Grinch Dessert Dip

When my daughter had a group of friends over for a sleepover, I set this out straight from the fridge, and without missing a beat, one of her friends looked up and said, “Is that Grinch Dip?“ That was all the confirmation I needed. Mission accomplished.

This colorful dessert dip is sweet and fluffy and tastes just like cherry cheesecake. It’s easy to prep ahead, totally no-bake and makes a fun, festive addition to holiday movie nights or classroom parties.

We’ve made this before, just the regular version, but the green color really gives it that “Grinch” twist. I used Americolor Color Gels in Leaf Green, but Wilton’s Leaf Green works just as well.

Ingredients

• 1 brick (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
• Half of a 7 oz. jar of marshmallow cream
• 1 tub (8 oz.) frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 1 can (21 oz.) cherry pie filling
• Americolor or Wilton leaf green gel coloring
• Graham crackers or shortbread cookie sticks for dipping

How to make Grinch Dip

Start by prepping your ingredients. The cream cheese should be softened at room temperature for about 15 to 20 minutes. It’s tempting to microwave it, but it can melt too fast and throw off the texture. And make sure your Cool Whip is fully thawed so it folds in smoothly.

In a medium mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until it’s smooth and fluffy. Add in the marshmallow cream and mix again until fully combined. Then fold in the Cool Whip and continue beating everything together until it’s smooth and light.

Now, for the fun part, add in the green gel food coloring. Start with a small amount and mix thoroughly, then adjust until you reach a bright Grinchy green.

Spread the green cheesecake mixture into a heart shape on a serving plate or shallow dish. You can use a spatula or spoon to gently carve out a small divot in the center, which will help hold the topping in place. Spoon the cherry pie filling into the center, and you’re done.

You can serve it right away or cover and refrigerate until it’s party time. We like it best with graham crackers and shortbread cookie sticks, but vanilla wafers or even pretzels are fine too.

This holiday version is adapted from our Cherry Cheesecake Dip, and both versions are winners. Whether you’re going for classic or Grinchy, it’s one of those recipes that people instantly recognize and dig into without hesitation.

If you’re looking to change things up, you can try strawberry or blueberry pie filling instead of cherry for a slightly different twist, or swirl the filling through the dip before serving. It just won’t be a classic “heart 3 sizes too small” type feel.

It will still TASTE delicious though and a great way to get more than one usage out of this recipe.

Leftovers can be stored in the fridge, tightly covered, for up to 3 days. The dip does get a bit firmer in the fridge, so if you’re making it in advance, I recommend storing the green cheesecake base and the pie filling separately.

Pull out the dip to the counter for about 30 minutes before serving, and then assemble just before serving.