Grinch dip—just the name brings a smile to my face! This playful, green-hued dip is a guaranteed hit at holiday parties, especially with kids (and those of us who are kids at heart). I love how easy it is to make, with a creamy vanilla pudding base and that tangy hint of cream cheese. Serve it up with some festive dippers, and watch it quickly become the talk of the table. It’s a fun, lighthearted recipe that makes holiday gatherings feel a little more magical.
This post contains helpful tips and tricks! If you’re in a rush, please use the “Jump to Recipe” above!
💭 This Grinch Dip is Quick, Easy & Festive!
This festive dip is my favorite way to add a little holiday cheer to the table. It’s sweet, creamy, and has that perfect pudding texture, making it ideal for pairing with fun dippers. Plus, it’s quick to whip up, so you can spend more time enjoying the party and less time in the kitchen. Kids especially love the little red hearts on top—it’s like bringing the story to life in dessert form!
- Fun dessert dip for your next holiday party. It’s colorful, festive, and delicious!
- Make-ahead friendly and super easy to make in just 15 minutes.
- Easy to serve. Pairs well with all sorts of dippables like graham crackers, cookies, pretzers, and fruits!
Want other easy, festive dips? You have to try my pumpkin pie dip!
📋 Ingredients and notes
To make this grinch dip, you’ll need cream cheese, whole milk, liquid green food coloring, vanilla pudding mix, vanilla extract, heart sprinkles, and cool whip.
Variations & Substitutions
- Cream cheese. Use full-fat cream cheese for the creamiest texture. Make sure it’s at room temperature before using it.
- Whole milk. Use 2% milk, almond milk, oat milk, or any other plant-based milk.
- Vanilla pudding mix. If you don’t have vanilla pudding mix, you can use cheesecake-flavored pudding mix for a tangy twist. Butterscotch or white chocolate pudding mix can also be used for a unique flavor spin.
- Food coloring. To give the dip its signature Grinch green color. I used gel food coloring, but you can also use natural food coloring made from spirulina or matcha powder.
- Cool whip. You can also use whipped heavy cream, sweeten it with a little powdered sugar if desired.
- Vanilla extract. You can also use almond extract or maple extract for a different flavor.
📖 How to make Grinch dessert dip
Step 1:
In a large mixing bowl, make the pudding by whisking together the milk and pudding mix, and let set.
Step 2:
Then beat the pudding mix together with the cream cheese until there are no large lumps, this may take up to 5-10 minutes depending on how soft the cream cheese is, the softer the better.
Step 3:
Add in the vanilla and green food coloring and beat again until the color is evenly distributed.
Step 4:
Fold in the cool whip and then transfer to a serving dish.
Step 5:
Sprinkle on the heat sprinkles and enjoy with your favorite dippers.
Shruthi’s Top Tip
Softened cream cheese blends smoother, minimizing lumps, and ensure pudding is fully mixed and set before adding other ingredients.
- Start with a few drops of food coloring and add more as needed for a perfect green.
- A quick chill in the fridge enhances the texture and flavor.
- Add sprinkles right before serving to keep them from softening for a festive look.
🍴 How to serve the Grinch fluff dip
Sweet dippers like vanilla wafers, pretzels, graham crackers, Oreos, and strawberries pair wonderfully with this dip’s creamy vanilla flavor. I also love to make my favorite Christmas cookies like shortbread cookies, Danish butter cookies, and holiday butter cookies and dunk them in the creamy dip.
🍴Storage and reheating suggestions
Store this fun treat in an airtight container or cover the bowl with a plastic wrap. It should keep well for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Give it a good stir before serving. I don’t recommend freezing this dip.
🍴 More holiday dip recipes
If you like this recipe, check out my other holiday dips:
Pumpkin Pie Dip
Eggplant Hummus
Cream Cheese Corn Dip
Instant Pot Queso
If you tried this recipe, don’t forget to comment and rate! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Grinch Dip
Equipment
- 1 whisk
- 1 Bowl
- 1 Handheld mixer
- 1 Spoon or spatula
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups Whole Milk
- 1 3.4 ounce box Vanilla Pudding Mix
- 8 ounces Cream Cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- ½ teaspoon Liquid Green Food Coloring
- 4 ounces Cool Whip, thawed
- 1 tablespoon Heart Sprinkles
Instructions
- First, make the pudding by whisking together the milk and pudding mix, and let set.
- Then beat the pudding mix together with the cream cheese until there are no large lumps, this may take up to 5-10 minutes depending on how soft the cream cheese is, the softer the better.
- Add in the vanilla and green food coloring and beat again until the color is evenly distributed.
- Fold in the cool whip and then transfer to a serving dish.
- Sprinkle on the heat sprinkles and enjoy with your favorite dippers.
Notes
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- Softened cream cheese blends smoother, minimizing lumps, and ensure pudding is fully mixed and set before adding other ingredients.
- Start with a few drops and add more as needed for a perfect green.
- A quick chill in the fridge enhances the texture and flavor.
- Add sprinkles right before serving so it keeps them from softening for a festive look.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I forgot the freaking whip cream!!! It’s Christmas Day and nothing is open. Probably won’t work will it?
Hey Amy – sorry if this is coming a bit late, but it actually still works — don’t worry! 😊 You can skip the Cool Whip and the dip will just be a bit denser, more like a cheesecake dip. If you want to loosen it, mix in a few tablespoons of milk or a splash of heavy cream if you have it. Still festive and still delicious!
Do u have to use whole milk in the recipe or is 2% milk ok to use?
Either is okay!
Could I also try cheesecake filling instead of the cream cheese bricks?
Hi Erika! Yes, you can use cheesecake filling, but I want to share why it’s not a true substitute for cream cheese bricks in a few ways.
Cheesecake filling is already sweetened, whipped, and stabilized, so it’s much softer and won’t give the dip the same structure or thickness. If you use it, the dip will likely be noticeably looser and sweeter, and you may lose some of that rich ‘cream cheese tang.’
If you still want to try it, start with the same amount (8 oz), mix it in gently, and then chill the dip longer to help it firm up — just expect a lighter, fluffier dip!
If I make this the night before will the texture be ok?
I’ve made this the night before and it turned out pretty well! The flavors blended even better after chilling, and I just added the sprinkles right before serving. Make sure to stir it up a bit though 🙂
Can whipped cream cheese be used in place of brick?
Absolutely! Whipped cream cheese works just fine. Just keep in mind that it’s a bit softer and airier than a brick, so the dip may turn out slightly lighter and fluffier. If you want it a bit thicker, you can chill it for 15–20 minutes before serving. Otherwise, it’ll mix in smoothly and taste great!
We’re having a Grinch Christmas this year and I would like to make your Grinch dip. What would you serve it with?
We serve with Graham crackers, shortbread cookies! But you can use vanilla wafers, sugar cookies, pretzels, or fruits! We’ve also done apple slices in the past!