Why do Grinch Cookies need to be chilled before baking?

Chilling is essential because it firms the vegan butter and helps the dough maintain its shape in the oven. This is particularly important for Grinch Cookies because the round edges and heart-shaped cutouts need to remain crisp and clearly defined. The first chilling period also makes the dough easier to roll and cut. After shaping the cookies, chilling them for another 30 minutes reduces spreading during baking. For the best-looking matcha Linzer cookies, do not skip this step even if the dough already feels firm.

Can I make Grinch Cookies without green food coloring?

Yes. Matcha powder naturally gives Grinch Cookies a green hue, so green food coloring is completely optional. Leaving it out produces a softer, more natural matcha-green appearance while preserving the same earthy flavor. If you want a brighter green color for a Christmas party or themed cookie platter, add 3 to 5 drops of green food coloring as directed. Keep in mind that the exact shade will also depend on the color and quality of your matcha powder.

Can I prepare Grinch Cookies ahead of time?

Yes. These vegan Grinch Cookies are a convenient make-ahead Christmas dessert. The dough can be prepared, divided into discs, wrapped, and refrigerated overnight before rolling and cutting. Once the Grinch Cookies have been baked and assembled with raspberry jam, keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days. The jam may gradually soften the cookie layers, creating an increasingly tender Linzer-style texture.

Easy Grinch Cookies with Matcha and Raspberry Jam

Name: Grinch Cookies
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 2 h 10 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour; ⅔ cup blanched almond flour; 2 teaspoons cornstarch; 1 tablespoon matcha powder; ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt; ½ cup cane sugar; ¾ cup vegan butter, at room temperature; 1 tablespoon unsweetened almond milk; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 3-5 drops green food coloring, optional; ½ cup raspberry jam; 3 tablespoons powdered sugar; 1 teaspoon matcha powder, for topping

Description

Grinch Cookies are festive vegan matcha Linzer cookies filled with sweet raspberry jam and finished with a matcha powdered sugar topping. Their green color and heart-shaped raspberry centers make them a fun and elegant Christmas treat for holiday parties, cookie exchanges, and movie nights.

Ingredients

Scale

1 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour
⅔ cup blanched almond flour
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon matcha powder
¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
½ cup cane sugar
¾ cup vegan butter, at room temperature
1 tablespoon unsweetened almond milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3-5 drops green food coloring, optional
½ cup raspberry jam
3 tablespoons powdered sugar
1 teaspoon matcha powder, for topping

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Instructions

Add the all-purpose flour, almond flour, cornstarch, 1 tablespoon matcha powder, and salt to a medium mixing bowl. Whisk until evenly combined.
Add the cane sugar and vegan butter to a large mixing bowl. Beat on low speed for about 3 minutes, until light and fluffy.
Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the almond milk, vanilla extract, and optional green food coloring. Beat for another minute.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until the cookie dough comes together. The dough will be slightly dry but should hold together when pinched. If it is too dry, add 1 tablespoon of water.
Divide the dough evenly into two portions. Shape each portion into a disc, flatten, wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.
Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Lightly flour a cutting board or work surface and rolling pin.
Remove one dough disc from the refrigerator and knead it for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until pliable. Lightly flour the top and roll the dough to approximately ¼ inch thick.
Cut the dough with a 2 ½-inch round cookie cutter. Use a smaller heart-shaped cookie cutter to remove the center from each round. Transfer the cookies to a prepared baking sheet, leaving at least ½ inch between them.
Repeat as necessary with the remaining dough scraps, dusting the work surface with additional flour when needed. Refrigerate the shaped cookies for 30 minutes.
Roll the second dough disc to approximately ¼ inch thick and cut it with the 2 ½-inch round cookie cutter. Do not cut out the centers because these cookies will form the bottoms of the sandwiches. Transfer to the second baking sheet and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake each baking sheet on the middle rack for 8-10 minutes, or until the bottoms of the cookies are lightly browned.
Transfer the baked cookies to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely.
Whisk together the powdered sugar and remaining 1 teaspoon matcha powder. Dust the heart-cutout cookies with the matcha powdered sugar.
Spread ½ to 1 teaspoon raspberry jam over each solid bottom cookie. Place a heart-cutout cookie on top to create a sandwich, allowing the raspberry jam to show through the heart.
Serve the Grinch Cookies once assembled or store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Notes

Chill the dough for the recommended time to prevent the cookies from spreading and losing their shapes.
The dough should be slightly dry but hold together when pinched. Add 1 tablespoon of water if it is excessively crumbly.
Green food coloring is optional because matcha naturally gives the cookies a green hue.
Use fresh, good-quality matcha for the best green color and flavor.
Keep the rolled dough approximately ¼ inch thick for even baking.
Do not overbake. The cookies are ready when their bottoms are lightly browned.
Cool the cookies completely before adding raspberry jam.
Strawberry jam can be substituted for raspberry jam if desired.
Dust the cutout cookie tops with matcha powdered sugar before assembling the sandwiches for the cleanest presentation.
Store assembled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American, Austrian, German, Japanese

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cookie
Calories: 191 kcal
Sugar: 10 g
Sodium: 95 mg
Fat: 11 g
Saturated Fat: 3 g
Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 21 g
Fiber: 1 g
Protein: 2 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg