Name: Grinch Sugar Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 1 h
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, room temperature; 1 ¼ cups (248 g) granulated sugar; 2 large eggs, room temperature; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 3 cups (360 g) all-purpose flour, measured properly; 1 teaspoon baking powder; ¾ teaspoon salt; ¾ cup (170 g) unsalted butter, room temperature; 2 ½ cups (284 g) confectioner’s sugar; 2 tablespoons heavy cream; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract, optional; ⅛ teaspoon salt; Green gel food coloring; Heart sprinkles

Ingredients

1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, room temperature

1 ¼ cups (248 g) granulated sugar

2 large eggs, room temperature

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 cups (360 g) all-purpose flour, measured properly

1 teaspoon baking powder

¾ teaspoon salt

¾ cup (170 g) unsalted butter, room temperature (for frosting)

2 ½ cups (284 g) confectioner’s sugar

2 tablespoons heavy cream

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon peppermint extract, optional

⅛ teaspoon salt

Green gel food coloring

Heart sprinkles

Instructions

Step 1: In a large bowl, beat the room temperature butter and granulated sugar with a mixer until light and fluffy, about one minute. Add the eggs and vanilla extract, then beat again until fully incorporated and fluffy, about one minute more.

Step 2: In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, stirring or mixing on low speed until just combined.

Step 3: Cover the dough and chill it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. This helps meld flavors and firms the dough for easy shaping.

Step 4: Preheat the oven to 350℉ and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 5: Remove the dough from the refrigerator. Using a 1.5-inch cookie scoop or your hands, form dough into 1.5-inch balls.

Step 6: Place the dough balls 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. Gently flatten each ball slightly using your hands or the bottom of a floured glass to prevent sticking.

Step 7: Bake for 10-12 minutes, until tops are set and edges start to lightly brown. Remove from oven and let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 8: To make the frosting, beat room temperature butter, confectioner’s sugar, heavy cream, vanilla extract, peppermint extract (if using), and salt in a medium bowl until smooth and spreadable. Add green gel food coloring to achieve the desired shade of green.

Step 9: Transfer frosting to a piping bag fitted with an open star tip. Decorate each cooled cookie with frosting, then top with a heart-shaped sprinkle.

Step 10: Allow the frosted cookies to air dry for a few hours. The frosting will crust on the outside but stay soft inside, so handle gently to avoid indentations.

Tips & Variations

For the best cookies, measure flour using a kitchen scale or the spoon-and-level method to avoid dry, dense results.

Refrigerate dough to improve flavor and make shaping easier.

Add peppermint extract to frosting for a festive minty twist.

Use gel food coloring to keep frosting smooth and vibrant without thinning it out.

Substitute heart sprinkles with red sugar crystals or edible glitter for different festive looks.

Storage

Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Adding a slice of bread to the container helps maintain moisture—replace the bread as it dries out. Cookie dough may be refrigerated for 2-3 days or frozen up to 3 months. Frosted cookies are best eaten within a few days since frosting texture may change over time.

FAQs

How do I measure flour properly without a kitchen scale?

Scoop the flour lightly into a measuring cup using a spoon, then level it off with a knife. Avoid scooping directly with the measuring cup to prevent compacting the flour, which can lead to dry, dense cookies.