Introduction

These Grinch Cake Pops are a festive and fun treat perfect for holiday gatherings. Made with red velvet cake and vibrant green candy coating, they are sure to impress both kids and adults alike. Plus, they’re easy to make and great for sharing.

A close-up of a pile of round cake pops on white sticks placed in a white square dish with a white marbled background. Each cake pop has two layers: a smooth outer green coating with slightly darker green swirls all over and a red heart-shaped decoration on top, and inside, a deep red, moist cake layer visible in one cake pop that is bitten into. Small red heart shapes are scattered around the dish, with a red and white checkered cloth in the top corner. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 box Red Velvet Cake Mix (and ingredients called for on box to make the cake)
3 Tbsp Cream Cheese Frosting (pre-made works well)
24-36 Cake Pop Sticks or Lollipop Sticks
12 oz Vibrant Green Candy Melts
1 teaspoon Vegetable Shortening
36 Red Candy Hearts (or Red Candy Sprinkles)

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the red velvet cake following the package instructions, then bake as directed. Let the cake cool completely at room temperature.
Step 2: Remove the cake from the pan and peel off the brown outside layer. Discard this layer, then crumble the remaining cake into a large bowl.
Step 3: Add the cream cheese frosting to the crumbled cake and mix until the mixture is well combined.
Step 4: Shape the mixture into 24 to 36 cake balls, using a cookie scoop for uniform size if available. Place the balls on a lined cookie sheet.
Step 5: In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the green candy melts and vegetable shortening. Microwave for 30 seconds, stir, then continue heating in 30-second intervals, stirring each time until melted and smooth.
Step 6: Dip each cake pop stick into the melted candy, then insert it halfway into each cake ball. Freeze the cake pops for 10-15 minutes to set.
Step 7: Dip each chilled cake pop into the melted green candy, covering completely. Let excess drip off back into the bowl.
Step 8: Insert the sticks into a block of styrofoam to let the candy coating dry and harden.
Step 9: Place any remaining candy melts in a decorator’s bag and cut the tip at a 45-degree angle.
Step 10: Drizzle the candy melt over the top of each cake pop and place a red candy heart or sprinkles on each before the coating hardens.
Step 11: Continue until all cake pops are decorated. Once dry, they are ready to serve and enjoy!

Tips & Variations

Use a cookie scoop for even-sized cake balls to ensure consistent baking and coating.
If candy melts start to harden while dipping, gently reheat them in short microwave bursts.
Substitute cream cheese frosting with homemade frosting for a fresher taste.
Decorate with red sprinkles or edible glitter for extra festive flair.

Storage

Store the finished cake pops in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, keep them in the refrigerator for up to a week. Before serving refrigerated cake pops, let them come to room temperature to enjoy the best texture and flavor.

How to Serve

Five cake pops are shown standing upright on white sticks inserted into a white foam block. Each cake pop is round and covered in a smooth, bright yellow-green coating with thin yellow-green icing drizzled decoratively over the surface. On top of each, there is a small, red heart-shaped decoration. The background is a white marbled texture with a soft red and white checkered cloth partially visible on the right side. The photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use other cake flavors instead of red velvet?

Yes, you can substitute red velvet for any cake flavor you prefer. Just keep in mind that the green candy coating and red decorations are designed to create a Grinch-inspired look, so colors and flavor combinations may vary.

What can I use if I don’t have vegetable shortening?

If you don’t have vegetable shortening, you can substitute with a small amount of coconut oil or butter to help smooth the candy melts, but use sparingly to avoid thinning the coating too much.