Merry Grinchmas Cookies

Total Time

Prep: 20 min. + chilling Bake: 15 min./batch + cooling

Makes

about 4 dozen

Updated: Dec. 18, 2022
Baking cookies around the holidays is a big deal in our house. Some are a must every year and we also come up with new recipes. This one is simple, delicious and fun to make with the kids!—Angela Lemoine, Howell, New Jersey
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Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
  • 1-1/4 cups sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon green food coloring
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 48 heart-shaped gumdrops

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, beat butter, cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in vanilla, food coloring and eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Refrigerate, covered, 1 hour or until firm enough to shape.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°. Shape dough into 1-1/2-in. balls; roll in confectioners' sugar. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets.
  3. Bake until tops are cracked and edges are set, 12-15 minutes. Immediately press a gumdrop into each cookie. Cool cookies 5 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool.

Test Kitchen Tips
  • These also make adorable Valentine's Day treats: Just tint the cookie dough pink instead of green.
  • Heart-shaped gummies are typically available at candy stores. If you have a hard time finding them, try cutting shapes from Fruit Roll-Ups or fruit leather with a small heart-shaped cookie cutter.
  • If the cookies won't crackle, make sure your oven is fully preheated. That initial blast of heat creates a crust that cracks as the cookies rise.
  • Nutrition Facts

    1 cookie: 112 calories, 4g fat (2g saturated fat), 18mg cholesterol, 67mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.