If you’re searching for a delightful treat that instantly brings cheer to any holiday gathering, this Festive Green Sugar Cookies Recipe is an absolute winner. These cookies are soft, sweet, and adorned with a beautiful crackled sugar coating that sparkles just like festive ornaments. Easy to whip up yet stunning to serve, this recipe blends simple pantry staples with vibrant gel food coloring to make every bite into a celebration. I love how these cookies simultaneously offer a tender crumb and a fun texture, making them a joyful centerpiece for cookie exchanges, parties, or just a cozy afternoon snack with a cup of tea.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of this Festive Green Sugar Cookies Recipe lies in its simplicity. Each ingredient brings just the right balance of flavor, moisture, and that iconic sugar crunch that makes these cookies unforgettable. Let me walk you through everything you need to make these beauties come to life in your kitchen.
- White cake mix: This forms the base of your cookie dough, providing sweetness and structure without the fuss of measuring out all the dry ingredients individually.
- Large eggs: Eggs bind the dough together and add a tender richness to the cookies.
- Vegetable oil: Keeps the cookies moist and soft, contributing to their melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Green gel food coloring: The star for that festive color, gel coloring gives a bold, vibrant hue without thinning the dough.
- Granulated sugar: Rolling the dough balls in this gives a delightful initial crunch and sparkly surface.
- Powdered sugar: Adds a contrasting soft crackle on the outside, creating that classic crinkled look.
How to Make Festive Green Sugar Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Mix Your Dough
Start by combining the white cake mix, eggs, and vegetable oil in a large bowl. Stir until the mixture forms a smooth dough. This step is key because it creates the foundation for those tender cookies we love.
Step 2: Add Vibrant Green Color
Next, add the green gel food coloring to the dough. Mix thoroughly to ensure the color is evenly distributed, giving you that striking green cookie color that screams festive fun.
Step 3: Chill the Dough
Cover the bowl and refrigerate your dough for about 30 minutes. Chilling firms up the dough, making it easier to shape and encouraging a better-defined cookie shape during baking.
Step 4: Preheat and Prepare
While the dough chills, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and help cookies bake evenly.
Step 5: Shape into Balls
Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll them between your palms to form smooth balls. This uniformity ensures all your cookies bake evenly and look picture perfect.
Step 6: Sugar Coating
Here’s the fun part: roll each dough ball first in granulated sugar, then in powdered sugar. This double sugar coating creates the signature crackled effect once baked, giving these green sugar cookies their charming appearance.
Step 7: Arrange and Bake
Place each sugar-coated ball onto your prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. Bake for 9 to 12 minutes, just until the edges turn lightly golden.
Step 8: Cool and Enjoy
Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to firm up, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. This way, they hold their shape but stay delectably soft in the center.
How to Serve Festive Green Sugar Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
To elevate these cookies even more, try sprinkling a few colorful nonpareils or edible glitter before baking. The extra sparkle complements that festive green and makes your cookie platter truly eye-catching.
Side Dishes
Pair these cookies with a cup of hot cocoa or a warm mug of spiced apple cider for a cozy holiday treat. Their sweetness and texture also go wonderfully alongside a crisp glass of milk or even a fragrant herbal tea.
Creative Ways to Present
Serve these vibrant cookies stacked on a tiered tray with holiday décor, or wrap them individually in clear cellophane tied with a festive ribbon for charming edible gifts. They also look fantastic arranged around a bowl of whipped cream or cream cheese frosting, inviting guests to dip and enjoy.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Your leftover Festive Green Sugar Cookies keep wonderfully in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days. This soft cookie recipe stays moist and flavorful, so they taste fresh even after a few days.
Freezing
If you want to prepare these cookies in advance, freeze the baked and cooled cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag for up to three months. You can also freeze the dough balls before baking to save time on the big day.
Reheating
To refresh frozen cookies, warm them in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for about 5 minutes. This restores their soft, tender texture without drying them out, so they taste freshly baked.
FAQs
Can I use a different color instead of green?
Absolutely! Feel free to swap the green gel food coloring for any other color you prefer—red for a holiday classic or blue just for fun. The technique works the same way for any vibrant hue.
Do I have to use cake mix, or can I make the dough from scratch?
Using a white cake mix keeps the recipe simple and consistent, but if you have a favorite sugar cookie dough recipe, you can adapt the green food coloring and sugar-coating steps to it for a homemade twist.
What causes the crackled sugar coating on the cookies?
Rolling the dough balls first in granulated sugar and then powdered sugar creates a layered sugar crust that cracks during baking, resulting in that charming, festive crackle look.
Are these cookies suitable for children to help make?
Definitely! Kids will have a blast rolling the dough and coating the cookies in sugar. Just remember to supervise the oven use, but the prep and decorating steps are perfect for little helpers.
Can I make these cookies dairy-free?
This recipe is naturally dairy-free since it relies on vegetable oil instead of butter. Just ensure your cake mix doesn’t contain any milk ingredients if you are strictly avoiding dairy.
Final Thoughts
There’s something truly joyous about baking and sharing this Festive Green Sugar Cookies Recipe. It’s a simple, fun, and visually stunning way to bring that holiday spirit into your kitchen no matter the occasion. I can’t wait for you to try them, share them, and watch the smiles they bring to everyone lucky enough to have a bite!
Print
Festive Green Sugar Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 54 minutes
- Yield: 24 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Celebrate the holidays with these Festive Green Sugar Cookies, made from a simple white cake mix dough tinted with green gel food coloring. Perfectly crackled and coated in granulated and powdered sugar, these soft, chewy cookies offer a delightful festive treat that’s quick to prepare and sure to impress.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1 box white cake mix
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon green gel food coloring
Topping
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Mix the dough: In a large bowl, combine the white cake mix, eggs, and vegetable oil. Stir thoroughly until a uniform dough forms.
- Add color: Incorporate the green gel food coloring into the dough, mixing well to achieve an even, vibrant green color throughout.
- Chill the dough: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes to allow it to firm up, making it easier to scoop and shape.
- Prepare for baking: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and promote even baking.
- Shape the cookies: Using a tablespoon measure, scoop out portions of dough and roll them into balls with your hands.
- Sugar coating: Roll each dough ball first in granulated sugar and then in powdered sugar. This double coating creates a beautiful crackled texture when baked.
- Arrange on baking sheet: Place the coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow room for spreading.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 9 to 12 minutes. Watch for lightly golden edges as an indicator of doneness.
- Cool the cookies: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes after baking. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- The green gel food coloring provides a vibrant hue without affecting the dough texture.
- Refrigerating the dough helps prevent excessive spreading during baking.
- Double rolling in sugars not only enhances texture but also adds a subtle crunch and festive appearance.
- These cookies store well in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
