Grinch Cupcakes

Grinch Cupcakes: The Sweetest Way to Steal the Show This Holiday Season

Oh, the holidays. One minute you’re sipping cocoa by the fire feeling all festive, and the next you’re elbow-deep in glitter and wondering if you’ve totally lost your mind. (Spoiler alert: you haven’t.) It’s just that time of year busy, joyful, and a little chaotic.

That’s why I’m so excited to share one of my favorite quick and easy holiday treats with you: Grinch Cupcakes!
These are a serious crowd-pleaser sweet little bites of pistachio goodness, topped with the creamiest French vanilla buttercream frosting. And yes, they’re Grinch-green and heart-filled, just the way they should be.

Best part? These cupcakes are easy enough to pull together even when your to-do list is longer than the line at the mall Santa. Whether you’re making them for a class party, a family gathering, or just a cozy movie night at home (The Grinch, obviously), you’re going to love how simple and fun these are.

Alright, let’s jump right in, friend!

Directions: How to Make Grinch Cupcakes

First up: The Cupcakes

Preheat that oven!
Set it to 350°F (because nobody likes waiting on a cold oven when you’re ready to bake). Line your muffin tin with those cute little cupcake liners or give the tin a good spray with non-stick cooking spray.

Step 1: Mix It Up
In a big ol’ mixing bowl, dump in your cake mix. Add the water, oil, and eggs.
Grab your electric mixer or if you’re feeling like a holiday workout, a strong whisk and mix on medium speed until everything is smooth and happy.

Step 2: Add Pistachio Magic
Here’s where the Grinchy magic starts: sprinkle in your pistachio pudding mix and gently fold it into the batter. You’ll see that gorgeous green color start to peek through!

Optional (but FUN) Step: Adjust the Green
If you want a super bold Grinch-green color, now’s your chance to add a few drops of green and yellow gel food coloring.

• Tip: 4-6 drops yellow + 2-3 drops green gives that classic Grinch vibe!
  Give it a little swirl but don’t overmix!

Step 3: Fill & Bake
Scoop your batter into the muffin tin, filling each cup about 2/3 full (just eyeball it no need for perfection here).
Pop those babies into the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes.
They’re done when a toothpick poked into the center comes out clean like magic!

Step 4: Cool It
Let your cupcakes cool completely before frosting.
I know, I know the waiting is the hardest part. But if you frost too soon, the buttercream will slide right off into a melty puddle. Trust me, it’s worth the wait.

Now: That Frosting!

Step 5: Cream the Butter
In a fresh bowl, cream your softened butter using your mixer. Let it whip up for about 2 minutes until it’s light, fluffy, and looks like pure happiness. Add in the salt and cocoa powder and mix again until combined.

Step 6: Sweeten the Deal
Start adding your powdered sugar one cup at a time, mixing after each addition. In between each cup of sugar, pour in a splash of your French vanilla creamer (or half-and-half).
Pro tip: If things start looking too dry, add a little extra splash of creamer. If it’s too wet, toss in a little more powdered sugar. You’ve got this.

Step 7: Get That Perfect Grinch Green
Time for more food coloring!
I used green gel coloring straight from the tube, but if you want to get fancy, you can blend green and yellow. Just a few drops at a time until you hit that perfect shade of mischief.

Step 8: Piping Party
Grab your piping bag, pop in your large round tip, and fill ‘er up with your gorgeous green frosting.
Swirl a generous amount on each cooled cupcake. Don’t stress about making them perfect messy frosting still tastes amazing.

Step 9: Heart Time!
Last but not least: press a big red candy heart into the frosting on each cupcake.
Just like the Grinch’s heart three sizes too big by the end of the story!

Tips for Success (From Someone Who’s Been There)

• Double the Batch: These cupcakes disappear FAST. I highly recommend doubling the recipe if you’re serving a crowd.
• Kids in the Kitchen: Little hands love helping with adding hearts and swirling frosting. Sure, it might get messy, but honestly? That’s half the fun.
• Store Smart: These cupcakes keep beautifully in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. If you make them ahead, you can even refrigerate them (just let them come to room temp before serving).
• Make it a Movie Night: Serve these up while watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas for bonus cozy points. Pajamas, blankets, and a hot cocoa bar highly encouraged.

There’s just something magical about making treats that bring out the kid in all of us even if you’re mostly just trying to survive December with your sanity intact.
These Grinch Cupcakes aren’t just a dessert; they’re a little celebration of family, fun, and yes, a little bit of controlled chaos which is pretty much what the holidays are all about, right?

So throw on your apron, turn up the Christmas music, and whip up a batch of these merry little cupcakes. I promise, your heart will grow three sizes too

Check Out More Holiday Cupcakes

• Gingerbread Men Kit Kat Cupcakes
• Gingerbread Latte Cupcakes
• Patriotic Cupcakes

Grinch Cupcakes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

  

For the Cupcakes

• 1 15.25- ounce white cake mix
• 1 cup water
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs
• 1-3.35- ounce box of pistachio pudding
• Cupcake liners
• Green and yellow gel food coloring

For the Frosting

• 1 ½ sticks salted butter softened
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• ¼ cup chocolate syrup
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons French vanilla coffee creamer half and half or whole milk
• 1 large piping bag 1 large round frosting tip
• Red candy hearts

Instructions

 

For the Cupcakes

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray or line a standard muffin tin.
• Add cake mix to a large mixing bowl. Using an electric hand or stand mixer, mix in your water, oil, and eggs on medium speed until well incorporated.
• Fold in ½ cup of the Chocolate Mint Kit Kat Candy Bars
• Add batter into the muffin tin until each is about 2/3 full. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before frosting.

For the Frosting

• Using an electric hand or stand mixer, cream the butter, and beat until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes). Mix in the vanilla extract.
• Slowly mix in the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, while adding a bit of the flavored creamer in between each cup. Continue to mix for 1 minute or until creamy. Add food coloring until desired color is achieved. For the Grinch green, you can also use green gel food coloring. Some people have mixed 4-6 drops of yellow and 2-3 drops of green.
• Prepare piping bag and fill bag with frosting and frost your cupcakes.
• Add a large red candy heart to each one of the cupcakes. Enjoy!