Description
These Festive Red and Green Crinkle Cookies are a delightful holiday treat featuring soft, chewy centers with a beautifully cracked powdered sugar coating. Made from a simple white cake mix base, enhanced with vibrant red and green gel food coloring, they add a cheerful pop of color to any festive gathering. Perfectly easy to prepare and quick to bake, these cookies are ideal for holiday parties or gifting.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 box white cake mix (13.25 oz)
- 2 large eggs
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- Red gel food coloring (as needed)
- Green gel food coloring (as needed)
Coating
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
Optional Add-ins
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- White chocolate chips (quantity as desired)
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the white cake mix, eggs, and vegetable oil. Mix thoroughly until a smooth, thick dough forms.
- Divide and color: Split the dough into two equal portions. Transfer each portion to a separate bowl. Add red gel food coloring to one bowl and green gel food coloring to the other. Mix well until the colors are vibrant and evenly distributed.
- Chill the dough: Cover both bowls tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to firm up the dough, making it easier to handle.
- Preheat the oven: Set the oven temperature to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat for easy cookie removal.
- Form and coat cookies: Using a tablespoon scoop, portion out the dough and roll each into a ball. Generously roll each dough ball in powdered sugar until it is fully coated, creating the characteristic crinkle effect.
- Bake: Place the coated dough balls spaced about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 9-11 minutes, or until cookies develop crinkled surfaces and are set around the edges but remain soft in the center. Avoid overbaking.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes after removing from the oven. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before serving or storing.
Notes
- For added flavor depth, you can mix 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract into the dough before coloring.
- White chocolate chips can be gently folded into the dough for extra sweetness and texture.
- Do not overbake; the cookies should be soft in the center to maintain a chewy texture.
- The powdered sugar coating not only adds sweetness but helps create the classic crinkle appearance.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: holiday cookies, crinkle cookies, festive cookies, red and green cookies, cake mix cookies, Christmas cookies, easy holiday baking
