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Grinch Heart Cookies Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 65 reviews

These festive Grinch Heart Cookies feature a tender green almond-flavored dough with a charming stained glass center made from melted cherry Jolly Rancher candies. Perfect for holiday celebrations, these cookies combine a buttery, soft texture with a beautiful translucent candy heart, creating a whimsical and delicious treat inspired by the Grinch.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Dough

  • 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), room temperature
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
  • 3 cups flour (do not overfill)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Green food coloring, about 10 drops or to desired color

Stained Glass Center

  • Red Jolly Rancher candies (cherry flavor recommended; other flavors can be used for different colors)

Instructions

  1. Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the room temperature unsalted butter and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This creates the base texture for the cookies.
  2. Add Egg and Almond Extract: Beat in the large egg and almond extract until fully combined, which contributes moisture and flavor to the dough.
  3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agent and flavoring.
  4. Incorporate Dry Mix into Wet: Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, mixing slowly until fully combined. The dough may take some time to come together and become cohesive.
  5. Add Green Food Coloring: Mix in green food coloring drops to your preferred shade to give the cookies their signature Grinch-inspired color. Chill the dough until ready to use to make it easier to roll out.
  6. Preheat and Prepare for Baking: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface or between two sheets of parchment paper to your desired thickness.
  7. Cut Out Hearts: Using heart-shaped cookie cutters, cut out larger hearts first. Then, cut a smaller heart shape out of the center of each larger heart. Leave the cut cookies on the parchment paper for easier handling.
  8. Add Stained Glass Centers: Place whole or crushed red cherry Jolly Rancher candies into the cut-out heart center of each cookie. The candy will melt and create a stained glass effect during baking.
  9. Bake the Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 5-6 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the candy is melted.
  10. Cool Completely: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool completely on the cookie sheet. To speed up cooling, you can transfer them to the refrigerator while still on the baking sheet.
  11. Store or Frost: Once cooled, store the cookies separated by layers of parchment paper to prevent sticking, or optionally frost them with green frosting for added decoration.

Notes

  • Do not overfill the flour measuring cup to maintain correct dough texture.
  • Using parchment paper for rolling and cutting helps prevent sticking and makes transferring cookies easier.
  • Crush the Jolly Ranchers slightly for a more even stained glass effect, or use whole candies for distinct centers.
  • Adjust green food coloring to achieve your preferred intensity of color.
  • If you prefer a different stained glass color, substitute cherry Jolly Ranchers with other fruit flavors.
  • Ensure cookies are completely cooled before storing to maintain their crispness and candy centers.

Keywords: Grinch Heart Cookies, Stained Glass Cookies, Holiday Cookies, Almond Cookies, Jolly Rancher Cookies, Christmas Cookies, Green Cookies

Find it online: https://flavorsbymaya.com/grinch-heart-cookies-recipe/