Description
These soft, pillowy sugar cookies are tinted Grinch-green and topped with a single red heart sprinkle, making them a fun and festive holiday treat. Born from a happy accident, they feature a crackled powdered sugar coating and a tender, cake-like crumb.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups (240g) cake flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- Green gel food coloring (e.g., Americolor Leaf Green or Electric Green)
- 1/2 cup (60g) powdered sugar, for rolling
- About 50 red heart sprinkles (e.g., Wilton brand)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together on medium speed until light, pale, and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl once or twice.
- Add the room-temperature egg and vanilla extract. Beat on low until just combined. Scrape the bowl again.
- Add a few drops of green gel food coloring. Beat on low until the color is evenly distributed. Start with 4-5 drops and add more for a deeper green; the color will lighten slightly during baking.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the cake flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed just until the flour disappears. Do not overmix. The dough will be very soft and slightly sticky.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the dough for at least 30 minutes (up to 2 hours). This is crucial for the crackled look.
- Place the 1/2 cup of powdered sugar in a small, shallow bowl. Using a cookie scoop or spoon, scoop out rounded tablespoons of dough (about 1.5 tablespoons each). Roll each portion into a smooth ball, then roll it in the powdered sugar until completely coated.
- Place the sugar-coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until puffed and cracked, with lightly golden bottoms. The centers will look soft and slightly underdone.
- Immediately after removing from the oven, gently press one red heart sprinkle into the center of each cookie.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
Notes
Do not skip chilling the dough; it prevents spreading and creates the crackled top. Use gel food coloring instead of liquid to avoid thinning the dough. For a gluten-free version, use a high-quality 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour blend. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Freeze baked cookies for up to 3 months or unbaked dough balls (without powdered sugar) for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 11
- Sodium: 75
- Fat: 7
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 19
- Protein: 1.5
Keywords: Grinch cookies, Christmas cookies, sugar cookies, green cookies, heart sprinkles, holiday baking, easy cookies