Bright green Grinch dip brings sweet vanilla cake batter flavor to your Christmas dessert table. Made with Greek yogurt and whipped topping, this creamy cookie dip gets its festive finish from red heart sprinkles.
Even the Grinch would have a hard time walking past this bowl of sweet, fluffy Grinch Dip! Vanilla Greek yogurt adds a little tang to the cake batter flavor, while bright green coloring and red heart sprinkles make this Christmas cake mix dip ready for its holiday close-up.
Why You’ll Love This Grinch Dip
- Sweet vanilla flavor with a little tang. Vanilla Greek yogurt balances the sweetness of the cake mix and whipped topping while giving the dip a creamy base.
- Big Christmas personality with simple decorating. Green coloring and a heart made from red sprinkles turn a bowl of dessert dip into a festive centerpiece.
- A cookie platter’s perfect partner. Serve it with Nilla wafers, graham crackers and pretzels so everyone can choose their favorite way to scoop.
- Heat treated for safety. The cake mix is treated with a little heat for food safety purposed.
Ingredients for Grinch Dip
You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make this festive dessert dip. A full list of ingredients with measurements for this recipe is available in the printable recipe card below.
- Ready-to-eat white cake mix: Provides sweet vanilla cake flavor and a pale base that takes green coloring beautifully. Choose a product explicitly labeled safe to eat without cooking OR see my instructions below for heat-treating it; ordinary boxed white cake mix is intended for baking.
- Whipped topping: Gives the dip its light, fluffy texture. Thaw according to the package directions before mixing.
- Vanilla Greek yogurt: Adds creaminess, vanilla flavor and a little tang. Use thick Greek yogurt to help keep the dip scoopable.
- Green food coloring: Creates that signature Grinch-green color. Gel coloring gives concentrated color with very little added liquid. I use Wilton brand.
- Red heart sprinkles: Add the finishing touch! Arrange them in a heart shape on top just before serving. Grab a whole jar on Amazon– great for Grinch themed desserts and Valentines day.
How to Make Grinch Dip (Step-by-Step)
Just follow these simple steps to making your new favorite holiday dessert.
- Prepare the ingredients. Sift out any lumps, thaw the whipped topping according to its package directions and stir the yogurt until smooth. If you are concerned about raw flour in the dry mix, heat at 200°F in the oven for 5-10 minutes.
- Combine the base. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the ready-to-eat cake mix and vanilla Greek yogurt. Gently fold in the whipped topping until evenly combined.
- Make it green. Add a small amount of green food coloring and gently mix. Continue adding a little at a time until you reach your desired shade.
- Decorate and serve. Spoon into a serving bowl and arrange the red heart sprinkles in a heart shape on top. Serve with Nilla wafers, or cover and refrigerate until serving, adding the sprinkles at the last minute.
How to Heat Treat Cake Mix
Uncooked flour (in cake mix) has a small chance of containing some yucky things, so to prevent this, pasteurize it at home. Microwaving is the quickest way. Place cake mix into the microwave (flour alone, not the dough) and heat on high for 20- 45 seconds. Please be mindful that all microwaves are different. Watch the flour closely so it doesn’t burn. Heat treat flour until it reaches 165°F (74°C) with a thermometer.
The oven is another good option to heat-treat, simply place it in a thin layer on a baking sheet at 350°F for 5ish minutes. Just make sure it doesn’t burn. This should be plenty to kill off any harmful bacteria, but just be sure, check it with a thermometer until it reaches 165°F (74°C) with a thermometer.
Chef Tips
- Thaw the whipped topping first. Frozen pieces are difficult to incorporate and can leave uneven pockets in the dip.
- Sift for a smoother scoop. Breaking up dry clumps before mixing is easier than chasing them around the bowl later.
- Fold gently. Once the whipped topping goes in, use a spatula and gentle folding motions to preserve its airy texture.
- Build the color gradually. Start with a small dab of gel coloring. You can always add more!
- Keep the hearts looking sharp. Add sprinkles just before serving to help limit color bleeding and softening.
- Check the texture before serving. The dip should hold a soft mound on a cookie. If it is too thick, gently stir in a little additional Greek yogurt.
What to Serve with Grinch Dip
Nilla wafers are a natural match for this sweet vanilla dip, but a little variety makes the platter even more fun!
- Graham crackers
- Shortbread cookies
- Animal crackers
- Nilla Wafers
- Mini pretzel twists
- Chocolate sandwich cookies
- Strawberries
- Apple slices
For Christmas movie night, spoon the dip into individual cups and add a red heart sprinkle to each one. Keep the cookies alongside the cups until serving so they stay crisp.
Storage and Freezing
Storage: Keep the dip covered in the refrigerator at 40°F or below. Follow the shortest applicable storage guidance on your ingredient packages, and keep cookies separate so they stay crunchy.
Freezing: For the best texture, serve this dip fresh. Yogurt-based mixtures can separate after freezing and thawing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Plain Greek yogurt will give the dip a tangier flavor with less vanilla sweetness. Use a thick variety and expect a different flavor balance.
Mix formulas and yogurt thickness vary. Gently stir in a little additional Greek yogurt at a time until the dip is easy to scoop with a cookie.
Thin yogurt, excess liquid or warm whipped topping can make the dip looser. Use thick Greek yogurt, follow the topping’s thawing directions and keep the finished dip chilled.
Yes! Prepare it earlier the same day and refrigerate it in a covered container. Wait until serving to add the sprinkles.
More Fun Dessert Dips
Grab your favorite dippers, these dessert dips are great for parties, movie night or just when you’re in the mood for something sweet!
Grinch Dip Recipe
Ingredients
- 15.25 ounce white cake mix , sifted
- 8 ounces whipped topping
- 1 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
- 1/2 – 1 teaspoon green gel food coloring
- heart sprinkles
Instructions
- While it is strongly encouraged to heat treat the cake mix, it is optional. Place the 15.25 ounce white cake mix into the microwave (flour alone, not the dough) and heat on high for 20- 45 seconds. Please be mindful that all microwaves are different. Watch the flour closely so it doesn’t burn. Heat treat flour until it reaches 165°F (74°C) with a thermometer.If you want to use the oven, place it in a thin layer on a baking sheet at 350°F for 5ish minutes until it reaches 165°F (74°C) with a thermometer.. Just make sure it doesn’t burn.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the white cake mix, thawed 8 ounces whipped topping, 1 cup vanilla Greek yogurt and 1/2 – 1 teaspoon green gel food coloring. The total amount will be dependent on the brand you are suing. I use Wilton and needed 1/2 teaspoon. Mix until no streaks remain.
- Transfer to a serving bowl and arrange heart sprinkles in the shape of a heart or sprinkle on top.
- Serve with your favorites dippers including mini Nilla wafers, pretzels and apple slices.
- If you’ve tried this recipe, make sure to come back and let us know how you liked it in the comments or star ratings.
Notes
Nutrition
