Tasty Christmas Grinch Brookies

Finding a fun, festive treat that stands out during the busy holiday season can feel like a real challenge. Between school parties, family gatherings, and cookie exchanges, it’s easy to fall back on the same old recipes we make year after year – and let’s be honest, sometimes those traditional red and green sprinkled sugar cookies just don’t cut it anymore.

That’s where these grinch brookies come to save the day: they’re a perfect mix of brownie and cookie that brings a playful twist to holiday baking, easy enough to make with the kids, and guaranteed to spark conversation at any Christmas gathering.

What Kind of Flour Should I Use?

For brookies, regular all-purpose flour is your best friend. While you might be tempted to experiment with bread flour or cake flour, stick with all-purpose flour for the perfect balance of protein content that gives these treats their classic texture. The all-purpose flour helps create that ideal middle ground between chewy brownies and soft cookies that makes brookies so special. If you’re measuring by cup instead of weight, remember to use the spoon-and-level method – scooping directly with the measuring cup can pack in too much flour and make your brookies dense. For the best results, make sure your flour is fresh and stored in an airtight container to prevent it from absorbing any unwanted moisture or odors.

Options for Substitutions

This fun brookie recipe can handle some simple swaps if you’re missing ingredients:

• Regular flour: All-purpose flour is best here, but you can use cake flour – just add an extra 2 tablespoons per cup. For a gluten-free version, try a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend, though the texture might be slightly different.
• Cocoa powder: Natural or Dutch-process cocoa powder both work well. If you’re out, you can use carob powder in the same amount, but the taste will be slightly different.
• Green food coloring: Any green food coloring works – gel, liquid, or natural alternatives like matcha powder (use 1-2 teaspoons). Just note that matcha will add a slight tea flavor.
• Butter: You can swap butter with margarine in equal amounts, or use coconut oil (make sure it’s room temperature for the cookie portion). For the melted butter part, any neutral oil will work too.
• Vanilla essence: Vanilla extract, paste, or powder all work fine. If you’re out, you can skip it or try almond extract (use half the amount as it’s stronger).

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Baking

The biggest challenge when making brookies is achieving the right texture for both the brownie and cookie layers – overmixing either batter can lead to tough, dense results, so mix just until the ingredients are combined. When adding the green food coloring to your cookie dough, start with a few drops and gradually add more until you reach your desired shade, as too much liquid food coloring can affect the dough’s consistency. Another common mistake is not chilling the cookie dough for at least 30 minutes before combining it with the brownie batter, which can cause the layers to blend together and lose their distinct appearance. For the best marbling effect, drop alternating spoonfuls of each batter into your baking pan, and use a knife to create gentle swirls – overworking the patterns will muddy the colors and textures.

What to Serve With Grinch Brookies?

These fun holiday brookies (that’s brownies + cookies!) are perfect for serving alongside a cold glass of milk – regular or chocolate both work great here! Since these treats are pretty sweet and rich, they pair really nicely with a hot cup of coffee or peppermint tea for balance. If you’re setting up a holiday dessert table, try placing them next to some vanilla ice cream – the combo of warm brookies and cold ice cream is always a crowd-pleaser. For extra festive flair, serve them on a holiday-themed plate with some whipped cream and red sprinkles to complete the Grinch color scheme.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: These festive Grinch brookies stay fresh and yummy when kept in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Place a piece of bread in the container with them – it’s an old trick that helps keep them soft and chewy!

Freeze: Want to save some for later? These brookies freeze really well for up to 3 months. Just put them in a freezer-safe container with wax paper between layers to prevent sticking. They’re perfect for making ahead during the holiday season!

Thaw & Enjoy: When you’re ready to enjoy your frozen brookies, just take them out and let them thaw at room temperature for about an hour. If you want that fresh-baked taste, pop them in the microwave for 10-15 seconds – they’ll taste like they just came out of the oven!

Preparation Time	15-20 minutes
Cooking Time	25-30 minutes
Total Time	40-50 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Medium

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 2800-3200
• Protein: 30-40 g
• Fat: 150-170 g
• Carbohydrates: 370-400 g

Ingredients

• 1 cup regular flour
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
• 1/2 cup softened butter
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 1/2 cups regular flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
• Green food color

Step 1: Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Equipment

Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C).

Grease an 8-inch square baking dish to ensure easy removal of your final baked goods.

Step 2: Make the Brownie Batter

In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda.

Then, add in the wet ingredients: eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract.

Mix until the batter is smooth and well combined.

Step 3: Prepare the Cookie Dough

In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients for the cookie dough: flour, salt, and baking soda.

In a separate large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.

Add in the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until smooth and evenly combined.

Step 4: Complete Cookie Dough with Green Color

Add the dry flour mixture to the creamed butter and sugar mixture, and mix until fully combined.

Then, incorporate the green food coloring, mixing well until the dough achieves a uniform green color.

Step 5: Assemble and Bake

Pour the brownie batter into the prepared 8-inch square baking dish, spreading it evenly.

Top the brownie batter evenly with the green cookie dough, ensuring it covers the brownie layer as much as possible.

Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.

Step 6: Cool and Serve

After baking, remove the dish from the oven and let it cool slightly on a wire rack.

Once cooled, cut into squares and enjoy your delightful brownie-cookie combination!