Name: Grinch Cake with Green Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Prep time: 35 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 3/4 cups All-purpose flour; 2 tsp Baking powder; 1/2 tsp Baking soda; 1/2 tsp Salt; 1/2 cup Unsalted butter, room temperature; 2 TBSP Oil (canola or vegetable); 1 cup White granulated sugar; 1/3 cup Sour cream, room temperature; 1 TBSP Pure vanilla extract; 3 Large eggs, room temperature; 3/4 cup Buttermilk, room temperature; 3/4 cup Andes mints, chopped (optional); Green food dye (about 3 drops); 4 oz Cream cheese, room temperature; 3/4 cup Unsalted butter, room temperature; 3 cups Powdered sugar, sifted; 1 tsp Pure vanilla extract; 1/4 tsp Salt; Green food dye (about 3 drops); Red heart jumbo sprinkles for garnish

If you’re looking to surprise your guests with a fun, festive, and downright delicious dessert, this Grinch Cake with Green Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe is exactly what you need. Trust me, this cake isn’t just a showstopper in color — it’s moist, flavorful, and topped with the most decadent, vibrant frosting that’s perfect for holiday parties or any time you want a cheerful treat. Once you try it, you’ll see why it’s become a favorite in my kitchen and a reason for my family to go a little crazy during the holidays!

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Eye-Catching Green Color: The vibrant green cream cheese frosting makes the cake pop and instantly brings holiday cheer.
Moist, Tasty Cake: Combining sour cream, buttermilk, and chopped Andes mints makes the texture tender and the flavor uniquely delightful.
Easy to Follow: Clear, step-by-step instructions that ensure even baking beginners can nail it on their first try.
Versatile & Fun: Perfect for holiday parties, birthdays, or just a festive family dessert night.

The image shows three square pieces of green cake with one piece lifted, showing its soft and spongy inside with dark chocolate spots. Each cake piece has one layer with light green smooth frosting on top, decorated with small green round sprinkles, and one red heart in the middle of the frosting on the visible piece. The cakes are placed on a white marbled surface with a blurred brown bowl filled with chopped dark and white chocolate in the background. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Grinch Cake with Green Cream Cheese Frosting, holiday cake recipes, festive green cake, Christmas dessert ideas, green frosting cake

Ingredients You’ll Need

For this Grinch Cake with Green Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe, I love how the combination of classic baking staples and a few special touches like Andes mints and sour cream create such an incredible flavor and texture. You’ll want to make sure to grab quality ingredients to get the best results.

Flat lay of a small mound of all-purpose flour on a simple white ceramic plate, a small white bowl with baking powder, another small white bowl with baking soda, a small white bowl with salt, a chunk of unsalted butter with a smooth surface, a small white bowl of clear canola oil, a small white bowl filled with white granulated sugar, a small white bowl holding creamy sour cream, a small white bowl containing green food dye droplets, three large brown whole eggs, a small white bowl with creamy buttermilk, chopped Andes mints scattered loosely on the surface, a block of cream cheese with a clean cut edge, a small white bowl filled with powdered sugar, and red heart-shaped jumbo sprinkles arranged neatly — all placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997 - Grinch Cake with Green Cream Cheese Frosting, holiday cake recipes, festive green cake, Christmas dessert ideas, green frosting cake

All-purpose flour: Make sure to spoon and level for accurate measurement, or better yet, use a kitchen scale for consistency.
Baking powder & baking soda: Both work together to give this cake a perfect lift and texture.
Salt: Just a pinch to balance sweetness and enhance the other flavors.
Unsalted butter: Room temperature butter creams nicely for a fluffy batter and smooth frosting.
Canola or vegetable oil: Adds extra moisture so the cake isn’t too dense.
White granulated sugar: Because sweetness is key, but not overpowering.
Sour cream: I discovered this trick when I wanted a super moist cake — it’s a game-changer.
Pure vanilla extract: Always use pure for the best aroma and depth.
Large eggs: Room temperature eggs blend better and help with rise.
Buttermilk: Adds tang and tenderness; keep it at room temp to avoid batter curdling.
Andes mints (optional): Chopped to pockets of minty chocolate surprise in the cake — a little festive magic.
Green food dye: Just a few drops to get that iconic green hue without tasting the dye.
Cream cheese: Softened to room temp for the smoothest frosting texture.
Powdered sugar: Sift it so your frosting stays silky without lumps.
Red heart jumbo sprinkles: To finish the cake with a festive pop of color.

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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

I like to keep things fun by customizing the Grinch Cake with Green Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe depending on the occasion or what ingredients I have on hand. It’s so forgiving yet special enough to elevate with simple tweaks.

Mint-Free Version: When my kids weren’t fans of the mint chunks, I simply left them out — the cake still shines bright with the green frosting and moist crumb.
Chocolate Swirl: Swirling in some melted chocolate into half the batter creates a festive half-and-half cake that doubles the fun.
Dairy-Free Adaptation: I’ve swapped the cream cheese and butter with vegan alternatives for dietary needs, and it still tastes amazing!
Extra Green Intensity: Adding a little spinach powder alongside the green food dye is my secret for a more natural color boost.

How to Make Grinch Cake with Green Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Step 1: Prep Your Pan and Dry Ingredients

Start by preheating your oven to 350℉ — that way, it’s ready when your batter is mixed. Grab a 9×9-inch cake pan, spray it with nonstick spray, line it with parchment paper, and spray again on top to ensure your cake will come out cleanly without sticking. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. This helps distribute your leavening agents evenly so your cake rises beautifully without uneven spots.

Step 2: Cream Butter, Oil, and Sugar

Using a stand or hand mixer, beat the softened butter, oil, and sugar on high speed for about 2 minutes. You want it nice and fluffy — this step traps air so the cake turns out light. Don’t forget to scrape down the sides of your bowl with a rubber spatula to mix everything evenly.

Step 3: Add Wet Ingredients and Green Color

Next, stir in the sour cream, vanilla extract, and about 3 drops of green food dye. I usually start with 3 drops and add a little more if I want a deeper color — but be careful not to overdo it to avoid that artificial taste. Then add the eggs one at a time, mixing on medium speed until smooth after each addition. Again, scrape those sides so everything blends perfectly.

Step 4: Alternate Adding Dry Ingredients and Buttermilk

At low speed, add a third of your dry flour mixture followed by half of the buttermilk. Repeat once more with the next third of dry ingredients and remaining buttermilk, then finish by mixing in the rest of the flour. This alternating addition helps keep the batter smooth and prevents overmixing, which can toughen your cake. Mix just until combined.

Step 5: Fold in the Andes Mints and Bake

This is the fun part — fold in the chopped Andes mints gently by hand with a spatula. The little chunks melt in the oven, creating delightful spots of minty chocolate throughout. Pour your batter into the prepared pan and bake for 33-36 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Don’t open the oven early – I learned that the hard way; patience is key for a perfect rise.

Step 6: Cool and Frost with Green Cream Cheese Frosting

Let your cake rest in the hot pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack and cool completely. For the frosting, sift powdered sugar to avoid lumps. Beat cream cheese and butter for 2 minutes on high until super creamy, then add powdered sugar in two batches, mixing on low until just combined. Add vanilla, a pinch of salt, and green food dye (about 3 drops), then beat on high until light and fluffy. Spread generously over your cooled cake and sprinkle with red jumbo heart sprinkles for that festive Grinch vibe.

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Pro Tips for Making Grinch Cake with Green Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Use Room Temperature Ingredients: I always bring dairy and eggs out about two hours before starting to ensure smooth mixing and better texture.
Don’t Overmix After Adding Flour: Mix just until flour disappears to keep your cake tender, not dense.
Control Your Green Dye: Add food coloring a few drops at a time — I’ve found it’s the best way to get the perfect shade without bitterness.
Cool Cake Completely Before Frosting: Frosting melted by a warm cake is something I avoid at all costs — patience pays off for a clean finish.

How to Serve Grinch Cake with Green Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

The image shows two square pieces of green cake with dark chocolate chips inside, stacked on a wooden board. Each piece has a smooth, light green frosting layer on top, decorated with small dark green round sprinkles and a red heart-shaped decoration. In the background, more slices of the same cake are visible. A small green gift box with a golden ribbon and a toy figure dressed as Santa with a green face and red clothes are placed around the wooden board. The image background has a white marbled texture. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Grinch Cake with Green Cream Cheese Frosting, holiday cake recipes, festive green cake, Christmas dessert ideas, green frosting cake

Garnishes

I love topping this cake with those cute red jumbo heart sprinkles because they contrast beautifully with the green frosting — it’s like a little holiday love on every slice. Sometimes I add crushed peppermint candies for a festive crunch or even a few fresh mint leaves for an elegant touch.

Side Dishes

Pair this cake with a simple cup of hot cocoa or a warm spiced tea to complement the minty flavors. During holiday meals, I enjoy serving it alongside fresh fruit or a light vanilla bean ice cream to balance the richness.

Creative Ways to Present

For parties, I’ve served this Grinch Cake on a festive platter surrounded by green and red holiday ornaments, which really amps up the cheer. Another fun idea is to cut the cake into mini squares and garnish each with a single peppermint or a mini candy cane for individual servings.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover cake tightly wrapped in plastic wrap or in an airtight container in the fridge to keep that frosting fresh. It usually stays perfectly moist for up to 4 days, although it rarely lasts that long in my house!

Freezing

If you want to freeze it, I recommend freezing the cake (without frosting) wrapped well in plastic and foil first. When ready to serve, thaw overnight in the fridge and then frost it fresh. This keeps the texture and frosting taste top-notch.

Reheating

Since this cake is best served chilled or at room temperature, I don’t recommend reheating. If you want a warm slice, remove the frosting and warm a piece gently in the microwave for about 10 seconds — just be careful not to melt the frosting.

FAQs

Can I make this Grinch Cake with Green Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe without Andes mints?

Absolutely! The Andes mints add a lovely minty surprise and texture, but if you’re not a fan or don’t have them, you can skip them. The cake will still taste great with the green cream cheese frosting shining as the star.
How do I get the perfect green color for the frosting?

Start with 3 drops of green food dye and mix well. Add a drop at a time until you reach your desired shade. Using gel food coloring tends to give a vibrant color without watering down your frosting.
Can I bake this cake in a different size pan?

You can, but baking time will vary. A larger pan will bake faster and a smaller pan will take longer. Keep an eye on it after about 25 minutes, testing with a toothpick for doneness.
What’s the best way to store the cake if I’m making it ahead of time?

I recommend baking and cooling the cake first, then wrapping tightly and keeping it in the fridge. Frost it the day you want to serve for best freshness and appearance.

Final Thoughts

I absolutely love how this Grinch Cake with Green Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe brightens up any gathering with its fun color and rich flavor. When I first tried it, I wasn’t sure if the green frosting would turn out right, but now it’s a holiday staple in my house. You’ll enjoy that perfect balance of moist cake and creamy frosting almost as much as the smiles it brings. Whether you’re baking for family, friends, or just because, give this one a try — I promise it’ll become one of your favorites!