Grinch Cake Pops
Bring a little Whoville magic to your holiday celebrations with these adorable Grinch Cake Pops! Made with moist red velvet cake, peppermint frosting, and coated in bright green candy melts, these festive treats are finished with the Grinch’s signature tiny red heart for an unforgettable Christmas dessert.
If your family loves How the Grinch Stole Christmas as much as mine does, these cake pops are a must-make during the holiday season. They’re perfect for Christmas parties, holiday dessert tables, classroom celebrations, cookie exchanges, or even wrapping up as edible gifts. While cake pops do take a little patience, the results are absolutely worth it.
The combination of rich red velvet cake, refreshing peppermint frosting, and sweet candy coating creates a bakery-style dessert that’s just as fun to make as it is to eat.
Why You’ll Love These Grinch Cake Pops
- Fun Grinch-inspired Christmas dessert
- Moist red velvet cake center
- Peppermint frosting adds festive flavor
- Perfect for holiday parties
- Great make-ahead dessert
- Fun baking project with kids
- Easy to customize with different cake flavors
Ingredients
To make these Grinch Cake Pops, you’ll need:
- 1 box red velvet cake mix, plus ingredients listed on the box
- ½ tub peppermint frosting
- 1 package vibrant green candy melting wafers
- Red heart sprinkles
- Lollipop sticks
- 1–2 teaspoons Crisco (for thinning the candy melts)
Equipment You’ll Need
- Mixing bowls
- Baking pan
- Food processor (optional)
- Small cookie scoop
- Microwave-safe bowl or chocolate melting pot
- Cake pop stand or Styrofoam block
- Parchment paper
How to Make Grinch Cake Pops
Step 1: Bake the Cake
Prepare the red velvet cake according to the package directions.
Allow the cake to cool completely before moving on. A warm cake will not crumble properly and can make the cake pop mixture too soft.
For the best results, bake the cake the day before.
Step 2: Crumble the Cake
Remove any crisp edges from the cake.
Place the remaining cake into a large bowl and crumble it into very fine crumbs.
You can do this by hand or pulse the cake in a food processor for an extra smooth texture.
Step 3: Mix with Frosting
Add approximately half a tub of peppermint frosting to the cake crumbs.
Mix until the mixture resembles soft dough.
The perfect consistency is when you can roll a ball that holds together but still presses flat without crumbling.
If the mixture feels dry, add a little more frosting.
Step 4: Roll the Cake Pops
Using a small cookie scoop, portion the mixture into evenly sized balls.
Roll each one smooth with your hands.
Place the cake balls on a parchment-lined tray and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Keeping the cake pops cold helps them stay together while dipping.
Step 5: Melt the Candy Coating
Place the green candy melts into a microwave-safe bowl or chocolate melting pot.
Add 1 teaspoon of Crisco to help thin the coating.
Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until smooth.
If the coating still seems thick, stir in a little more Crisco until it reaches a smooth dipping consistency.
Step 6: Insert the Cake Pop Sticks
Dip the end of each lollipop stick into the melted candy coating.
Insert the stick about two-thirds of the way into each chilled cake ball.
Return the cake pops to the refrigerator for 10 minutes so the chocolate hardens and secures the stick.
Step 7: Dip the Cake Pops
Working with just a few cake pops at a time, dip each one into the melted green candy coating.
Lift it out slowly and gently tap the stick on the side of the bowl to remove excess coating.
Immediately place one red heart sprinkle onto the front of each cake pop before the candy coating hardens.
Stand the finished cake pops upright in a cake pop stand or Styrofoam block to dry completely.
Tips for Perfect Grinch Cake Pops
- Keep the cake pops chilled until you’re ready to dip them.
- Thin thick candy melts with a little extra Crisco.
- Don’t overmix the cake and frosting or the cake pops may become too soft.
- Work in small batches so the cake balls stay cold.
- Add the red heart immediately after dipping before the coating hardens.
Fun Variations
Try switching things up with:
- Chocolate cake and peppermint frosting
- Devil’s food cake
- Vanilla cake with peppermint frosting
- Cream cheese frosting instead of peppermint
- Holiday sprinkles around the base
- White chocolate drizzle after the coating sets
Serving Suggestions
These Grinch Cake Pops are perfect for:
- Christmas movie nights
- Holiday dessert tables
- Cookie exchanges
- School Christmas parties
- Homemade edible gifts
- Christmas Eve celebrations
- Grinch-themed birthday parties
Serve them alongside hot chocolate, peppermint mochas, or a festive holiday punch for an extra special treat.
Storage
Store Grinch Cake Pops in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
If your kitchen is especially warm, refrigerate them to help maintain the candy coating.
They can also be frozen for up to 2 months. Allow them to thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my cake pops falling off the stick?
This usually happens when the cake balls are too warm or the candy coating is too thick. Chilling the cake pops well and dipping the stick in melted candy before inserting it helps keep everything secure.
Can I use homemade red velvet cake?
Absolutely! Homemade cake works just as well as boxed cake mix.
Why add Crisco to the candy melts?
Crisco helps thin the melted candy coating, making it easier to dip the cake pops while creating a smoother, more even finish.
Can I make Grinch Cake Pops ahead of time?
Yes! They’re an excellent make-ahead holiday dessert and can be prepared several days before your Christmas celebration.
These Grinch Cake Pops are the perfect combination of festive, fun, and delicious. The moist red velvet cake, refreshing peppermint frosting, bright green candy coating, and tiny red heart create a dessert that’s instantly recognizable to every Grinch fan. Whether you’re making them for a Christmas party, holiday movie marathon, or wrapping them up as edible gifts, these adorable cake pops are guaranteed to steal the show—and maybe even grow a few hearts three sizes, too!
Be sure to check out our other holiday recipes.
The Grinch Cake Pop
Ingredients
- 1 box Red Velvet Cake Mix and everything needed to make the cake
- 1 pkg Vibrant Green Chocoalte Wafers
- Red Heart Sprinkles
- Crisco
- Lollipop Sticks
- 1/2 tub Peppermint Frosting
Instructions
- I will warn you, these cake pops are not a make in one setting type deal. There are times you'll have to wait a few hours or a half-hour for items to cool down or chill. First, you are going to bake the red velvet cake according to the boxes directions. Once the cake is baked, let it cool on the counter. The cake needs to be completely cool before you move on to the next step. Once the cake is completely cool it's time to crumble it up. You can either crumble the cake by hand or you can toss it in the food processor. You need the cake to be fine little crumbs for the next step. Take about half the tub of frosting and mix it with the crumbled cake. You want it to have a very moist texture. You should be able to roll a ball of the mixture and when you squish it, the ball shouldn't break and fall apart but it should spread out. Now that you have the perfect consistency, it's time to roll the cake pops out. Take a small cookie scoop and roll-out small balls of cake pop batter. Set them on a plate or tray and place them in the fridge for at least a half-hour. You want these to firm up so they don't melt when you dip them in the chocolate. While the cake pops are setting up it's time to start melting the chocolate. I used the Playful Chef Chocolate Studio to melt the whole package of chocolate wafers. I also added a teaspoon of Crisco to the chocolate while it melted. This helps to make the chocolate thin out so it's easier to dip the cake pops in. Adding the Crisco will also make it cover more evenly. When the chocolate has melted some, take the cake pops out of the fridge. Dip a lollipop stick into the chocolate and then place it in the cake pop. Put the cake pops back in the fridge for about 10 minutes for the chocolate to set up. When all the chocolate has melted and it's been thinned out with the Crisco it's time to dip the cake pops. Take a few out of the fridge and dip them in the chocolate. Immediately place the candy heart on the cake pop and set in a cake pop stand to set up. If you find it hard to dip or the chocolate won't cover you need to add a little more Crisco and blend it in with the chocolate. Also, the cake pops dip best when they are cold so be sure to only take a few out of the fridge at a time. You can store these Grinch Cake Pops at room temperature for about a week. An air-tight container is best too.
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