better homes and gardens rolled sugar cookie recipe

Published: Nov 12, 2021 · Modified: Nov 12, 2021 by

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These soft, chewy Grinch Sugar Cookies are colored green for the holidays, rolled in sugar, and decorated with a red heart. They are so simple to make; no chilling, rolling, or cutting required!

A plate filled with crinkly green sugar cookies with a small red heart in the center.

I admit it, I am getting lazy as I get older! I love sugar cookies, but the thought of chilling and rolling them out feels daunting. Then you have to bake them and let them cool so you can frost them. I have to really be in the mood to make cut-out cookies!!

We get to skip all of those extra steps and get straight to the eating with these scoop and bake cookies!

Looking down on 18 Grinch Sugar Cookies on a wire cooling rack with more on a plate in the background.

What you will need:

Butter, sugar, flavorings, egg, flour, gel coloring, baking powder, soda, and sea salt in bowls.

Unsalted Butter - You will need to use real butter. Margarine contains water which messes with the texture and flavor. If using salted butter, omit the sea salt in the recipe.
Granulated Sugar - adds sweetness and soft texture.
Egg - binds the ingredients together and needs to be room temperature for best results.
Pure Vanilla Extract and Peppermint Extract flavor the cookies and add a Christmasy touch. Substitute almond for the peppermint if you prefer.
Electric Green Gel Coloring adds color without thinning out the dough. I added one drop of Forrest Green to give more depth to the color and really like the results.
All-purpose Flour, baking powder, baking soda, and sea salt are the dry ingredients.
Jumbo Red Heart "candies" are pretty much required for any Grinch recipe!

How to make Grinch Sugar Cookies:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

Beat butter and sugar together with a hand mixer in a large bowl until light and creamy.

Butter and sugar beaten in a large glass bowl.

Add egg and extracts, mix until smooth.

Creamed butter and sugar with vanilla extract and an egg in a large bowl.

Add 5 drops of Electric Green gel coloring and 1 drop of Forrest Green. Mix to combine.

Butter mixture tinted green in a large bowl.

Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and sea salt. Mix together just until combined.

Flour, baking powder and soda added to the green butter mixture in a large glass bowl.

Use a cookie scoop to portion dough into 1-inch balls.

Green cookie dough mixed in a large bowl with a cookie scoop filled with dough in the bottom left corner.

Roll each cookie in a bowl of granulated sugar.

A green cookie dough ball in a bowl of granulated sugar.

Place dough balls on a prepared cookie tray 2-inches apart, and lightly press a red heart into the center just enough to make it stick.

Twelve sugar coated green cookie balls on a parchment lined baking sheet.

Bake for 10 minutes, until cookies are set, edges are firm and a light golden brown.

Remove from oven and transfer to a wire cooling rack.

Looking down on a plate full of Grinch Sugar Cookies with three cookies on the marble surface and a bottle of milk in the upper right hand corner.

Allow to cool completely before serving.

A broken Grinch Sugar Cookie sitting on a second cookie in front of a bottle of milk and a stack of 4 cookies.

Recipe Notes & Tips:

You can also roll the cookie dough in powdered sugar or colored sugars if you prefer.
I like the added texture of these cookies without rolling them perfectly smooth in the palm of your hands, like you would with Russian Teacakes. You can make these cookies either way, but for a rough, crinkly look just scoop the dough and roll them in sugar.
Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 days for best flavor.
Cookies can be frozen for up to 1 month in an airtight container or zipper top freezer bag.

Large Mixing Bowl
Hand Mixer
Measuring Cups and Measuring Spoons
Silicone Spatula
Baking Sheets
Jumbo Red Hearts
Cooling Racks
Cookie Scoop
Parchment Paper Sheets
Electric Green Gel Coloring & Forest Green Gel Coloring

You can see the rest of my favorite kitchen tools and gadgets here in my Amazon Affiliate Page. I earn a small commission when you purchase through my links, at no cost to you, so I can keep bringing you more delicious recipes!

More Fun Grinch Recipes:

The Original Grinch Snowball Cookies
Grinch Rice Krispie Treats Recipe
Grinch Puppy Chow
Grinch Popcorn
Naughty or Nice Grinch Hot Chocolate
Grinch Hot Chocolate Bombs
Grinch Martini
Grinch Punch with Alcohol or Not
Grinch Spoon Fudge in a Jar

If you love this recipe, please rate it five stars and help me share on facebook and to help other readers in our community!

Enjoy!!

A plate filled with crinkly green sugar cookies with a small red heart in the center.

1 cup unsalted butter softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg at room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
0.5 teaspoon peppermint extract
5 drops electric green gel food color
1 drop forest green gel food color
2.5 cups all-purpose flour
0.5 teaspoon baking powder
0.5 teaspoon baking soda
.25 teaspoon fine sea salt
jumbo red hearts

Topping

0.5 cup granulated sugar for rolling the cookie dough balls

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
Beat butter and sugar together with a hand mixer in a large bowl until light and creamy.
Add egg and extracts, mix until smooth. Add 5 drops of Electric Green gel coloring and 1 drop of Forrest Green. Mix to combine.
Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and sea salt. Mix together just until combined.
Use a cookie scoop to portion (1 tablespoons) dough into 1-inch balls.
Roll each cookie in a bowl of granulated sugar.
Place dough balls on a prepared cookie tray 2-inches apart, and lightly press a red heart into the center just enough to make it stick.
Bake for 10 minutes, until cookies are set, edges are firm and a light golden brown.
Remove from oven and transfer to a wire cooling rack. Allow to cool completely before serving.

You can also roll the cookie dough in powdered sugar or colored sugars if you prefer.
I like the added texture of these cookies without rolling them perfectly smooth in the palm of your hands, like you would with Russian Teacakes. You can make these cookies either way, but for a rough, crinkly look just scoop the dough and roll them in sugar.
Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 days for best flavor.
Cookies can be frozen for up to 1 month in an airtight container or zipper top freezer bag.
This recipe makes 56) 2-inch cookies.

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