Description

Brighten your holiday celebrations with these festive Grinch Cookies. Featuring a vibrant green color and a sweet, lime-infused flavor, these cookies are quick to prepare, family-friendly, and perfect for holiday parties or cozy nights in. Customize with vegan or gluten-free options and enjoy a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture accented with cheerful red decorations.

Ingredients

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Main Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon lime zest
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free blend for gluten-free option)
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
Green food coloring, as needed

Optional Decorations and Variations

Sprinkles or red candy decorations (such as red heart-shaped candies or mini Santa hats made from red icing)
For vegan version: substitute butter with coconut oil and egg with flaxseed or chia seed egg
Optional peppermint extract (1 teaspoon) for mint flavor
Optional lemon zest (1 teaspoon) for extra citrus boost
Optional dark chocolate for drizzling

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Instructions

Prepare Your Ingredients: Gather all ingredients. Make sure the butter is softened for easy mixing. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, creating a tender cookie base.
Add Egg, Vanilla, Lime Zest, and Juice: Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, lime zest, and lime juice until fully incorporated for a fragrant, moist dough.
Mix Dry Ingredients Separately: In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute leavening agents and seasoning.
Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry mix to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined to keep the dough tender without overmixing.
Add Green Food Coloring: Stir in green food coloring drop by drop until the dough reaches a bright, festive green shade reminiscent of the Grinch.
Scoop and Shape Cookies: Use a cookie scoop or spoon to form uniform balls of dough. Place them evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet and gently flatten each slightly with fingers or a glass bottom.
Bake and Cool: Bake for 10–12 minutes until the edges begin to turn golden but centers remain soft. Let cookies cool on the sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

Soft Butter Is Key: Ensures smooth mixing and tender texture.
Do Not Overmix: Prevents dense cookies by avoiding gluten overdevelopment.
Color Gradually: Add green coloring slowly to maintain a natural look.
Chill Dough: Optional 30-minute chilling prevents spreading during baking.
Use Fresh Lime Zest: For best flavor, avoid bottled extracts.
Watch Baking Time: Slight underbaking yields chewy centers.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cookie
Calories: 120
Sugar: 8g
Sodium: 60mg
Fat: 6g
Saturated Fat: 3.5g
Unsaturated Fat: 2g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 15g
Fiber: 0.5g
Protein: 1g
Cholesterol: 20mg