Grinch Holiday Cheese Ball (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Main Ingredients
01 -
1½ cups vanilla cake mix (or any light-colored variety), heat-treated for safety
02 -
8 oz cream cheese, brought to room temperature
03 -
½ cup salted butter, softened
04 -
½ cup confectioner's sugar
05 -
2 tbsp packed light brown sugar
→ For Decoration & Serving
06 -
1 tsp vibrant green food coloring
07 -
½ cup mini heart-shaped sprinkles
08 -
Graham crackers or your favorite cookies for dunking
# Instructions:
01 -
Start by heating your oven to 350°F. Spread the cake mix evenly across a baking sheet and pop it in the oven for exactly 5 minutes. This step makes the raw flour safe to eat! Let it cool down completely before moving on.
02 -
In a large mixing bowl (or stand mixer), combine the cooled cake mix with cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and brown sugar. Beat everything together on medium-high speed until you have a perfectly smooth mixture - this usually takes about 3 to 5 minutes.
03 -
Remove the bowl from your mixer and gently fold in the green food coloring using a spatula. Mix until you achieve that perfect Grinch-green shade throughout.
04 -
Lay out a sheet of plastic wrap on your counter and spoon the green mixture right into the center. Gather up the edges of the plastic wrap to enclose the mixture, then use your hands to gently mold it into a nice round ball shape. Wrap it up tight with a second layer of plastic if needed.
05 -
Place your wrapped cheese ball in the refrigerator and let it chill for at least 2-3 hours until it's nice and firm to the touch.
06 -
When you're ready to serve, spread those heart sprinkles out on a flat surface. Unwrap your chilled cheese ball and roll it around in the sprinkles, using your fingers to gently press them into the surface so they stick well.
07 -
Present your adorable Grinch cheese ball alongside some crispy graham crackers or sweet cookies for the perfect holiday treat that everyone will love!
# Notes:
01 -
This festive cheese ball captures the Grinch's signature green color and is perfect for holiday gatherings and Christmas parties.
02 -
The heat-treatment step for the cake mix is essential for food safety since we're not baking the final product.
03 -
You can customize this recipe with different cake mix flavors to create unique variations throughout the year.