food color and heart sprinkles. You can find the exact measurements in the recipe card below.
- All-purpose flour – Make sure it’s spooned and leveled, not scooped to avoid excess flour and dry crumbly cookies.
- Baking soda & Baking powder – Using both leavening agents helps achieve the perfect rise and texture in the cookies.
- Salt – Enhances the overall flavor of the cookies.
- Unsalted butter – Since we’re adding salt, you’ll want unsalted butter. If you only have salted butter, reduce the amount of salt added. Be sure the butter is at room temperature.
- Cream cheese – Cream cheese gives these cookies a soft, chewy texture plus it adds moisture and a lightly tangy flavor that pairs nicely with the sweetness of the other ingredients. Just like the butter, it should also be room temperature for easier blending.
- Sugar – So the cookies are sweet! You’ll also need extra sugar to coat the cookie dough balls.
- Egg – Provides structure to the cookie dough.
- Extracts – A combination of almond and vanilla extracts gives these cookies the perfect flavor.
- Green food coloring – For that classic green Grinch color.
- Red heart sprinkles – You can find red heart sprinkles on Amazon, Michaels, Walmart, and bakery stores.
Can I Make These Without The Cream Cheese?
Yes, you can omit the cream cheese and replace it with more butter if you prefer a traditional sugar cookie texture, but the cream cheese adds a unique softness and flavor and I really recommend it for optimal results.
Tips for Success
- Use room temperature ingredients. When making these Grinch cookies, be sure to use room temperature butter, cream cheese, and egg. If the ingredients are chilled, they won’t cream properly.
- Do not overmix. After you add the dry ingredients, mix just until everything is combined and there are no streaks of flour. Overmixing can lead to cookies that are too dense.
- Chill the dough if needed. If you are finding that the dough is too soft to shape into balls, you can pop it in the fridge for 20-30 minutes. It’s not always necessary, depending on how softened the butter was when you started, but it does help prevent the cookies from spreading too much.
- Why do I need to coat the cookies in sugar? Coating the cookie dough balls in granulated sugar adds a crunchy exterior and a sparkly finish. It also enhances the overall sweetness.
- Press the heart into the dough. You do want to gently press the heart sprinkle into the cookie dough vs just laying it on top, to ensure that it actually sticks to the cookie.
- Try other extracts. If you prefer a different flavor, you can substitute almond extract with peppermint or even coconut extract for a unique twist.
Make Ahead & Storage
- Make ahead (dough). You can make the dough up to 2 days in advance. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate. Let the dough sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes before rolling and baking.
- Room temperature. Baked Grinch sugar cookies can be stored in an airtight container on the counter away from light or moisture. They will stay soft for about 4 days.
- Freezer. You can also freeze the baked cookies for up to 3 months. Once they’ve cooled completely, transfer to a freezer safe Ziploc bag or freezer container. Thaw on the counter.
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Grinch Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 & 1/2 cups all-purpose flour , spooned and leveled
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter , softened to room temperature
- 1/2 cup cream cheese , softened to room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar , plus 1/4 cup for coating
- 1 large egg , room temperature
- 2 teaspoons almond extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Green food coloring
- Red heart sprinkles
Instructions
- Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 & 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat 1/2 cup softened unsalted butter, 1/2 cup softened cream cheese, and 1 cup granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add in 1 large egg, 2 teaspoons almond extract, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
- Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Add green food coloring until you achieve your desired shade of green.
- Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll them into balls.
- Roll each ball in granulated sugar to coat, then place them on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Slightly flatten each ball with your hand or the bottom of a glass.
- Gently press one red heart sprinkle into the center of each cookie.
- Transfer cookie trays to the fridge while you preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely.
