Grinch Cheese Ball

Perfect for the holidays, this Grinch-themed cheese ball has a green hue and is covered in tiny heart-shaped sprinkles. Plus, it can be made different flavors!

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About Grinch Cheese Ball

If you’re on the hunt for a unique appetizer (or dessert!) to serve at your next holiday party, look no further than this Grinch cheese ball.

Between the festive colors and the sweet taste, it’s bound to be a hit, even for those whose hearts are too small.

What color green should be used?

For this recipe, I chose to use a color paste (for consistency and vibrancy) and the color I went with was Moss Green. This seemed to be a more “Grinchy” fit than other festive colors out there like Leaf Green.

If you’d like a more pastel green, Kelly Green (with maybe a touch of yellow added) is also a good choice.

Where can you get heart sprinkles?

It can be tough to find heart sprinkles in the winter, but I located a couple bottles at a local craft store (specifically at Michaels).

You can also pick some up online here: Wilton Jumbo Heart Sprinkles (and yes, I did buy a few bottles and picked out the pink sprinkles. It was a little time-consuming but worth it for getting the perfect red hearts.)

What to eat with a sweet cheese ball?

After making so many dessert dips, I have a whole list of options that go great with these creamy treats.

Feel free to try one (or many!) of these with this festive cheese ball.

• Pretzels
• Nilla Wafers
• Graham Crackers
• Ladyfinger cookies
• Oreos
• Golden Oreos
• Pretzels
• Sugar Cookies
• Gingersnap Cookies
• Cubes of pound cake
• Crumbled waffle cones
• Cinnamon Tortilla Chips
• Fruit

What flavor cake mix can you use?

I used plain white cake mix for this cheese ball because I wanted to ensure a nice green color. However, you can use any flavor of cake mix that you’d like, so long as it fits these two rules:

1. That the color of the baked cake would be white or pale in color. Dry cake mix always looks lighter than what the baked cake will be, so be sure to judge the color by the picture on the cake mix box. The wet ingredients in this recipe will turn the batter that color (and maybe even a little darker for some flavors).
2. That the flavor you’ve chosen will taste good with sweetened cream cheese. A general rule of thumb is that if the flavor sounds yummy as frosting then it’ll also be good as a sweet cheese ball.

Do you need to bake the Cake Mix?

Although it’s rare to become ill from consuming flour, it is considered a raw ingredient, so for proper food safety, the cake mix should be cooked before consumption because it includes flour.

To bake the cake mix: Spread the cake mix out on a baking sheet and bake it for five minutes at 350 degrees F.

Can you use out of date cake mix?

In case you’re anything like me, recipes like this strike you on days when you would prefer not to go out and you’re assaulting your cupboards for snack options. And, inevitably, you’ll stumble across something that looks fine yet has a date that’s expired.

So, when it comes to expired cake mix, what do you do? Can you use it or not?

First off, make sure that the cake mix has been properly stored. This means that it’s been in a cool, dry place, and that either the seal is still intact or that it’s been stored in a sealed container since it was opened.

Once you confirm the storage, check the date printed on the package. Cake mix is typically good four to five months beyond the “best by” date.

If you have a product that’s older than this, I would not recommend using it for something like a cheese ball. If you’d like to read more about the concerns of expired cake mix, check out this article.

How long can you leave out a cheese ball?

Whenever you serve a cheese ball for your guests to enjoy, you should always keep track of how long it sits at room temperature.

For most foods, the general rule of thumb is that a perishable item should not be in the “danger zone” for more than two hours. And by “danger zone”, this is usually at or just above room temperature. This cheese ball will still be a little chilled when served, and this should give you an extra 30 minutes beyond the two-hour window, depending on the temperature of the room and how long ago the cheese ball left the refrigerator.

As the party goes on, you can return the cheese ball to the refrigerator once you get past the two-hour mark. If your guests still want more of the cheese ball, let it chill for at least 30 minutes before bringing it back out again.

Can you make a cheese ball in advance?

One of the most common questions I get about dips and cheese balls is whether or not you can make them in advance. I totally understand why someone would want to do this, as it’s easier to prepare treats for a party the night before than scrambling to get everything done the day of the event.

And the good news here is that yes, you totally can! Cheese balls are ideal for making in advance.

You can either make the cheese ball and wait to cover it in sprinkles before serving (this is ideal, just so the sprinkles stay pretty) OR you can fully prepare the cheese ball, sprinkles and all, and store it in the refrigerator (wrapped in foil or plastic wrap) until ready to serve.

This cheese ball can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two to three days.

Can you freeze a dessert cheese ball?

Yes, you totally can! BUT I would recommend freezing it before adding the sprinkles, as they are brittle and may be broken or destroyed.

To freeze, just wrap the cheese ball in plastic wrap and store in the freezer. The cheese ball should remain good for one to two months.

When ready to eat, just allow the cheese ball to thaw in the refrigerator overnight before decorating and serving.

Notes & tips for this Cheese Ball

• For this recipe, I highly recommend using a stand mixer or a hand mixer. This recipe would be difficult to make by hand with a whisk.
• For preparing and storing a cheese ball, make sure you have some plastic wrap on hand. It makes a huge difference!

More fun dessert dips

How to make a Grinch cheese ball

This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. If you’re looking for the full recipe measurements and instructions, scroll down to Recipe Details.

Step 1 – Using a stand mixer (or hand mixer + large bowl), add the cream cheese, butter, dry cake mix, powdered sugar, and brown sugar. Whip them together on medium-high speed until ultra creamy.

Step 2 – Turn off your mixer and grab a spatula. Add the green food coloring and gently fold it into the cheese ball mixture, making sure to scrape along the bottoms and sides.

Step 3 – Lay out a piece of plastic wrap and scoop the cheese ball mixture into the center. Lift up the sides of the plastic wrap and cover the cheese ball. If needed, use a second piece of plastic wrap to secure all the edges.

Step 4 – Chill the cheese ball in the refrigerator for a few hours.

Step 5 – On a flat work area, spread out your heart-shaped sprinkles. Unwrap the cheese ball and drop it in the sprinkles, then use your hands (or just roll it around) to cover the cheese ball in sprinkles. And since the hearts are a little wide, don’t be afraid to press them so they’re laying flat on the cheese ball. The flatter the hearts lay the better this cheese ball will look!

Step 6 – Serve cheese ball immediately with a cheese knife and cookies (or pretzels or fruit) for dipping.