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Festive Grinch Cookies with Red Hot Hearts: Easy Holiday Treat

Festive Grinch Cookies with Red Hot Hearts - featured image
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These festive Grinch cookies with red hot hearts are soft, buttery sugar cookies with a pop of cinnamon heat from a red hot candy pressed into the center. Perfect for holiday baking, they’re quick, easy, and guaranteed to bring a smile to any Grinch’s face.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups 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
  • Powdered sugar (optional, for dusting)

Instructions

  1. Cream the butter and cream cheese. 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 once.
  2. Add the sugar. Gradually add the granulated sugar and beat on medium-high for another 2 minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy.
  3. Incorporate the egg and vanilla. Add the egg and vanilla extract, then beat on low until just combined. Scrape the bowl again.
  4. Add the food coloring. Squeeze in about 1/2 teaspoon of green gel food coloring. Beat on low until the color is evenly distributed. Add more if needed.
  5. Mix the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  6. Combine wet and dry. Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed. Stop as soon as the flour disappears.
  7. Chill the dough. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  8. Preheat and prepare. While the dough chills, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
  9. Scoop and shape. Use a cookie scoop to portion out rounded tablespoons of dough. Roll each one into a smooth ball between your palms. Place them about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
  10. Add the heart. Gently press one red hot candy into the center of each dough ball, pushing it down until it’s just slightly below the surface.
  11. Bake. Bake one sheet at a time for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are set and just barely starting to turn golden. The centers will look slightly underdone.
  12. Cool properly. Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Notes

Don’t skip the chill time—it prevents spreading. Watch the red hots carefully as different brands melt at different rates. Rotate baking sheets halfway through for even browning. Use a light hand with gel food coloring; start small and add more as needed. Test one cookie first if unsure about your oven.

Nutrition

Keywords: Grinch cookies, Christmas cookies, holiday cookies, sugar cookies, red hot cookies, green cookies, easy holiday treat, cookie exchange

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