Grinch Frosted Sugar Cookies
Fluffy green sugar cookies topped with light green buttercream and a red heart sprinkle. They're perfect for holiday treats nd easy Christmas desserts for parties or gifting.
Ingredients
Sugar Cookie Base
- 2 3/4 cups flour
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 Tbsp sour cream
- 2 tsp vanilla
- green gel food coloring I used dark green for the dough
Frosting and Decoration
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened* See note about frosting
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1-2 Tbsp milk or heavy cream
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- light green gel food coloring to provide contrast from the dough
- large heart sprinkles one per cookie
Instructions
Make Green Sugar Cookies
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the egg and vanilla, then mix in the sour cream.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients until just combined.
- Add several drops of dark green food coloring and mix until the dough is evenly tinted.
- Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. This helps the cookies keep their shape and ensures a fluffy texture. Definitely don't skip this part!
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper
- Scoop the dough into 2-tablespoon portions and roll them into balls. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 9–11 minutes, or until the edges are set but the centers are still soft. Let the cookies cool completely before frosting.
Make the Frosting and Decorate
- Beat the butter until creamy, then gradually add powdered sugar. Mix in the vanilla and about 1 tablespoon of milk.
- If needed, add another tablespoon of milk for a softer consistency.
- Tint frosting with light green food coloring until you reach the perfect Grinchy shade.
- Pipe or spread the frosting generously onto each cookie. I like to pup my frosting in a piping bag with no tip or a plain round tip for an even circular swirl.
- Top with a single red heart sprinkle in the corner to complete the Grinch look.
- Allow the frosting to set before stacking. If stacking, store with a layer of parchment paper between the layers. You can store these up to 2 days at room temperature or 5 days in the fridge.
Notes
*Frosting: The amount of frosting in this recipe will give you enough frosting for around 20 cookies if you use a thin layer of frosting. If you like frosting a lot (like me!) and want a thicker layer, I would 1.5 times or double the frosting