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Home » Desserts

EASY GRINCH CAKE MIX COOKIES RECIPE

Updated: May 3, 2026 · Published: Jun 11, 2025 by Sana Umer · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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This Easy Grinch Cake Mix Cookies recipe is a festive and fun treat perfect for holiday celebrations. The bright green color and sweet flavor bring a cheerful vibe to any cookie plate. Plus, they are a creative way to celebrate the season.

These cookies are soft and chewy, with a delightful texture that everyone will enjoy. Using cake mix makes it quick and simple, so you can whip up a batch even on busy days. No complicated steps or ingredients are needed—just mix, scoop, and bake!

Perfect for kids and adults alike, they capture the joyful spirit of the season with their whimsical look and tasty bite. You can easily customize the recipe by adding festive sprinkles or white chocolate chips for extra flair.

Whether you’re making them for a Christmas party, school event, or just a fun snack, these cookies are sure to be a crowd-pleaser. They also make a great homemade gift when wrapped with holiday ribbon.

The cookies stay soft for several days when stored properly, making them ideal for gifting or preparing ahead of time for holiday celebrations. These Easy Grinch Cake Mix Cookies will definitely become a festive favourite.

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THIS RECIPE

  • Quick and Simple: Uses boxed cake mix to create festive cookies with minimal effort and time, perfect for last-minute holiday baking.

  • Festive and Colorful: Bright green dough and red and white decorations bring fun holiday cheer to any cookie platter or party table.

  • Soft and Chewy Texture: Produces moist, tender cookies that stay soft for days, satisfying both kids’ and adults’ cookie cravings.

  • Beginner Friendly: No complex steps or special skills required, so even novice bakers can create impressive holiday treats easily.

  • Customizable Flavors: Swap cake mix types like lemon or vanilla to create new flavour twists that suit your taste preferences.

  • Great for Decorating: Perfect base for adding sprinkles, frosting, or candy accents to personalize cookies for any holiday event.

  • Ideal for Gifting: Makes a colourful and tasty homemade gift that friends and family will appreciate during the holiday season.

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 box white cake mix
  • 2 large eggs
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Green food coloring (gel or liquid)
  • ½ cup white chocolate chips (optional)
  • Festive sprinkles (optional)

DIRECTIONS

  • Step No.1: Preheat oven and prepare baking sheets
    Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.

  • Step No.2: Mix wet ingredients
    In a large bowl, beat eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract until well combined.

  • Step No.3: Add cake mix and food coloring
    Gradually add cake mix to the wet ingredients and stir until fully combined. Add green food coloring until desired color is reached.

  • Step No.4: Optional add-ins
    Fold in white chocolate chips and/or sprinkles if using.

  • Step No.5: Scoop cookies
    Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to drop dough balls onto prepared baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart.

  • Step No.6: Bake cookies
    Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are set and centers look slightly soft.

  • Step No.7: Cool cookies
    Allow cookies to cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

  • Use fresh cake mix: For best results, use a freshly opened cake mix to ensure proper texture and rise.

  • Don’t overbake cookies: Remove them as soon as edges set to keep cookies soft and chewy inside.

  • Chill dough if sticky: If dough feels too sticky, chill for 30 minutes before shaping for easier handling.

  • Decorate when cool: Always decorate after cookies have fully cooled to prevent melting or running icing.

  • Use parchment paper: Prevents cookies from sticking and helps with even baking and easy cleanup.

  • Experiment with colors: Try different food coloring if you want variations on the Grinch theme or other holiday colors.

  • Store in airtight container: Keeps cookies fresh and soft for several days when stored properly at room temperature.

VARIATIONS

  • Use lemon or funfetti cake mix: Try other cake mix flavors for a different taste and colorful cookie base.

  • Add chocolate chips: Mix mini chocolate chips into dough for a sweet surprise in every bite.

  • Make sandwich cookies: Spread cream cheese or frosting between two cookies for a festive sandwich treat.

  • Use different icing styles: Decorate with royal icing, buttercream, or melted chocolate for varied textures and looks.

  • Add peppermint extract: Substitute vanilla extract with peppermint for a cool, minty holiday flavour.

  • Shape as Grinch faces: Use cookie cutters or shape dough into faces for more detailed festive cookies.

  • Sprinkle with colored sugar: Add green or red colored sugar on top before baking for extra sparkle and texture.

SERVING AND STORAGE

Serving

Serve these soft cookies with milk or hot cocoa for a festive treat.

Storage

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

FAQ

Q: Can I make dough ahead of time?

Yes, refrigerate dough for up to 24 hours before baking.

Q: Can I freeze the cookies?

Yes, freeze baked cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

Q: What if I don’t have green food coloring?

You can skip it, but the festive green look will be missing.

Q: Can I use other cake mix flavors?

Yes, vanilla or funfetti cake mixes work well with this recipe.

Q: How do I make cookies less soft?

Bake a minute or two longer until edges are golden and set.

This Easy Grinch Cake Mix Cookies recipe offers a simple, festive way to add holiday cheer to your kitchen.

With minimal ingredients and quick preparation, it’s ideal for bakers of all skill levels.

The soft, chewy texture and bright green color make these cookies fun to eat and share.

Customize them with your favorite toppings or shape them into creative forms.

Whether for gifts, parties, or family treats, these cookies bring joyful flavor and festive spirit with every bite.

Enjoy making sweet memories with this easy holiday recipe!

EASY GRINCH CAKE MIX COOKIES RECIPE

Sana Umer
These easy Grinch cake mix cookies are soft, chewy, and bright green with a red heart candy on top. Perfect for Christmas parties, movie nights, or festive cookie trays with kids!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 20 minutes mins
Course Homemade Dog Snacks
Cuisine American
Servings 24 cookies
Calories 130 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 box 15.25 oz white cake mix
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • Green gel food colouring
  • Red heart sprinkles or candies
  • Powdered sugar for rolling, optional

Instructions
 

Preheat Oven:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Make the Dough:

  • In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix, oil, and eggs until smooth. Add green food colouring until you get a bright Grinchy green.

Shape the Cookies:

  • Scoop tablespoon-sized dough balls and roll them between your hands. Roll in powdered sugar if desired. Place on the baking sheet 2 inches apart.

Add the Heart:

  • Gently press a red heart sprinkle or candy into the centre of each cookie before baking.

Bake:

  • Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until edges are set. Let cool on the pan for 2 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.

Notes

Make Ahead: Dough can be prepared and chilled for up to 2 days in advance.
Customising the Flavour: Use a vanilla or lemon cake mix for a flavour twist. Add peppermint extract for a festive touch.
Serving Suggestions: Perfect for holiday cookie exchanges, school treats, or watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Allergy-Friendly Options: Use an egg replacer and dairy-free cake mix for a vegan version.
Storage Tips: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Freeze for up to 1 month.
Keyword cake mix cookies, easy Christmas cookies, green cookies, Grinch cookies

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About Sana Umer

I'm Sana Umer — the home cook behind every recipe on For Foodie Friends. I'm a Pakistani-American mom of two based in the US, and I've been cooking seriously for about a decade now, mostly because feeding a family every day is the fastest way to learn how to actually cook.

I'm completely self-taught. I learned by watching my mother in Pakistan, by burning a lot of food in my early years, and by paying attention to which recipes worked and which ones needed fixing. I don't specialize in just one cuisine — I cook the Pakistani dishes I grew up with, the American desserts my kids request, weeknight dinners, holiday roasts, and everything in between.

Every recipe is personally tested in my own kitchen, every word is written by me, and every photo is taken of food I actually made.

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Hi, I'm Sana Umer — the home cook, recipe tester, and writer behind For Foodie Friends.

I'm a Pakistani-American mom based in the US. I learned to cook in two kitchens — my mother's in Pakistan, where I grew up watching whole spices bloom in oil, and my own kitchen now, where I cook for my husband and kids.

Every recipe on this site has been tested in my own kitchen, often more times than I'd like to admit, before it ever made it here. I cook a little bit of everything: the Pakistani comfort food I grew up with, the American desserts my kids beg for, weeknight dinners that need to come together fast, and the holiday spreads that take all day.

If a recipe is on this site, it earned its place. No ghostwriters, no AI shortcuts, no copy-paste from somewhere else — just real recipes from a real kitchen, written to actually work the first time you make them.

Welcome to my corner of the internet.

— Sana

More about me →

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