Description
Delight in these festive Grinch Cake Pops, featuring moist red velvet cake mixed with a creamy sweetened cream cheese filling, coated in vibrant green candy melts, and adorned with festive sanding sugar and candy hearts. Perfect for holiday parties or themed celebrations, these cake pops combine rich flavors and playful presentation in bite-sized treats.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake
- 15.25 ounces package red velvet cake mix
- 1 cup milk
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Cream Cheese Mixture
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1½ cups powdered sugar
Coating and Decoration
- 24 ounces green candy melts, divided
- Green sanding sugar
- Candy hearts
Instructions
- Mix and Bake Cake: Preheat oven to 325°F. Melt 6 tablespoons of butter in a microwave-safe bowl. In a large bowl, combine the red velvet cake mix, milk, and melted butter. Mix on low speed for about 1 minute until well blended. Pour the batter into a greased 9 x 13-inch baking pan.
- Bake and Cool: Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Avoid overbaking to prevent browning. Let the cake cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes, then chill in the refrigerator for another 15 minutes while preparing the cream cheese mixture.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl, use a hand blender to beat the softened cream cheese and kosher salt on medium speed until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low, gradually add powdered sugar, and beat until smooth. Increase speed to high and beat for an additional minute until the mixture is fluffy.
- Crumble Cake: Divide the cake in half. Crumble one half into a large bowl; freeze the remaining half for another use.
- Combine Cake and Cream Cheese: Fold the cream cheese mixture into the crumbled cake until fully combined.
- Form Cake Balls: Using a 1-tablespoon cookie scoop, form approximately 33 balls about 1 inch in diameter. Place them evenly spaced on a parchment-lined baking tray. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to firm.
- Prepare for Coating: Melt 18 ounces of the green candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl according to package directions. Dip ¼-inch of each cake pop stick into the melted candy, then insert the stick into each cake ball.
- Coat Cake Pops: Quickly dip each cake pop into the melted candy melts, shaking off excess coating. Place on parchment-lined trays. Repeat until all pops are coated.
- Decorate: Once coating hardens, melt the remaining candy melts and transfer to a piping bag. Snip the tip and drizzle decorative swirls over the cake pops. While still warm, dust with green sanding sugar for sparkle.
- Finish with Candy Hearts: Place the cake pops on a baking tray and attach candy hearts as the Grinch’s signature embellishment.
Notes
- Chilling the cake and cake balls helps with easier shaping and coating.
- Do not overbake the cake to prevent dryness and browning, which affects texture and appearance.
- If desired, reuse leftover cake half by freezing it for future desserts.
- Handle candy melts carefully to avoid overheating which can cause them to seize or become grainy.
- Use parchment paper or silicone mats for easy cleanup during cake pop assembly.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Grinch Cake Pops, red velvet cake pops, holiday cake pops, festive desserts, cream cheese cake pops, candy coated cake bites
