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Close-up of a red velvet Grinch Cupcake with a big bite taken out, showing the moist, fluffy center and topped with bright green frosting and red candy hearts.
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Grinch Cupcakes

Sweet, fluffy and full of holiday mischief, the red candy heart steals the show!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Cooling, freeze, and set time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 40 minutes
Servings 24 cupcakes
Calories 351kcal
Author Deb Clark

Ingredients

  • 15.25 ounce box red velvet cake mix
  • 3.4 ounces box instant chocolate pudding mix
  • ½ cup salted butter melted
  • 1 cup milk
  • 4 eggs
  • 32 ounce store-bought cream cheese frosting
  • green gel food coloring
  • 8 ounces white chocolate chips
  • 1-2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • Red heart candy sprinkles

Instructions

  • Line a cupcake tin with liners, and preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • In a large mixing bowl, add cake mix, pudding mix, butter, milk, and eggs. Mix well at medium speed for two minutes.
    Overhead shot of cupcake batter being mixed in a large silver bowl with eggs, cake mix, and milk surrounded by baking ingredients and heart sprinkles.
  • Using a cookie scoop, fill the cupcake tin with cake batter to ⅔ full. Do not overfill. Bake for 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. (A few crumbs stuck to the toothpick is fine.) Allow to cool completely.
    Cupcake liners filled with red cupcake batter in a muffin tin, surrounded by heart sprinkles and food coloring on a holiday-themed workspace.
  • While the cupcakes are cooling, color the cream cheese frosting by adding a small amount of the green gel food coloring. Mix well until there are no streaks.
    Bright green frosting being whipped in a white bowl with a Danish dough whisk, surrounded by baked cupcakes and red heart sprinkles.
  • Using a piping bag fitted with a large round tip (1A), add a generous dollop of the green frosting to the center of each cooled cupcake.
    Red velvet cupcakes being piped with vibrant green frosting using a piping bag, with a festive towel and evergreens nearby.
  • Invert each cupcake onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper; gently press down to spread the icing evenly. (Don’t press too hard. We want the icing to cover the top of the cupcake without spreading it too far past the edges.)
    Cupcakes flipped upside down onto parchment-lined baking sheet, one being gently pressed by hand.
  • Place the upside cupcakes in the freezer for 15 minutes until the icing is hardened and stiff.
  • Once the icing is set, remove cupcakes from the freezer, and gently lift each one from the parchment paper.
  • Melt the white chocolate chips and 1 tablespoon oil in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Cook for 30 seconds at a time, stirring between intervals, until the chips are completely melted and smooth. (You may add another tablespoon oil if you would like the chocolate thinner.)
  • Add a small amount of the green gel food coloring to the melted white chocolate, and stir well until there are no streaks.
    Bowl of green glaze being stirred with a spoon, surrounded by undecorated cupcakes, red heart sprinkles, and green food coloring.
  • Using a piping bag with a tiny piece of a corner cut away, drizzle the green chocolate over the tops of the cupcakes. Immediately place a red candy heart onto the melted chocolate.
    Overhead view of decorated Grinch Cupcakes with green frosting, green drizzle, and red heart sprinkles on a marble surface.
  • Allow to set for 30 minutes or until the chocolate has completely cooled.

Nutrition

Calories: 351kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 331mg | Potassium: 136mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 40g | Vitamin A: 178IU | Vitamin C: 0.05mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 1mg
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