If you’re on the hunt for a festive treat that’s as fun to make as it is to eat, I’ve got just the thing. This Grinchy Christmas Cake Bites Recipe is a total crowd-pleaser around here, especially during the holidays when everyone’s craving something sweet and colorful. These little bites combine creamy, tangy cream cheese with the irresistible crunch and flavor of red velvet cookie crumbs, all wrapped up in a playful green and white chocolate coating that just screams Christmas cheer. Trust me, once you make these, they’ll be the star of your cookie exchange or holiday party snack table.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Festive & Fun: The bright green chocolate coating will totally wow your guests and bring a playful holiday vibe to dessert time.
- Simple Ingredients: You only need a handful of store-bought goodies to whip these up, perfect for busy days when you want something homemade without fuss.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: These cake bites hold up really well in the fridge, so you can prep them in advance and enjoy stress-free entertaining.
- Kid-Approved: My family goes crazy for these, and I’m betting your little helpers will love helping roll and decorate too!
Ingredients You’ll Need
I like that this Grinchy Christmas Cake Bites Recipe keeps things simple yet flavorful by leaning on the uniquely sweet red velvet cookies and creamy tangy cream cheese. The magic really happens when you melt the white chocolate and color it up with vibrant green food gel — so fun to see it turn perfect for the season!
- Chips Ahoy Chewy Red Velvet cookies: These give the bites a wonderful red velvet foundation with a chewy texture that blends beautifully when processed into crumbs.
- Cream cheese: Room temperature is key here — it mixes super smooth with the crumbs, creating a dough that holds shape nicely without being too sticky.
- White chocolate chips: You’ll need these for coating and drizzling; make sure to get good quality because the taste shines through.
- Green food coloring gel: Gel works best as it doesn’t thin out your chocolate like liquid coloring does.
- Red heart sprinkles: Perfect for that final festive touch and a pop of contrasting color.
Variations
One of the best things about the Grinchy Christmas Cake Bites Recipe is how easy it is to customize. I’ve played around with different coatings and mix-ins depending on what I had on hand or the occasion. You can really make it your own!
- Chocolate Lovers’ Variation: I swapped out white chocolate for milk chocolate and colored it red instead of green for a classic Christmas look — my kids thought it was like little candy bombs!
- Dietary Swap: For a dairy-free spin, try a vegan cream cheese and dark chocolate chips—just keep an eye on texture since vegan cream cheese can vary.
- Seasonal Twist: Add a pinch of cinnamon or peppermint extract into the cream cheese mix for an extra festive punch that’ll really elevate the flavor.
How to Make Grinchy Christmas Cake Bites Recipe
Step 1: Crush Those Cookies into Perfect Crumbs
Start by placing a wire rack on a parchment-lined baking sheet — trust me, this makes the chocolate coating step a breeze. Then, pulse those Chips Ahoy chewy red velvet cookies in your food processor until you get fine, uniform crumbs. I found that pulsing in short bursts helps prevent the crumbs from turning into cookie powder, which keeps the texture just right for the dough.
Step 2: Cream Your Cream Cheese and Mix It Up
Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat your room-temp cream cheese on medium-high speed until silky smooth—no lumps, please! Then, add the cookie crumbs and mix until everything is combined evenly. This dough should be dense yet easy to scoop and roll. If you find it too sticky, pop it in the fridge for a short chill before the rolling step.
Step 3: Roll & Chill Those Little Balls
Grab a tablespoon measuring spoon and scoop out dough balls roughly 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Roll ’em in your hands until smooth and arrange them neatly on your prepared wire rack. Here’s the trick I learned: chilling these on the rack (not a flat surface) helps air circulate around them, so the chocolate sets more evenly later. Refrigerate for about 2 hours until they’re cold and firm.
Step 4: Melt & Color Your White Chocolate
Set a medium heatproof bowl over a pot of gently simmering water for a double boiler effect. Keep the bottom of the bowl from touching the water — this keeps your chocolate from overheating and seizing up. Reserve one full package of white chocolate chips for the drizzle later; melt the other two packages here, stirring frequently until smooth (about 2 minutes). Once melted, stir in green food coloring gel one drop at a time until you reach your perfect Grinchy green color. I usually stop just shy of neon — keeps them looking classy and festive.
Step 5: Dip and Set Your Cake Bites
Carefully dip each chilled dough ball into the colored white chocolate using a fork, letting the excess drip off before setting it back on the rack. You might notice the coating is a bit thin on the first coat — I sometimes do a second dip for a thicker, more polished look. Pop them in the fridge for about 30 minutes after dipping so the coating can fully set and get that lovely glossy finish.
Step 6: Add Striped Decor and Sprinkles
Time for that final flair! Clean your bowl and melt the last package of white chocolate again in your double boiler. Color it green like before, but if necessary, add a tablespoon of hot water at a time to loosen the chocolate until it’s perfect for drizzling. After transferring it into a piping bag (or a small plastic bag with the tip snipped off), drizzle thin stripes across each cake bite. Before the drizzle sets, top each bite with a charming red heart sprinkle — it’s the perfect Grinchy pop of color.
Pro Tips for Making Grinchy Christmas Cake Bites Recipe
- Keep Everything Cool: I discovered chilling the dough balls before dipping is essential — it keeps them from falling apart in the chocolate and helps the coating set beautifully.
- Use Gel Food Coloring: This way, your chocolate doesn’t seize or water down; a little goes a long way for bright, even coloring.
- Don’t Overheat Chocolate: Melting gently over simmering water prevents scorching, which is the enemy of smooth chocolate coatings.
- Double Dip for Thicker Coating: If you want a professional look and snappy bite, dipping twice (with a quick chill in between) really pays off.
How to Serve Grinchy Christmas Cake Bites Recipe
Garnishes
I absolutely love topping these cake bites with red heart sprinkles — they add just the right festive touch and a sweet crunch that’s like a mini celebration on each bite. Sometimes, I add edible glitter or tiny snowflake sprinkles for a stylish winter wonderland effect. These little extras never fail to impress guests!
Side Dishes
While these cake bites are fantastic on their own, I often serve them alongside a warm cup of cocoa or peppermint tea. For holiday parties, pair them with a cheese platter or fresh fruit to balance out the sweetness. They also make adorable additions to dessert boards alongside mini gingerbread cookies or spiced nuts.
Creative Ways to Present
For my last Christmas party, I arranged these bites on a tiered cake stand decorated with pine sprigs and fairy lights — it was a hit! You can also place them in mini cupcake liners for easy serving, or package a dozen in clear cellophane bags tied with festive ribbon for charming edible gifts.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
These cake bites stay fresh for up to a week stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. I like to layer them with parchment paper to keep the coatings from sticking. Just be sure to keep them chilled, especially if your house tends to be warm.
Freezing
I’ve frozen these Grinchy Christmas Cake Bites before with surprisingly great results! Place them on a baking sheet to freeze individually for a couple hours, then transfer to a freezer-safe container. They keep well for up to 2 months. To enjoy, thaw in the fridge overnight or at room temperature for a few hours.
Reheating
Since these are no-bake bites, reheating isn’t really necessary and can mess with the texture. Just bring them to room temperature before serving for the best flavor and softness. If you ever want to freshen them up, a brief 5-10 minute rest out of the fridge works wonders.
FAQs
-
Can I use a different type of cookie for the Grinchy Christmas Cake Bites Recipe?
Absolutely! While the red velvet cookies give these bites their signature look and flavor, you can experiment with other chewy cookies like chocolate chip, gingerbread, or even snickerdoodle — just keep in mind that the flavor profile and color will change accordingly.
-
What if I don’t have a food processor?
No worries! You can crush the cookies by placing them in a sealed plastic bag and using a rolling pin to break them down into fine crumbs. It might take a little extra elbow grease, but it works perfectly.
-
How do I prevent the white chocolate from seizing when adding food coloring?
Use gel-based food coloring rather than liquid, as liquid can cause the chocolate to seize or become grainy. Add the gel drop by drop and mix well—this helps the chocolate stay smooth and shiny.
-
Can I make these ahead of time?
Yes! In fact, I highly recommend making these a day or two in advance. Store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container, and they’ll stay delicious and fresh until ready to serve.
-
Is there a way to make these vegan?
You can swap the cream cheese for a plant-based version and use dairy-free white chocolate to make a vegan-friendly batch. Just note that texture and flavor might differ slightly, but they’re still tasty!
Final Thoughts
Honestly, this Grinchy Christmas Cake Bites Recipe has become one of my go-to holiday treats because it’s easy, festive, and endlessly fun to make with family or friends. I love how it brings a splash of merry green to the table, and the combination of the creamy interior with the crisp chocolate shell never fails to impress. I hope you give it a try this season — it’s like a little bite of holiday magic, perfect for sharing and savoring. Let me know how your batch turns out; I’m betting you and your loved ones will fall just as hard for these as mine did!
Print
Grinchy Christmas Cake Bites Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours
- Yield: 36 cake bites
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Grinchy Christmas Cake Bites are festive, bite-sized treats perfect for holiday celebrations. Made from crushed red velvet cookies mixed with cream cheese, then coated in vibrant green white chocolate and decorated with red heart sprinkles, these no-bake delights combine rich flavors with playful Christmas colors. They are easy to prepare, chilled to set, and decorated with a drizzle of green chocolate for an eye-catching finish.
Ingredients
Base
- 3 (9.6-oz.) packages Chips Ahoy Chewy Red Velvet cookies
- 1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, room temperature
Chocolate Coating and Decoration
- 3 (12-oz.) packages white chocolate chips, divided
- Green food coloring gel
- Red heart sprinkles, for decorating
Instructions
- Prepare Cookie Crumbs: Place a wire rack on a parchment-lined baking sheet. In a food processor, pulse the red velvet cookies until they become fine crumbs.
- Mix Dough: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the room temperature cream cheese on medium-high until smooth. Add the cookie crumbs and beat until fully combined forming a dough.
- Form Balls and Chill: Using a 1-tablespoon measuring spoon, scoop the dough and roll it into 1 1/2-inch diameter balls. Arrange the balls on the prepared rack and refrigerate for about 2 hours until firm.
- Melt Chocolate for Coating: Set a medium heatproof bowl over a pot of barely simmering water (double boiler), ensuring the bowl does not touch the water. Reserve one package of chocolate chips for later. Place the remaining two packages of white chocolate chips into the bowl and stir frequently until melted and smooth, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Color Chocolate: Add 1 drop of green food coloring gel to the melted white chocolate and stir. Add additional drops if needed until the desired green color is achieved.
- Coat Cake Bites: Using a fork, dip each chilled cake ball into the green chocolate, allowing excess to drip off. Return coated balls to the wire rack. Repeat for all balls. A second chocolate coating can be applied if a thicker layer is desired. Refrigerate coated balls for 30 minutes to set.
- Prepare Drizzle Chocolate: Clean the double boiler bowl and repeat heating the reserved package of white chocolate chips over simmering water until melted and smooth, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Color and Thin Drizzle Chocolate: Add 1 drop of green food coloring gel to the melted white chocolate, stirring to incorporate. If the chocolate is too thick, add hot water from the pot one tablespoon at a time, stirring vigorously after each addition until it reaches a drizzling consistency. Transfer this chocolate to a plastic or piping bag and snip the tip to drizzle over the cake balls to create stripes.
- Decorate: Immediately after drizzling, top each cake bite with a red heart sprinkle before the drizzle sets. Chill until the drizzle is set and the treats are ready to serve.
Notes
- Ensure cream cheese is at room temperature before mixing for smooth blending.
- Use gel food coloring for vibrant color without thinning the chocolate.
- If white chocolate thickens during use, gently rewarm over the double boiler to maintain smooth consistency.
- Store finished cake bites in the refrigerator until serving to keep them firm.
- Double boiler setup prevents chocolate from burning by applying gentle indirect heat.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cake bite
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1.5g
- Cholesterol: 15mg