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Easy Grinch Cookies with Red Hot Hearts – Best Holiday Treat

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Soft, chewy Grinch-green sugar cookies with a cinnamon red hot heart pressed into the center. A quick and easy holiday treat that’s perfect for cookie swaps, parties, and winning over even the biggest Grinch.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 oz (56g) cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon green gel food coloring (or more as needed)
  • About 48 red hot candies

Instructions

  1. In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and cream cheese together on medium speed until smooth and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides halfway through.
  2. Add the granulated sugar and beat on medium-high for another 2 minutes until light and fluffy.
  3. Add the egg and vanilla extract, beating on low until just combined. Do not overmix.
  4. Add the green gel food coloring and beat on low until evenly distributed. The color should be slightly darker than desired as it will fade during baking.
  5. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  6. Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, beating on low speed until just combined. A few streaks of flour are fine.
  7. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and flatten into a disk. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (1 hour is better).
  8. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  9. Using a 1.5-tablespoon cookie scoop, portion the dough into balls and roll smooth. Place 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets.
  10. Bake one sheet at a time for 8 minutes. Cookies should look puffed and slightly cracked on top, not browned.
  11. Immediately after removing from the oven, gently press one red hot candy into the center of each cookie.
  12. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

Chilling the dough is essential to prevent spreading. Use gel food coloring for best color without adding moisture. Press red hots in immediately after baking, not before, to keep them intact. For dairy-free, use vegan butter and dairy-free cream cheese. For gluten-free, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend with xanthan gum.

Nutrition

Keywords: Grinch cookies, Christmas cookies, red hot cookies, holiday cookies, easy cookies, green cookies, cinnamon cookies

Find it online: https://freshforkful.com/easy-grinch-cookies-with-red-hot-hearts-best-holiday-treat/