Description
These festive Grinch Cookies are soft, colorful sugar cookies swirled with bright green food coloring and studded with red and green M&Ms, making them perfect for holiday celebrations. The combination of luscious butter, sweet sugar, and festive candies creates a delightful treat that is sure to be a hit at any Christmas gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 2/3 cup sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 6 drops bright green food coloring (add more for a greener hue)
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon corn starch
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
Decoration
- 1 1/2 cup red and green M&Ms, plus an additional 1/2 cup for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 350° Fahrenheit. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Mix Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, combine the softened butter and sugar. Use an electric mixer to beat the mixture on medium speed until it becomes well-combined, light, and fluffy, which should take about 1 minute.
- Add Eggs: Crack the eggs into the bowl, adding them one at a time. Beat well after each addition to ensure they are fully incorporated into the mixture.
- Add Vanilla and Food Coloring: Stir in the vanilla extract and the bright green food coloring. Mix until the color is evenly distributed throughout the batter.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to ensure they are evenly mixed.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Set your mixer to low speed and gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Mix until the dough is well combined and smooth.
- Fold in M&Ms: Gently fold in 1 1/2 cups of red and green M&Ms, retaining a small amount to press on top of the cookies later if desired.
- Form Cookies: Using a cookie scoop or your hands, drop heaping 1 1/2 tablespoon-sized scoops of dough onto the prepared cookie sheet. For a smoother, rounder shape, roll the dough between your palms into balls.
- Bake: Place the cookie sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 11-13 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. While the cookies are still warm, gently press reserved M&Ms onto the tops to decorate.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool completely on the cookie sheet before transferring them to a wire rack or serving plate. This helps them set and prevents breakage.
Notes
- For a greener cookie dough, add more drops of green food coloring gradually until your desired shade is reached.
- Do not overmix the dough once the dry ingredients are added, to avoid tough cookies.
- Using parchment paper prevents cookies from sticking and makes cleanup easier.
- Ensure butter is softened to room temperature for easier mixing and a better texture.
- You can substitute M&Ms with other festive candies if preferred.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 140mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
