You don't need a specialty cookie cutter or fancy decorating skills to make these adorable baby Grinch cookies! This grumpy little guy starts as a plain circle and uses mini m&m's to create the face!
The easiest character cookie
The Grinch is the most forgiving cookie on the entire tray of 12 easy circle Christmas cookies. The "fuzzy" texture hides every flaw, so it doesn't matter if your piping isn't perfect.
Here's why I love them:
- One cutter: a plain circle (or the rim of a glass).
- Buttercream, not royal icing: soft, fluffy, and way more forgiving than royal icing!
- Messy is the look: uneven fur just makes him look more Grinchy.
- Kid-friendly: pressing on the candy face is the perfect job for little helpers.
- Giftable: once the frosting crusts over, bag them up for neighbors and teachers.
what you need
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
- Cut-out sugar cookies: my cut-out sugar cookie dough holds its shape, so your circles stay nice and round. Store-bought sugar cookie dough works too.
- Buttercream frosting: my Christmas cookie frosting is fluffy, pipes well, and crusts over so you can stack the cookies once it sets.
- Green gel food coloring: gel gives a bold Grinch green without thinning the frosting.
- Candies: use mini brown m&m's for the eyes and red ones for cheeks. Mini chocolate chips also work for the dark details.
- Round piping tip or snipped piping bag: You can use a round #5 piping tip, a small star tip, or even just snip the corner off a piping bag.
How to Make Grinch Cookies
Bake a batch of circle cookies, tint your frosting green, then pipe and decorate!
Bake the circle cookies
Make my cut-out sugar cookies, roll the dough ⅜ to ½ inch thick, and cut circles with a 2.5-inch cutter or the rim of a glass. Bake at 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes, until set but not brown.
Let them cool completely before decorating.
Make the green frosting
Make the buttercream and tint it a bright Grinch green with food coloring. Fill a piping bag fitted with a small round tip.
Pipe the fur
Pipe short tufts around the edge of the cookie, then work your way in until the whole cookie is fuzzy.
Add the face
Press on two dark candies for eyes and red candies for the cheeks, then pipe a couple of grumpy green eyebrows and a little tuft of fur on top of his head.
How Long Do Decorated Sugar Cookies Last?
Once the buttercream crusts over, store the cookies in a single layer in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 to 3 days. You can freeze the undecorated cookies for later and decorate after they thaw.
melissa's tips
Tips & Variations
- Press candies in while the frosting is soft: Once it crusts, they won't stick as well.
- No piping tip? Just snip the corner off a piping bag!
- Add a heart: Press a small red heart sprinkle on one cookie for a Grinch whose heart grew three sizes.
- Make a whole set: Pair these with my elf cookies and penguin cookies for a full character tray.
Frequently Asked Questions
Nope! It's a plain circle. Use a 2.5-inch round cutter or the rim of a drinking glass.
Of course! Store-bought sugar cookie dough and a tub of vanilla frosting tinted green both work.
The buttercream will develop a crust after a few hours but I'd still not recommend stacking these unless you're okay with them potentially smudging a bit.
Looking for more Christmas cookies?
Easy Grinch Christmas Cookies
Ingredients
Tools
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Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉. To prep for rolling, lay a piece of parchment on the counter and sprinkle with about 1 teaspoon of flour.
- In a large bowl, cream together the ¾ cup unsalted butter and ¾ cup granulated sugaron medium speed for 20-30 seconds.
- While the mixer is still on medium speed, add in the 1 large egg, 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract, and ½ teaspoon almond extract.
- Once mixed, add in the 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt, and 2 cups all-purpose flour half-cup at a time on low speed.
- Once mixture is combined and all the flour disappears, transfer dough to the floured parchment paper. Press into a large ball, knead for 5-10 seconds until smooth, then press into a 2" thick disc. Use a rolling pin to roll dough ⅜" to ½" thick.
- Cut out circles with a 2.5" circle cookie cutter (you can also use a wine glass or cup!) and transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake at 350℉ for 8-10 minutes. Do not overbake; remove them from the oven before seeing any brown on the edges.
- Let them rest on the hot pan for 10-15 minutes to finish baking before removing from the pan. Cool completely before decorating.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the softened 1 cup unsalted butter, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 - 1 ½ teaspoon(s) almond extract, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Cream together on medium speed for 30 seconds, or until blended together.
- On medium/low speed begin adding in 3 cups powdered sugar half-cup at a time until all is incorporated.
- Turn mixer to high speed, and beat for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy. Divide into bowls and tint with gel food coloring.
- Tint the buttercream green and fill a piping bag fitted with a #5 round tip.
- Pipe short tufts from the edge of the cookie inward until it's completely covered.
- Press on dark candy eyes and red candy cheeks, then pipe green eyebrows and a tuft of hair on top.
- Let the frosting crust over before packaging. Store in an airtight container for 2-3 days.
