Grinch Stained Glass Cookies

These Grinch Stained Glass Cookies are the perfect holiday sweet treat. The sugar cookies are tinted Grinch green, with a small heart filled with red cherry-flavored candy. They are ideal for Christmas parties, a Whoville movie night, or as a whimsical addition to your cookie tray.

These delightful Grinch Stained Glass Cookies, inspired by the iconic Grinch from Whoville, are simply irresistible! Anything that makes your heart grow with holiday spirit is a must-make. These cookies are a favorite among children and are secretly loved by adults, too. The best part? The recipe is straightforward, making it a perfect activity for kids. They can help crush the candy and fill the Grinch’s cookie heart, adding to the fun of holiday baking!

These easy cookies start with a sugar cookie base. Green food coloring adds the signature Grinch green hue. The dough is chilled before being rolled and cut into heart-shaped cookies. A small heart is then cut in each cookie and filled with crushed cherry candy to help create a stained-glass look when baked. Make these easy cookies for your next Grinch-themed movie night or party.

Be sure to check out my other Dr. Seuss and How the Grinch Stole Christmas recipes. These cookies will pair perfectly with my Grinch White Hot Chocolate. Try my fun Grinch Float. Don’t forget about my easy Grinch Bites!

Ingredients

Unsalted Butter – Set it out to soften so it creams easily and without clumps. Butter adds richness to the cookie dough.
Sugar – Use white granulated. The sugar helps sweeten the cookie dough and adds texture.
Eggs – Help to bind the dough and give it texture.
Vanilla Extract – To flavor the dough
Almond Extract – Adds flavor to the dough and pairs well with the vanilla and cherry flavor of the candy heart.
Flour – Use all-purpose flour to help form the cookie dough.
Neon Green Food Coloring – Use gel food coloring for best results with the cookie dough. You can add more food coloring until you get your desired shade of Grinch green.
Crushed Cherry Jolly Ranchers Candy – Creates the transparent stained-glass heart within the cookie.

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, beat the sugar and butter until light and fluffy using an electric mixer.
2. Next, add in your eggs, vanilla, almond, and green food coloring, and mix until combined.
3. Next, gradually add in 3 ½ cups of flour.
4. Once the dough is combined, wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour, up to overnight.
5. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
6. Roll out the dough to about ¼ inch thick, using the leftover flour to prevent sticking.
7. Use a heart cookie cutter and cut out hearts.
8. Using a smaller heart cutter, cut out a small heart in the big heart.
9. Place the cookies onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
10. Using a little spoon, fill the small hearts with the crushed red candy.
11. Bake at 350 for 12 minutes or until the edges are just golden.
12. Remove from the oven and let cool completely on the pan before removing, or else the red candy might not have cooled and hardened.
13. Serve!

What Are Stained Glass Cookies?

A cookie with a clear section, often filled with candy to create the effect, is called a stained glass cookie. This effect is achieved by cutting a shape out of the middle of the cookie dough and adding crushed hard candy. As it bakes, the candy melts and solidifies when it cools. The result is a see-through, glassy look inside the cookie. The stained glass produces a stunning design that makes the cookies visually appealing.

Stained Glass Variations

For the small stained-glass heart, my recipe calls for crushed red cherry-flavored Jolly Ranchers. However, you can experiment with other candies. Here are a few suggestions:

• Lifesavers – These fruit-flavored candies come in an assortment of flavors and colors, allowing you to try something different from the traditional red color and cherry flavor.
• Candy Canes – Opt for a minty flavor with crushed candy canes. Although they won’t provide a transparent heart, you will get a white, pink, and red color combination when baked.
• Cinnamon Candies – Try red hots for a spicy flavor. These will not become transparent when baked, but will provide a solid red color.

Cookie Flavor Variations

My recipe calls for vanilla and almond extracts in the cookie dough. This classic flavor duo pairs well with the cherry notes of crushed Jolly Rancher candy. However, you can experiment with different flavor profiles if you choose. I suggest keeping the vanilla extract base and omitting the almond extract. You can replace it with one of the following ideas.

• Peppermint Extract – This classic holiday flavor is strong, so use it sparingly, paired with the vanilla extract.
• Lemon or Orange Extract – A citrus flavor paired with vanilla extract will work well with cherry Jolly Ranchers.

Storage

Store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Either keep them flat or stack them with wax paper between them so they don’t stick together due to the stained glass candy’s stickiness.

More Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes

Linzer Cookies
Christmas Cake Mix Cookies
Holiday Lofthouse Cookies
Candy Cane Cookies
Hot Chocolate Cookies
Frosted Gingerbread Cookies