How To Make Grinch Cake Pops: Easy Christmas Recipe!
Grinch cake pops are candy-coated cake balls on sticks that are decorated to resemble everyone’s favorite classic Christmas character. With a colorful candy coating around a cream cake center, Grinch cake pops taste as wonderful as they look and add the perfect amount of holiday spirit to any holiday gathering or party!
I can’t believe it’s already that time of year again to start having fun with cute holiday food, and at the top of the list are some sweet Grinchy treats. And my kids LOVE anything grinch-related, but especially grinch-themed food.
NO holiday season is complete without representing the Grinch in our home in some way.
In the past, we’ve made green treats such as Easy Grinch Fudge, Grinch Cookies, and even Easy Grinch Popcorn.
And up until now, my favorite Grinch recipes have been our Grinch Chocolate Covered Strawberries and 3-Ingredient Grinch Punch Mocktail!
But now, I have a new personal favorite! These festive Grinch cake pops are not only perfect for adding a touch of whimsy to any Christmas party or class party, but they also make a delightful addition to any All Things Grinch-themed recipe collection.
They follow a similar process as my Christmas Cake Pops but have Grinch-themed decorations!
How To Make Grinch Cake Pops
These little gems are typically made using crumbled red velvet cake (for that Grinchy heart), but you can really use ANY flavor of cake.
Ingredients Needed
To create this Grinch Cake Pops treat, gather the following essential ingredients:
- Boxed cake mix (with ingredients needed to bake it) – ANY flavor works!
- Cream cheese frosting
- Green candy melts
- Red candy hearts
- Cake pop sticks (or lollipop sticks)
- Vegetable shortening or coconut oil (optional)
NOTE: Please refer to the handy printable recipe card at the bottom of the post for more recipe details.
Grinch Cake Pop Instructions
Just follow these simple steps, and you’ll soon have a festive dessert that will win the hearts of even the grumpiest Grinches in your life.
Step 1: Baking the Cake
First, I prepared the boxed cake mix by following the instructions on the package and baked it in a 9 x 13-inch pan.
Once it’s fully baked and cooled, crumble that cake into a large mixing bowl.
Step 2: Mixing Cake and Frosting
Next, blend that crumbled cake with the cream cheese frosting. These chocolate cake balls will create the delicious center of our Grinch Cake Pops.
Tip: You can do this in a food processor, but I’ve found it just as easy to do by hand.
Step 3: Forming Cake Balls
Using my hands, I shaped the cake and frosting mixture into small cake balls (about 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter).
Line them up on a cookie sheet or board and allow them to chill in the fridge for about 15 minutes.
Step 4: Melt the Green Candy Melts
While the cake balls were chilling, I melted the green chocolate candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals in the microwave.
Pro Tip: If you want, you can add a small amount of vegetable shortening to the candy melts to help achieve a smoother consistency.
Step 5: Assembling the Grinch Cake Pops
Next, take the cake balls out of the fridge and dip the tip of each lollipop stick into the melted green chocolate, then insert the stick into a cake ball to help secure the cake onto the stick. Let them sit for a few moments to let the melted chocolate cool and set.
Step 6: Dip, Decorate and Enjoy!
Time to let the Grinch’s transformation begin! Dip each cake pop in the green melted chocolate, coating it completely. While the chocolate is still wet, I’ll carefully place a red heart sprinkle on top, adding that final touch of Grinchiness.
Let them set, and enjoy your adorable and delicious treat!
Grinchy Cake Pops Tips and Tricks
To help your cake pops turn out perfectly every time, here are a few helpful tips and tricks that you may find useful.
- Achieve the right consistency – Mix your crumbled cake with your desired frosting. A little trial and error can help you find the perfect balance between cake and frosting. You want your cake balls moist enough to hold a ball (instead of crumbling apart).
- Don’t make them too big – if you have a hard time estimating the correct size, I find that using a small cookie scoop helps!
- Maintain shape while coating – To help your cake balls stay together while dipping them in the green candy coating, freeze them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet for about 10-15 minutes before moving on to the next step. Frozen cake balls hold their shape!
- Create a smooth appearance – To ensure a nice smooth coating, try adding a bit of coconut oil or shortening to thin out the mixture.
- Fully coat your cake balls – I have found that when I just dip cake pops into the candy coating and pull them back out, they rarely have a full, smooth coating. I have found that slowly and gently spinning the submerged cake pop creates a complete and smooth candy coating!
- Shake off excess coating – Give the pop a little shake (gently!) to send any excess chocolate back to the bowl and prevent it from dripping as it sets.
- Use a holder to let cake pops set properly – Laying your cake pops down to set will create a marred, flat side that takes away from the overall effect of this simple design. I HIGHLY recommend using a cake pop stand to hold your cake pops upright so they can fully set appropriately (unless you want to hold each cake pop in your hand for several minutes before moving to the next one).
Variations To Try
Put your own spin and twist on this easy recipe with these ideas!
- Frosting Options – Cream cheese frosting gives cake pops a creamy zing and complements the cake crumbles perfectly (especially if you use red velvet or chocolate cake as the base). But you can use regular frosting (any flavor).
- Cake Flavors – Get adventurous and switch it up by using a red velvet cake mix, chocolate, vanilla, or even a funfetti cake flavor to create your ideal cake pop. The cake crumbles are like the hidden treasures inside the Grinch Cake Pops, so choose your favorites!
- Candy Coating – Green candy coating is the classic route to create that Grinchy look. But, you have options! Feel free to go wild and try white chocolate chips or white almond bark (mix in green gel food coloring).
- Lollipop Sticks – I prefer to use lollipop sticks or cake pop sticks for Grinch Cake Pops. But if you want to personalize your pops, consider using colorful straws or customized sticks to add a personal touch.
- Grinch Cake Balls – Instead of popsicles, leave the sticks out and just have Grinch cake balls – festive finger food!
Festive Grinch Treats for All Occasions
This Grinch dessert makes amazing DIY gifts for friends and family during the holidays. But they’re also easy enough to make for movie night (while watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas, perhaps?) at home or your next class party or holiday gathering!
Put on your Santa hat, grab those ingredients, and let’s make some festive Grinch treats!
Grinch Cake Pops Frequently Asked Questions
Oh, the horror of a cracked shell! I’ve been there, my friend. This usually happens when there’s a drastic difference between the temperature of your melted candy and the cake pops.
To avoid this tragedy, make sure the cake pops are not too cold when dipping them. Also, check that your melted candy isn’t piping-hot. A little temperature balance goes a long way.
Often, this is caused by using low-quality candy melts. I have found that adding just a little coconut oil or shortening (about a teaspoon) not only helps thin out the coating and delivers a smooth appearance but also makes it look clear and shinier.
According to The Spruse Eats, this can also be caused by overheating your chocolate. To prevent this, heat your candy melts (or chocolate) slowly or in a double boiler.
Of course! While red velvet cake is a popular choice for Grinch cake pops (because who doesn’t love Christmas-red cake?), feel free to use your favorite cake mix. There’s no rule that says the Grinch must only feast on red velvet! Personally, I’ve experimented with chocolate, vanilla, and even gingerbread – all scrumptious options.
Grinch cake pops, like all good things, have a shelf life. If stored in an airtight container at room temperature, they’ll stay fresh for up to 5 days.
More Christmas Treats You’ll Love
If you love these Grinch cake pops, you’ll love these other festive treats too this holiday season!
- Adorable Santa Gnome Cake Mix Cookies
- Cream Cheese Strawberry Santas
- Winter Cupcakes With Candy Christmas Tree Pretzels
- Reeses Christmas Tree Recipe
- Easy Christmas Tree Cupcakes
Pin For Later!
Grinch Cake Pops
Grinch cake pops are candy-coated cake balls on popsicle sticks that are decorated to resemble everyone’s favorite classic Christmas character!15
Ingredients
- 1 box cake mix (with ingredients needed to bake it) – ANY flavor works!
- 1 cup prepared cream cheese frosting
- Green candy melts (12 oz)
- Red candy hearts
- Cake pop sticks
- Vegetable shortening or coconut oil (optional)
Instructions
Prepare the boxed cake mix by following the instructions on the package and bake it. Once fully baked and cooled, crumble the cake into a large mixing bowl.
Create the delicious center of the Grinch Cake Pops by blending the cake crumbles with the cream cheese frosting.
Take the cake ball mixture and form balls (about 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter). Line them up on a tray or board and allow them to chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
Melt the green candy melts in 30-second increments in the microwave. Optional: you can add a small amount of vegetable shortening or coconut oil to the candy melts to get a smoother consistency.
Next, take the cake balls out of the fridge and dip the tip of each cake pop stick into the melted green chocolate, then insert the stick into a cake ball to help secure the cake onto the stick. Let them sit for a few moments to let the melted chocolate cool and set.
Dip each cake pop in the green melted chocolate, coating it completely. While the chocolate is still wet, carefully place a red candy heart on top.
