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grinch cupcakes decorated with bright green frosting and a red santa hat in white cupcake liners.
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5 from 1 vote

Grinch Cupcakes

These adorable Grinch Cupcakes are sure to make everyone’s hearts (and stomachs) grow three sizes! These cupcakes are easy and decorated to look just like our favorite animated green meanie. This dessert just might steal Christmas in the best way possible!
Course Cupcakes, Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword christmas cupcakes, grinch cupcakes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 19 minutes
Servings 24
Calories 287kcal
Author Trish - Mom On Timeout

Ingredients

  • 15.25 ounces white cake mix 1 box
  • 3 large eggs room temperature
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 8 tablespoons salted butter melted
  • Neon green food coloring divided
  • 32 ounces white frosting (2) 16 ounce tubs
  • ¼-½ cup powdered sugar
  • 48 yellow Reese’s Pieces or M&Ms
  • 1 tube black decorating icing
  • Red food coloring

Instructions

Make the Cupcakes

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two muffin tins with liners.
  • Beat together the cake mix, eggs, milk and melted butter in a large mixing bowl, until well combined, about 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Mix in the neon green food coloring, adding a few drops at a time, until you get a lovely grinchy green color.
  • Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin tins, filling each liner about ⅔ of the way full.
  • Bake for 18 to 23 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
  • Remove cupcakes and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Prepare the Frosting

  • Combine one tub of frosting, 1/4 cup of powdered sugar and enough green food coloring (that you get a color that closely matches the green cupcakes) and use a hand mixer to beat together until thick and combined, with no streaks. Check to make sure that the frosting holds its shape when piped. If the frosting doesn't hold its shape, add additional powdered sugar and beat again.

Decorate

  • Transfer the frosting into a piping bag with a 2A Wilton piping tip and pipe a tall swirl of green frosting on each of the cupcakes. This is the Grinch's head so you want it to cover the cupcake and be tall and large enough for the eyes and a red Santa hat.
  • Remove about ¾ cup of white frosting from the remaining tub of frosting and transfer to a piping bag with a #22 Wilton piping tip. Set aside.
  • Add several drops of red food coloring to the rest of the tub of white icing and mix until combined. Add enough drops to get a nice, bright red color. Think Santa red.
  • Now transfer the red frosting in a piping bag with a #12 Wilton piping tip and pipe Santa hats onto the top of each Grinch head. Make sure you leave some room for the white "fur" trim we'll be piping on next.
  • Use the white frosting to pipe around the hat and a dollop on the top.
  • Place two yellow Reese’s pieces or yellow M&Ms (Grinch's eyes) right below the white "fur" of the santa hat. You can even have them slightly higher so they seem to jut out above the white.
  • Finally, use the black decorating icing to pipe on Grinch's eyebrows, irises, nose, mouth (smile or frown). You can put the eyebrows on the white "fur" of the hat if you want.

Notes

Storage Information
You can store these cupcakes in an airtight container (make sure the dish is deep enough so the frosting on top doesn’t get squished) in the fridge for up to 5 days to keep them fresh or at room temperature for up to 2 days,.
To freeze: You can freeze unfrosted cupcakes after they’ve cooled completely. Store them in a freezer safe container or wrap them individually in plastic wrap before placing them in their container. They’ll stay fresh in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost until they reach room temperature, decorate as directed and enjoy. Keep in mind that the frosting will likely change in texture and consistency.
Special Tools and Ingredients Needed
Make Your Own Frosting
Skip the store bought frosting and make your own buttercream instead:
  • 1 cup unsalted
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons heavy cream
  1. Beat butter on medium speed until completely smooth, about 1 minute.
  2. Add salt, vanilla extract and one cup of powdered sugar. Beat until completely combined.
  3. Beat in 2 more cups of powdered sugar, one cup at time, beating after each addition, until smooth and creamy, about 3 to 4 minutes.
  4. Add 1 tablespoon of heavy cream and continue beating.
  5. Mix in the remaining cup of powdered sugar, half a cup at a time.
  6. Add additional heavy cream, one teaspoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached. Turn the mixer to speed to medium high and continuing beating for an additional minute until the frosting is fluffy and smooth.

Nutrition

Calories: 287kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 237mg | Potassium: 48mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin A: 167IU | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 1mg