Who can resist a festive green dip inspired by everyone’s favorite holiday grump? Grinch dip captures the whimsy of Whoville with its vibrant hue and cute sprinkles.
It transforms a simple cake mix into something magical.
Perfect for holiday parties or movie nights, it’ll add a playful touch to your dessert spread.
Serve it with an assortment of dippers, and watch it disappear!
Why You’ll Love This Grinch Dip
Festive & Fun: The bright green Grinch-inspired color and red heart sprinkles make this dip a real show-stopper. Just seeing it will put everyone in a playful and cheerful mood.
Time-Saver: With its quick and easy preparation, this no-bake dip is a lifesaver for busy hosts. With this recipe, you can whip up an impressive, memorable dessert in just minutes.
Versatile Serving Options: You can pair this dip with anything from cookies and graham crackers to pretzels and fruit. It’s highly adaptable, allowing you to cater to the various tastes of numerous guests.
Ingredients
- Yellow Cake Mix: It forms the base of this no-bake dip. Heat-treat it to make it safe to eat and enjoy its sweet, cake-like flavor.
- Whipped Cream Cheese Spread: It creates a creamy, tangy texture. It also blends more easily than block-style cream cheese for a smoother finish.
- Whole Milk: It thins the cream cheese to achieve the perfect dippable texture.
- Cool Whip: It adds lightness and fluffiness to the dip, making it airy and easier to scoop.
- Green Gel Food Coloring: For the iconic Grinch-green color. Use gel coloring instead of liquid so it won’t thin out the dip.
- Red Heart Sprinkles: The decorative Grinch-themed topping will make your heart grow three sizes, too!
How to Make Grinch Dip
Preparing this dip couldn’t be simpler!
1. Heat treat the cake mix. Place the dry cake mix in a large, microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 45 seconds on high. Remove it and stir, then microwave for another 45 seconds. Cool for 1 minute.
2. Combine the ingredients. Mix the whipped cream cheese, Cool Whip, and 2 tablespoons of milk with the cake mix. Use a stand or hand mixer for the best results. If needed, add up to 2 more tablespoons of milk to thin the dip. Don’t overdo it! You don’t want it to be runny.
3. Add the color. Mix the gel food coloring in a few drops at a time. Mix well before adding more. Stop when it becomes Grinchy green.
4. Decorate and serve. Transfer the dip to a serving bowl and add the red heart sprinkles (available from Amazon) on top. Serve with dippers, and enjoy!
Tips for the Best Grinch Dip
Check out these tips and tricks before jumping to the recipe card below:
- Don’t skip the heat treatment. It may seem strange, but it’s important! Boxed cake mix contains raw flour, which can be dangerous. Heat-treat the mix as instructed to kill potentially harmful bacteria.
- Soften up your cream cheese. Whipped cream cheese is much easier to mix than block-style cream cheese. However, it’s still easier to work with if you set it out early.
- Go easy on the milk. You may not need the 4 tablespoons listed in the recipe. Start with 2, then add more slowly until the dip is as thin as you want it. Remember, it should still be dip, not a runny liquid.
- No mixer? No problem! You can mix the ingredients by hand. It’ll just take a bit more time and elbow grease. Mix thoroughly until no lumps remain.
- Can’t find heart sprinkles? Use regular red sprinkles, cinnamon candies, or red M&Ms instead. Anything sweet and red will work.
- Let it chill. Although you can serve the dip immediately, its texture is best when cold. Pop it in the fridge for 15 to 20 minutes before serving for a firmer consistency.
- Try fun variations. Use chocolate cake mix for a “Dark Grinch” version. Or swap the food coloring and sprinkles to suit other occasions.
What to Serve with This Dip
You can serve this dip with anything you’d normally serve with sweet dips. My recommendations include:
- Sugar cookies
- Fruit and berries
- Pretzels
- Gingerbread cookies
- Graham crackers
- Teddy Grahams
- Snickerdoodles
- Vanilla wafers
- Double chocolate chip cookies
Bonus points if your cookies are holiday-shaped!
How to Store
This dip doesn’t freeze well, but it will keep for up to 4 days.
To Store: Transfer the dip to an air-tight container or wrap it tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for up to 4 days. If possible, store it without the sprinkles, as they may bleed into the dip.
Grinch Dip
10
servings15
minutes277
Liven up any party with this festive Grinch dip! Made with a boxed cake mix, cream cheese, and Cool Whip, it’s quick, easy, and full of fun.
Ingredients
1 (15.25-ounce) box yellow cake mix
1 (8-ounce) tub whipped cream cheese spread
1 (8-ounce) container Cool Whip
2-4 tablespoons whole milk (adjust as needed)
green gel food coloring
red heart sprinkles
Instructions
- Place the yellow cake mix in a large, microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 90 seconds, stirring halfway through, to ensure the flour is heat-treated. Cool for 1 minute.
- Add the whipped cream cheese, Cool Whip, and 2 tablespoons of milk to the bowl with the cake mix. Use a hand or stand mixer to blend everything until smooth and creamy.
- If the dip seems too thick, add up to 2 more tablespoons of milk, mixing after each addition. Continue until desired consistency is reached.
- Mix in the green gel food coloring a little at a time. Continue until the dip becomes a bright, Grinch-like green.
- Transfer the dip to a serving bowl. Sprinkle the top generously with red heart sprinkles for that signature “Grinch” look.
- Serve immediately with dippers such as cookies, graham crackers, vanilla wafers, or pretzels.
Notes
- Don’t skip the heat-treating step for safety reasons.
- Set the cream cheese out about 30 minutes early to make it easier to work with. (Especially important if you have to mix the dip by hand.)
- Add the milk gradually.
- Chill for 15 to 20 minutes before serving for a firmer consistency.
