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Grinch Snowball Cookies
Grinch snowball cookies are melt-in-your-mouth delicious with a delightfully grinchy green and a sweet candy heart on top that is sure to get you in the holiday spirit.
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Grinch snowball cookies are soft, fluffy, and coated in a delicious layer of icing sugar. These treats are just like classic snowball cookies but with an added grinchy twist. The festive green color with a sweet candy heart on top is sure to get you into the holiday spirit.
Looking for more Grinch inspired recipes to bring some Christmas time cheer your way? All the little Whos down in Whoville will also love these Grinch Cookies, Grinch Drink, and Grinch Cocktail.
Grinch Snowball Cookies Ingredients
You will need:
- 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted and divided
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1½ teaspoons clear vanilla extract
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon liquid green food coloring, (10 to 12 drops) I used McCormick brand
- 1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
- large red heart sprinkles, for garnish
Substitutions and Additions
FOOD COLORING: I used a liquid food color for this Grinch cookie recipe. If you are using gel food coloring, you will need to start with 2-3 drops and add more gel color to achieve your desired color dough. You will need to note that gel food colors are much more concentrated than liquid ones.
VANILLA EXTRACT: I used clear vanilla extract (also known as clear vanilla flavoring) in this easy recipe because I find that the tint of the cookies stays true when using the clear extract. You can certainly use a standard vanilla extract in this recipe, and it will still be delicious. You may need to add an extra drop or two of the green liquid food coloring to the dough to mask the slight tan color that the darker vanilla extracts can cause.
CHOCOLATE CHIPS: If you do not want the mini semi-sweet chocolate chips in these Grinch snowball cookies, then you can swap them out with chopped walnuts for a more traditional snowball cookie flavor. Both are delicious options.
How to Make Grinch Snowball Cookies
PRO TIP: For your softened butter in this recipe, you will want to make sure that it is just at room temperature and not overly soft. You should be able to press your finger into the top of the butter and leave a slight impression, but NOT be able to press your finger all the way through the butter. If your butter is too soft, your cookies will spread too much when baking, and you will not get the desired results for the recipe.
STEP ONE: Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set aside.
STEP TWO: Place 2 cups of the sifted powdered sugar in a bowl and set aside.
STEP THREE: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the unsalted butter and 1 cup of the powdered sugar on medium-low speed for 1 to 2 minutes or until light and fluffy.
STEP FOUR: Add the vanilla extract and beat for an additional 30 seconds until completely incorporated.
STEP FIVE: Whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, and salt in a medium bowl.
STEP SIX: While your mixer is on low, spoon the flour mixture slowly into the mixing bowl. You will want to allow the flour to be incorporated after each addition before adding more to the mixing bowl.
STEP SEVEN: Once all your flour mixture has been added, increase the mixer speed to medium and beat the dough for an additional 30 to 45 seconds to ensure that all the ingredients are fully incorporated and that your dough is light and fluffy.
STEP EIGHT: Add the green liquid food coloring and beat on low until your cookie dough is uniform in color. You can add a couple of extra drops if you want a darker green color for your dough.
STEP NINE: Lastly, you will mix in the mini semi-sweet chocolate chips just until all the chips are fully incorporated.
STEP TEN: Using a one tablespoon scoop, scoop out the dough and roll them into balls in the palm of your hand.
STEP ELEVEN: Place the rolled cookie dough balls onto the prepared cookie sheets and refrigerate the dough balls for 15 minutes.
PRO TIP: Chilling the dough balls before baking will help minimize any spreading of the cookies so that they keep that nice rounded shape.
STEP TWELVE: Preheat your oven to 350°F.
STEP THIRTEEN: Bake for 12 minutes. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes.
PRO TIP: Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to keep a close eye on your cookies as the suggested baking time approaches.
STEP FOURTEEN: Roll each slightly warm cookie gently in the reserved bowl of powdered sugar. Place the coated cookies back on the cookie sheet to continue to cool completely. Once the cookies have cooled completely for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, you will roll each cookie in the powdered sugar for a second coating.
STEP FIFTEEN: Place a large heart candy onto the top of each powdered sugar-coated Grinch snowball cookie.
How to Serve Grinch Snowball Cookies
These Grinch snowball cookies are the new festive winter treat to love. Adorable Grinch cookies will make the perfect addition to any cookie exchange or holiday cookie tray. The soft sweetness of these treats pairs especially well with a cup of hot chocolate, a glass of chilled eggnog, or a whimsical Grinch inspired drink.
Storage
ON THE COUNTER: You can store your Grinch snowball cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
IN THE FREEZER: You can freeze the cookie dough balls in a freezer-safe zip-top bag for up to 2 months. Label the temperature and baking time right on the bag so that you have the instructions easily accessible. You can bake your cookies from frozen; however, you will need to add an additional 3 to 5 minutes to your baking time if baking from frozen.
Grinch snowball cookies are melt-in-your-mouth delicious! These treats start with an incredibly buttery and crumbly cookie base, covered in a delectable powdered sugar coating, and are bursting with decadent chocolate chips the minute you take a bite. Soft, delicious, and full of festive flavor, these Grinch snowball cookies are sure to get you in the holiday spirit.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I have to chill the dough before baking the cookies?
It’s best not to skip the chilling step as it will help give you a more rounded snowball cookie.
Why is my dough crumbly?
If you didn’t measure your flour precisely, you might end up with dry, crumbly cookies. Make sure when you measure the flour, you level it off in the measuring cup.
Can I freeze the cookie dough and bake these cookies later?
The unbaked dough can be frozen for up to two months before you bake and enjoy these delicious cookies.
MORE RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE
Grinch Snowball Cookies
Grinch snowball cookies are melt-in-your-mouth delicious with a delightfully grinchy green and a sweet candy heart on top that is sure to get you in the holiday spirit.
Ingredients
- 3 cups powdered sugar sifted and divided
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1½ teaspoons clear vanilla extract
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon liquid green food coloring (10 to 12 drops) I used McCormick brand
- 1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
- large red heart sprinkles for garnish
Instructions
- Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set aside.
- Place 2 cups of the sifted powdered sugar in a bowl and set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the unsalted butter and 1 cup of the powdered sugar on medium-low speed for 1 to 2 minutes or until light and fluffy.
- Add the vanilla extract and beat for an additional 30 seconds until completely incorporated.
- Whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, and salt in a medium bowl.
- While your mixer is on low, spoon the flour mixture slowly into the mixing bowl. You will want to allow the flour to be incorporated after each addition before adding more to the mixing bowl.
- Once all your flour mixture has been added, increase the mixer speed to medium and beat the dough for an additional 30 to 45 seconds to ensure that all the ingredients are fully incorporated and that your dough is light and fluffy.
- Add the green liquid food coloring and beat on low until your cookie dough is uniform in color. You can add a couple of extra drops if you want a darker green color for your dough.
- Lastly, you will mix in the mini semi-sweet chocolate chips just until all the chips are fully incorporated.
- Using a one tablespoon scoop, scoop out the dough and roll them into balls in the palm of your hand.
- Place the rolled cookie dough balls onto the prepared cookie sheets and refrigerate the dough balls for 15 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Bake for 12 minutes. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes.
- Roll each slightly warm cookie gently in the reserved bowl of powdered sugar. Place the coated cookies back on the cookie sheet to continue to cool completely. Once the cookies have cooled completely for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, you will roll each cookie in the powdered sugar for a second coating.
- Place a large heart candy onto the top of each powdered sugar-coated Grinch snowball cookie.
Notes
For your softened butter in this recipe, you will want to make sure that it is just at room temperature and not overly soft. You should be able to press your finger into the top of the butter and leave a slight impression, but NOT be able to press your finger all the way through the butter. If your butter is too soft, your cookies will spread too much when baking, and you will not get the desired results for the recipe.
Chilling the dough balls before baking will help minimize any spreading of the cookies so that they keep that nice rounded shape.
Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to keep a close eye on your cookies as the suggested baking time approaches.
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