Grinch Cake Pops

I still remember the first time I made these Grinch Cake Pops—my kitchen was a complete mess, green candy coating everywhere, and my hands looked like I had just finger-painted.

But when I set those little pops on the table, with their cheeky smiles and red hearts, everyone’s faces lit up.

The kids couldn’t stop giggling, and even the adults picked one up like they were ten years old again.

That’s the charm of these cake pops—they’re playful, silly, and full of holiday spirit. You don’t need to be a professional baker to make them look adorable.

In fact, the wonkier the smile, the funnier they turn out. They’re the kind of treat that makes the season feel a little lighter and a lot more joyful.

Grinch Cake Pops Recipe

Ingredients

For the Cake:

1 cup all-purpose flour (sifted)
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
2 large eggs
½ cup whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 pinch salt

For the Frosting (to bind cake crumbs):

½ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 ½ cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1–2 tablespoons milk

For the Coating and Decorations:

12 oz white chocolate or candy melts
Green oil-based food coloring (do not use water-based, as it makes chocolate seize)
Red candy melts or red royal icing
Small red candy hearts (flat style)
Lollipop sticks

Instructions

Bake the Cake:

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line an 8-inch square cake pan with parchment paper.
In a bowl, beat softened butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Stir in vanilla extract.
In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add dry mix to the wet ingredients, alternating with milk until you have a smooth batter.
Pour into the pan and bake for 22–25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let it cool completely on a wire rack.

Prepare the Frosting Binder:

Beat butter until creamy. Add powdered sugar in small amounts until fully incorporated. Mix in vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon milk. If too thick, add another splash of milk until smooth and spreadable.

Form Cake Balls

Once cake is fully cooled, crumble it finely with your hands or a fork into a large bowl. Add 3–4 tablespoons of frosting and mix until the texture feels like moldable cookie dough.
Roll into smooth balls about 1.25 inches in diameter. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Chill in the fridge for 1 hour or in the freezer for 20 minutes until firm.

Prepare the Coating:

Melt white chocolate or candy melts in a heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water (double boiler) or in the microwave at 20-second intervals, stirring in between.
Once melted and smooth, stir in green oil-based food coloring until you get a bright Grinch-green shade.

Insert Sticks:

Dip the tip of each lollipop stick into the melted green coating, then push it halfway into each cake ball. This helps secure it. Let set for 5 minutes.

Coat the Cake Pops:

Dip each cake ball into the green coating, swirling gently to cover completely. Tap off excess coating by lightly tapping the stick against the bowl while rotating the pop for an even finish.
Stick them upright into a foam block or stand to dry completely.

Decorate the Grinch Faces:

Use red candy melts (melted and transferred into a piping bag with a fine tip) or red royal icing to pipe on the big mischievous Grinch smiles.
For eyes and eyebrows, pipe red angled shapes above the smile and a small dot for the nose.
Place a small red heart candy on top of the head while the coating is still slightly tacky, or attach it later with a dot of melted coating.
Allow all decorations to set until firm.

Tips for Best Results:

Keep cake pops chilled until dipping to prevent them from falling apart.
If coating is too thick, thin it with ½ teaspoon of vegetable shortening.
Use oil-based food coloring only, never liquid.
Pipe designs on parchment first to practice before decorating the pops.

How Do I Keep My Grinch Cake Pops From Falling Off The Stick?

The biggest reason cake pops slide off is because the cake balls are too soft or the coating is too heavy. To keep them secure:

Chill before dipping: Place shaped cake balls in the fridge for at least 1 hour so they firm up.
Dip the stick in coating: Before inserting the stick, dip the tip in melted coating, then push it halfway into the cake ball.
Don’t overload with coating: Dip smoothly and tap gently to avoid too much weight pulling it down.

Can I Make Grinch Cake Pops Without Candy Melts?

Yes, you can still make them without candy melts. Just use:

White chocolate: Melt and color it with oil-based food coloring.
Green-colored white chocolate chips: Already tinted, so no need for food coloring.

How Do I Get The Perfect Grinch Green Color For The Coating?

Yes, you can still make them without candy melts. Just use:

White chocolate: Melt and color it with oil-based food coloring.
Green-colored white chocolate chips: Already tinted, so no need for food coloring.

How Do I Stop Cracks From Forming In The Coating?

Cracks usually happen when the cake is too cold or the coating cools too fast. Try this:

Avoid freezing the cake balls: Keep them chilled, not frozen, before dipping.
Use smooth coating: If it’s too thick, thin it slightly so it covers evenly.
Let pops rest at room temp a bit: Take them out of the fridge for 5 minutes before dipping.

What Can I Use If I Don’t Have Red Candy Hearts?

If you can’t find red candy hearts, you can easily replace them with:

Red fondant shapes cut into tiny hearts.
Red royal icing hearts piped and dried ahead of time.
Red mini M&M’s or similar candies shaped close to hearts.

How Do I Thin Candy Melts If They’Re Too Thick?

Sometimes candy melts feel heavy and hard to dip. To fix this:

Add vegetable shortening: A teaspoon at a time until smooth.
Use a little coconut oil: It thins the coating without changing taste much.
Stir gently: Avoid overheating or whisking fast, which makes it grainy.

Can Kids Help With Decorating Grinch Cake Pops?

Yes, and they usually love it! Keep the harder steps for adults and give the fun parts to kids:

Dipping help: Let them sprinkle or place the candy hearts after dipping.
Drawing faces: Give them edible markers to draw smiles instead of piping.
Simple decorations: Allow them to add sprinkles or tiny edible stars.

Can I Freeze Grinch Cake Pops For Later Use?

Yes, freezing works well if you want to make them early. Just remember:

Freeze undecorated pops: Coat them later after thawing to avoid cracks.
Wrap tightly: Use plastic wrap and a freezer bag to prevent freezer burn.
Thaw in fridge: Move them from freezer to fridge overnight before decorating.