Grinchy Red Velvet Cake Balls Recipe

If you’re on the hunt for a holiday treat that’s as fun to make as it is to eat, I absolutely love sharing this Grinchy Red Velvet Cake Balls Recipe with friends and family. These cake balls come packed with festive vibes, combining the rich, moist flavor of red velvet with a creamy center, all wrapped in a vibrant green shell that’s perfect for Christmas parties. Trust me, once you try this, you’ll want to make these joyful bites every year!

this Recipe

Ingredients You’ll Need

The magic of this Grinchy Red Velvet Cake Balls Recipe lies in some simple but flavorful ingredients that come together to create something special. Each one balances texture and flavor, making sure your cake balls are rich without being heavy. I always recommend using good-quality cream cheese and white chocolate chips for the best results.

• Chips Ahoy Chewy Red Velvet cookies: These bring the classic red velvet flavor in the form of a tasty crumb base.
• Cream cheese: Room temperature cream cheese blends smoothly and adds that luscious creamy texture.
• White chocolate chips: Divided into melting and drizzling, these create the gorgeous coating and drizzles.
• Green food coloring gel: Gel works best here for vivid, streak-free color in melted chocolate.
• Red heart sprinkles: Just the right festive touch for that signature “Grinchy” look.

Variations

I love how flexible this Grinchy Red Velvet Cake Balls Recipe is — it’s easy to personalize depending on your taste or dietary needs. You can tweak the decoration or even the cookie base without losing any of the festive charm.

• Gluten-Free Option: I once swapped the cookie base for a gluten-free red velvet cookie alternative, and the balls still came out moist and delicious.
• Nutty Twist: Adding finely chopped pecans inside the mixture adds a delightful crunch that my family can’t get enough of.
• Dark Chocolate Coating: For a richer taste, replace the white chocolate with dark chocolate and just tint with a bit of green coloring.
• Different Sprinkles: Try red and green sugar crystals or edible glitter for holiday sparkle instead of hearts.

How to Make Grinchy Red Velvet Cake Balls Recipe

Step 1: Crumble Your Cookies Into Fine Crumbs

Start by placing a wire rack over a parchment-lined baking sheet to keep things tidy. Pulse your Chips Ahoy Chewy Red Velvet cookies in a food processor until you get fine crumbs—this is the base of the cake balls, so you want no large chunks here. If you don’t have a processor, you can pop the cookies into a sealed plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin, but the processor gives a more uniform texture.

Step 2: Mix Cookies and Cream Cheese Until Smooth

Use your stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, or a hand mixer if that’s what you have. Beat the cream cheese on medium-high speed until it’s silky smooth — no lumps! Then add the cookie crumbs and mix everything until combined well. I learned that mixing on medium speed prevents the cream cheese from flying everywhere, which happened to me the first time I made this!

Step 3: Form and Chill Your Cake Balls

Using a tablespoon measure, scoop and roll the mixture into balls roughly 1 1/2 inches in diameter—about the size of a ping pong ball. Place these on your wire rack and pop them in the fridge for around 2 hours until firm. Chilling is key here — it makes dipping them in chocolate so much easier and cleaner.

Step 4 & 5: Melt Chocolate and Mix in Green Coloring

Set up a double boiler by placing a medium heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water—make sure the bowl’s bottom doesn’t touch the water. Reserve one package of chocolate chips for later drizzle. Melt the other two packages, stirring gently until smooth, about 2 minutes. Remove the bowl from heat and stir in green gel a drop at a time until you reach the classic Grinch green you want.

Step 6: Dip the Cake Balls and Chill Again

Using a fork, dip each chilled ball carefully into the melted green chocolate. Hold the fork over the bowl to let any excess drip off before returning the coated ball to the wire rack. You can apply a second coat if you want a thicker chocolate shell — I like to do this for a sturdier bite. Refrigerate again for 30 minutes until set.

Step 7 & 8: Add the Finishing Chocolate Drizzle and Sprinkles

Wipe out your bowl and melt the reserved package of white chocolate chips again using the double boiler setup. Add a drop or two of green gel to tint this chocolate too, then thin it with a bit of hot water, one tablespoon at a time, stirring vigorously until you get a nice drizzling consistency. Transfer the chocolate to a small piping bag or a plastic bag with a tiny snip at one corner. Drizzle the balls with thin green stripes, then gently press a red heart sprinkle on each one before the drizzle hardens. This red-on-green combo is pure holiday magic!

How to Serve Grinchy Red Velvet Cake Balls Recipe

Garnishes

I usually keep it simple with the red heart sprinkles—they scream Christmas and add a lovely pop of color against the green. But, if I’m feeling fancy, I might add edible gold dust or tiny holly leaf candies for that extra sparkle. It’s all about what adds a bit of joy to your holiday table.

Side Dishes

While cake balls are more of a dessert bite, I enjoy pairing them with a warm cup of spiced hot cocoa or peppermint tea. For a party, setting them alongside a cheese board or fruit platter creates a nice balance of sweet and savory for guests.

Creative Ways to Present

One year, I placed these Grinchy Red Velvet Cake Balls on festive cupcake liners inside a wooden crate lined with holiday-themed tissue paper—super cute for gifting. You can also thread them onto skewers with greenery and berries for an edible centerpiece that’s sure to get people talking!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store any leftover balls in an airtight container in the fridge. They keep well for up to 5 days, though they rarely last that long in my house. Just make sure to keep them chilled so the coating doesn’t get sticky.

Freezing

Freezing is a lifesaver when you want to prep ahead. I wrap each cake ball individually in wax paper, then put them all in a freezer-safe container. They freeze beautifully for up to a month. When you’re ready, just thaw them in the fridge overnight.

Reheating

Since these are cold treats, I don’t actually reheat them. But pulling them out of the fridge about 10 minutes before serving softens the cream cheese center just right, making every bite melt in your mouth.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

This Grinchy Red Velvet Cake Balls Recipe holds a special place in my holiday celebrations because it brings people together over something so joyful and delicious. I love how easy it is to whip up, yet it feels fancy enough to impress your guests or delight your kids. If you try making these, remember to have fun and make them your own — the holidays are all about sharing sweetness, after all!

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