Grinch Cake Balls

Name: Grinch Cake Balls
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 1 box Red velvet cake mix (and ingredients called for on box); 1 cup cream cheese frosting; 1 pound white almond bark; Green Gel Food Coloring; Red Heart Sprinkles

Make adorable Grinch Cake Balls in minutes. A fun and festive dessert for Christmas parties, school events, or holiday gatherings.

Grinch Cake Balls are a fun and festive holiday treat that are as delicious as they are adorable. Made with moist cake and creamy frosting, these bite-sized desserts are coated in chocolate and decorated with green frosting to resemble the Grinch.

Perfect for Christmas parties, school events, or gifting, they’re easy to make and guaranteed to bring a smile to everyone’s face.

I also love to make Grinch Pretzels and it’s easy enough to make several Grinch Desserts during the holiday season. These desserts are so much fun for a Grinch Stole Christmas movie night.

I also make Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Balls every year.

Why You Will Love This

Fun and Festive: Perfectly capture the Grinch character for a whimsical holiday treat.
Easy to Make: Simple ingredients and straightforward steps make them beginner-friendly.
Deliciously Chocolatey: Moist cake and creamy frosting coated in chocolate for a rich flavor.
Kid-Friendly: Fun to decorate and even more fun to eat. Great for little hands.
Perfect for Gifting or Parties: Bite-sized and festive, ideal for holiday gatherings or as homemade gifts.

Ingredients

Red velvet cake mix: Use your favorite brand and prepare it according to the package instructions for a rich, vibrant cake base.
Cream cheese frosting: Adds creamy sweetness and helps bind the cake mixture. Store-bought or Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe both work great.
White almond bark: Melts smoothly and creates a clean, even coating for the cake balls.
Green gel food coloring: Provides bold, Grinch-green color without thinning the melted coating.
Red heart sprinkles: The perfect festive touch to complete the Grinch look on top of each cake ball.

Find the complete list of ingredients at the bottom of the page.

Variations and Substitutions

Green candy melts: Substitute the almond bark with green candy melts for a built-in Grinch color and easy dipping.
Grinch cake pops: Turn these into cake pops by inserting a lollipop stick into each ball before dipping.
Different cake flavors: You can swap the red velvet cake mix for any cake flavor you prefer, though red velvet adds the perfect Christmas touch.
White chocolate coating: Use melted white chocolate in place of almond bark if you prefer a richer, sweeter coating.
Red candy hearts: If heart sprinkles are unavailable, small red candy hearts make a great substitute for the classic Grinch look.

Step By Step Instructions

Step 1. Bake the cake and allow to cool. Then crumble the cake into a large mixing bowl.

Mixing bowl with cake and frosting combined.

Step 2. Combine the cream cheese frosting and crumbled cake mix. Make sure it is mixed together really good.

Step 3. From the mixture into balls. I used a cookie scoop to make them all uniform. Freeze for about 15 minutes before coating.

Step 4. Melt the almond bark using a microwave-safe bowl and add food coloring. Insert a toothpick into each cake pop and dip them into the melted chocolate and place on a lined baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 5. Top each ball with a heart sprinkle. Make sure to do this before they set or it will not stick.

Step 6. Continue until all of the balls are dipped in candy coating and decorated. Then allow to set at room temperature to harden for at least 30 minutes.

Pro Tips

Use gel food coloring: Gel coloring is the best choice because it blends smoothly without causing the almond bark to seize, unlike liquid food coloring.
Prepare a lined tray: Line your baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup quick and easy.
Scoop evenly: Use a cookie scoop to keep all the cake balls the same size for even dipping and a uniform look.
Add the heart sprinkle immediately: Place the red heart on top while the coating is still wet so it sticks perfectly.
Chill before dipping: After forming the cake balls, refrigerate or freeze them briefly. Cold cake balls hold their shape better when dipped.
Work in batches: Melt the almond bark in smaller amounts to keep it smooth and avoid reheating too many times.
Thin the coating if needed: If the almond bark seems too thick, stir in a small amount of shortening to help it coat more smoothly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to store?

Refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.

Why did the coating crack?

This can often happen if the cake balls are too cold. It is important to only leave them in the freezer for the allotted amount of time. Any longer and they will be too cold and result in a cracked coating.

Why does my coating harden while dipping?

The mixture will seize if you use regular food coloring instead of gel. It will also harden if the mixture is overcooked. Do not burn it or over cook it.

It should be melted in 30 second intervals to prevent it from scorching. Make sure to stir in between each interval.

More Easy Grinch Recipes

Make a batch of these fun and festive Grinch Cake Balls for your next holiday celebration! If you try them, be sure to leave a comment below and let us know how they turned out or share your own creative twist!

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