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This Christmas, make a beautifully green Grinch Cake for a fun and colorful holiday dessert! A tender, brightly-hued vanilla cake is topped with tangy cream cheese frosting – also green! – and studded with bits of candy for a super festive cake.
You will absolutely adore this cute, festive Grinch cake recipe! There are a few holiday recipes that I make every year without fail, like my Christmas cranberry pound cake, Christmas cake mix cookies, and of course this Grinch cake! It’s a nod to the beloved Dr. Seuss classic “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and features a homemade buttermilk cake and from-scratch icing – all colored green just like the grouchy Grinch. Kids will love the extra candy bits scattered on top.
Why We Love This Grinch Cake
- Different! If you want something a little different this holiday season, a Grinch cake is the way to go! It’s so much more than your basic vanilla cake and I LOVE how colorful it is.
- Kid-friendly. Get your kids involved like I do and have them go crazy with the decorations. It’s a great way to get into the spirit of the season. And, it makes a nice holiday party dessert for the little ones.
- Makes the most of the holidays. This adorable cake absolutely sings wintry goodness! Put on some carols while you make and enjoy yourself.
What You’ll Need
Simple basics turn into something special with the addition of green food coloring! Here’s a look at the ingredients you’ll need for this easy Grinch cake recipe, and you can get all the details in the recipe card at the end of this post.
For The Cake
- Dry ingredients – All-purpose flour, baking powder and baking soda (check to make sure it’s fresh!), salt, and granulated sugar.
- Eggs and egg whites – Use large eggs plus large egg whites, and bring them to room temperature.
- Oil – I use vegetable oil and any neutral oil will work.
- Sour cream – Full-fat sour cream will give the most richness and in a pinch, you can use low-fat sour cream.
- Vanilla – A little pure vanilla extract adds depth of flavor. You’ll also use it in the frosting.
- Buttermilk – Make sure to shake the buttermilk before using, and let it come to room temperature.
- Green food dye – You can use an all-natural food coloring if you prefer. It’s used for the cake and the frosting.
For The Green Cream Cheese Frosting
- Cream cheese – Use full-fat block cream cheese and bring it to room temperature so it blends lump-free into the frosting!
- Powdered sugar – Sift the powdered sugar for the smoothest-ever frosting.
- Decorations – Red heart sprinkles and crushed candies.
How to Make a Grinch Cake
It’s not complicated to make this cake, and here’s an overview in photos of how you”ll do it:
- Mix the dry ingredients. Whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt and set aside.
- Prepare the wet ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, beat together the eggs, egg whites, and granulated sugar, then add the oil, sour cream, and vanilla.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet mix, alternating with the buttermilk.
- Add food coloring and bake. Stir in the green food coloring until the batter is bright green, then pour it into a greased pan and bake at 350 F for 25–30 minutes. Cool the cake completely before frosting.
- Make the frosting. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese then add in the sifted powdered sugar and mix until fully combined.
- Add color. Mix in the vanilla and green food dye.
- Assemble. Place the cake layer on a plate. Spread an even layer of frosting on top and decorate it with sprinkles and candy.
Tips for Success
- Bring ingredients to room temperature: This is especially important when you make the frosting because if the cream cheese is too cold it will result in lumpy frosting (not good!). So let it sit out on the counter until it feels soft.
- If you don’t have buttermilk: Add 1 tablespoon of white vinegar to 1 cup of whole milk, let it stand for 10 minutes, then measure out 3/4 cup to use in the recipe.
- Try different candies: If you’re looking for more Grinch cake ideas in the way of decorating, you can add other candies like crushed peppermints, Andes mints, candy canes, green and red M&Ms, etc.
- Use this recipe for other occasions. This cake is so good it doesn’t need to be saved just for Christmas! Use pink or red food coloring to make a pretty Valentine’s Day cake, for example.
How to Store a Grinch Cake
- Fridge – Cover the Grinch cake with a foil tent (this means that the foil is slightly elevated above the cake so that it doesn’t stick to the frosting) and store it in the fridge for up to 5 days. Let the cake sit on the counter for 15 minutes to warm to room temperature before serving it for the best texture.
- Freezer – Place the cake in the freezer for about an hour to harden it a little bit, then wrap it in a layer of plastic and a layer of foil. Store the cake in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw the cake thoroughly in the fridge before serving.
More Christmas Dessert Ideas
Grinch Cake
Green Grinch Cake features a tender, brightly-hued vanilla cake topped with tangy cream cheese frosting and studded with bits of candy.
Ingredients
Grinch Cake
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- pinch of sea salt
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 2 egg whites, at room temperature
- 1 cup white granulated sugar
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- ⅓ cup sour cream, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¾ cup buttermilk
- green food dye
Green Cream Cheese Frosting
- 16 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1½ cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- green food dye
- red heart sprinkles and crushed candies
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with butter or non-stick spray, then line it with parchment paper, allowing some overhang on the sides for easy removal. Set aside.
- Mix the dry ingredients. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and a pinch of sea salt. Set this mixture aside.
- Prepare the wet ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer on medium speed to beat together the eggs, egg whites, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes. Add the vegetable oil, sour cream, and pure vanilla extract, and mix on medium speed until the mixture is smooth and fully combined.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture in three parts, alternating with the buttermilk. Begin and end with the dry ingredients. Mix gently on low speed after each addition until just combined, ensuring the batter remains smooth without overmixing to keep the cake light.
- Add color. Stir in the green food dye, a few drops at a time, until the batter reaches the desired Grinch-inspired green hue.
- Bake the cakes. Pour the batter into the prepared 9×13-inch pan, spreading it evenly with a spatula. Bake in the preheated oven for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10–15 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
Making the Green Cream Cheese Frosting
- Creaming the ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese with a hand mixer until smooth and creamy. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar and mix until fully combined. Add the vanilla extract and green food dye, mixing until the frosting is a vibrant green color.
- Adjust consistency. If the frosting is too thick, add a teaspoon of milk at a time until it reaches the desired consistency. If too thin, add a little more powdered sugar.
Assembling the Grinch Cake
- Place the cake layer on a serving plate or cake stand. Spread an even layer of green cream cheese frosting on top.
- Decorate with red heart sprinkles and crushed candies to give the cake its Grinch-inspired charm. Enjoy this colorful cake!
Equipment
Nutrition
Calories: 467kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 71mg | Sodium: 209mg | Potassium: 126mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin A: 612IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 99mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
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