Bake Up Some Mischief with This Fun and Festive Grinch Poke Cake!
If your heart needs a little growing this holiday season, this Grinch Poke Cake is here to save Christmas (and dessert time)! With its bright green cake and merry red pudding poked throughout, it’s as festive as a Whoville parade. Topped with fluffy green icing, sparkly sprinkles, and tiny red hearts, this cake is proof that even the grumpiest Grinch can’t resist a sweet treat. It’s easy enough for busy elves but impressive enough to steal the show at any holiday gathering. So grab your mixing bowl and let’s bake up some mischief. Even the Grinch deserves a slice of Christmas cheer!
Why you should make this fun Grinch Christmas Cake:
- Easy and festive: Starts with a simple boxed cake mix, so you can whip it up faster than the Grinch can steal a roast beast.
- Bright and cheerful: The vibrant green cake and red pudding make it the ultimate showstopper for any Christmas dessert table.
- Homemade touch: The from-scratch icing adds that extra bit of love (and flavor) that even Cindy Lou Who would approve of.
- Perfectly themed: Topped with green sprinkles and red heart sprinkles—because every Grinch cake needs a heart that’s three sizes too big.
- Crowd-pleasing: Great for parties, potlucks, or cozy family nights watching holiday movies—it’s impossible not to smile while eating it.
This cake is perfect for:
- Christmas parties – A festive centerpiece that’ll have everyone talking (and eating seconds).
- Family movie nights – Especially while watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
- Holiday potlucks – Easy to transport, share, and guaranteed to disappear fast.
- Office holiday gatherings – Bring a little mischief and cheer to the break room.
- Classroom or school events – Kid-friendly, colorful, and full of Christmas spirit.
- Winter birthdays – A fun twist on a classic cake for anyone who loves the holidays.
- Christmas Eve dessert tables – The perfect sweet ending before Santa arrives.
- Baking days with kids or grandkids – A silly, hands-on recipe that’s as fun to make as it is to eat!
Festive Grinch Poke Cake
Prep Time: 20 min / Time to set: 30 min
Bake Time: 25-30 min
Serves: 15
Ingredients
- 1 box white cake mix + ingredients from the back of the box (water, oil, eggs)
- Neon green gel food coloring
- 1 (3.4 oz.) box of cheesecake instant pudding
- 2 cups milk
- Red gel food coloring
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4-5 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp. whole milk
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- Green sprinkles
- Jumbo heart sprinkles
Directions
Spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with non-stick spray and set aside.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together cake mix, water, oil, eggs. Add a generous amount of neon green gel food coloring, whisking until color is incorporated and your desired shade.
Finish preparing the cake, according to box directions, including the time for baking.
Allow the cake to cool.
Use a large straw or the skinny end of a wooden spoon or something similar, to poke holes throughout the cake.
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the pudding mix and milk.
Add a generous amount of red gel food coloring, and whisk until color is incorporated, and your desired shade of red is reached.
Use a food syringe, turkey baster, or something similar, to add the pudding to the holes you poked into the cake.
Allow this to set in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Prepare the frosting. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter until smooth. Add the vanilla extract, a generous amount of neon green gel food coloring, and about half of the powdered sugar, and mix.
As the sugar incorporates, add more sugar, and alternate adding small amounts of milk (you may not need it all) until the frosting comes together and everything is well combined, including the green food coloring. If the frosting become to thin, use extra powdered sugar to thicken.
Frost the top of your cake with the green frosting. Top with green sprinkles, and jumbo heart sprinkles.
Refrigerate until ready to enjoy.
FAQ
Can I use a different flavor of cake mix? Absolutely! White or vanilla cake mix works best for getting that bright green color, but you can also use yellow or even lemon cake mix for a fun twist.
How do I get the cake that perfect Grinchy green color? A few drops of green gel food coloring will do the trick! Start with a little and add more until you reach your desired shade of “Grinch green.”
Can I make this cake ahead of time? Yes! In fact, poke cakes often taste even better the next day since the pudding has more time to soak in. Just keep it covered and refrigerated until serving.
What if I don’t have red heart sprinkles? No problem! You can use red candy pieces, red sanding sugar, or even pipe small hearts with red icing—anything that adds that signature “heart grew three sizes” touch.
Tips & Tricks
- Use gel food coloring for vibrant color without thinning your batter or icing.
- Poke the holes while the cake is still warm so the pudding seeps in perfectly.
- Chill before serving—it helps the pudding set and makes slicing easier.
- Add extra hearts! A few more red heart sprinkles never hurt anyone (especially not the Grinch).
- Make it your own: Decorate with crushed candy canes, edible glitter, or a drizzle of white chocolate for extra holiday magic.
So go ahead—channel your inner Grinch and whip up a dessert that’s as merry as it is mischievous! With its bright colors, sweet pudding pockets, and heart-filled toppings, this cake is guaranteed to make spirits (and hearts) grow three sizes. It’s the perfect blend of festive fun and easy baking, sure to steal the spotlight at any holiday gathering. Whether you’re sharing it with Whos down in Whoville or just your own crew at home, this Grinch Poke Cake is a surefire way to spread a little extra Christmas cheer—one delicious bite at a time!
