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Grinch Sugar Cookies

Grinch sugar cookies are soft-centered green cookies baked with set edges and finished with a red heart-shaped sprinkle. Chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking to help the cookies hold their shape.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 11 minutes
Chilling 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 1 minute
Servings: 30 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 180
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1.5 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 egg large, at room temperature
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 0.25 tsp green gel food coloring
  • 2.75 cups all-purpose flour spooned and leveled
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 0.5 tsp baking soda
  • 0.5 tsp kosher salt
  • 30 red heart-shaped sprinkles

Equipment

  • 2 baking sheets
  • 1 electric mixer

Method
 

  1. Heat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  3. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
  4. Beat in the egg, vanilla, and green gel food coloring until evenly combined.
  5. Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
  6. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix on low just until no dry flour remains.
  7. Cover the dough and chill it for 30 minutes.
  8. Scoop the dough into 30 portions of about 2 tablespoons each and place them 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
  9. Bake both sheets for 9–11 minutes, swapping their rack positions halfway through, until the edges are set and the centers look slightly soft.
  10. Immediately press one red heart-shaped sprinkle into the center of each cookie.
  11. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes.
  12. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack and cool completely.

Notes

For evenly shaped cookies, chill the dough for the full 30 minutes and space portions 2 inches apart. Store airtight at room temperature for up to 5 days; freeze baked cookies for up to 2 months. For a dairy-free variation, use plant-based butter.