Grinch Brownies are sweet, decadent, minty, white chocolatey, “grinchy” brownies. Great for a themed holiday party or kids' Christmas party. Rich, fudgy chocolate brownies are topped with white chocolate frosting and minty Oreos for a Grinch-inspired Christmas treat.
The Grinch is the perfect character for a Christmas Party so how about some Grinch brownies? They're the perfect unique and fun dessert to add to your holiday baking.
Christmas has always been my favorite holiday! Ken always grumbles because "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" is not only my favorite Christmas book but also my favorite Christmas movie.
Every year I think up a Whoville-themed food or dessert that we must eat while we watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas. It's quickly become a well-known tradition in our family.
Grinch brownies are delicious, festive treats that add a pop of color and fun to your holiday gatherings. Inspired by the classic Christmas movie, these tasty delights are sure to be a hit at any Christmas party or holiday event.
If you love brownies then you've got to try my peanut butter brownie trifle and these best grasshopper brownies!! If you need more ideas for Christmas baking check out this amazing list of easy Christmas dessert recipes with few ingredients.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Easy and delicious recipe. These festive Grinch Brownies are incredibly easy to make! Resulting in rich, indulgent, and satisfying fudgy treats.
- Eye-catching and kid-friendly dessert. The green ganache and red heart sprinkles perfectly capture the spirit of the Grinch and are the perfect addition to any holiday or party dessert platter.
- Great for gift-giving! Grinch Brownies make an excellent homemade gift for teachers, coworkers, neighbors, or anyone else you'd like to spread some holiday cheer with during the festive season.
Ingredients
Here's a quick look at the ingredients you need to make a batch of green brownies. Be sure to check the recipe card for the full list and quantities of each.
- Butter, White Sugar, and Brown Sugar: Adds tenderness, sweetness and air to all baked goods.
- Large Eggs: Binds all of the ingredients together.
- Vanilla extract: Vanilla adds natural sweetness and aroma.
- All Purpose Flour: The base of any baked good.
- Cocoa Powder: Adds rich chocolate flavor.
- Baking Powder: Necessary leavening agent to make your brownies rise.
- White Chocolate Chips: Makes the base for the green frosting that covers the top of the brownies. I recommend using Ghirardelli's. You can also use a milk or dark chocolate ganache instead but you won't get the same festive look.
- Heavy Whipping Cream: A key ingredient for making the perfect ganache.
- Peppermint Extract: A little goes a long way but you can also use mint extract which is a little less intense.
- Green Food Coloring: Gel coloring works best.
- Mint Oreos: More mint flavor and adds a delicious, crunchy texture. You can experiment with other kinds of Oreo cookies or cookies like mint chocolate, chocolate chip, shortbread, or sandwich cookies.
- Red M&M’s: We love these but you can also use red smarties, heart sprinkles, cinnamon hearts, or your favorite red candies instead.
Substitutions and Variations
Here are a few ingredient substitutions and variations you can try when making these Christmas-themed brownies.
- Add Nuts: Add your favorite chopped nuts like peanuts, hazelnuts, almonds, pecans, or walnuts to give your brownies an added crunch.
- Add Cookies to Brownie Batter: Crush or chop some mint Oreos into the brownie batter for texture and an extra layer of flavor.
- Thinner Brownies: Make the brownies in a 9x13 inch pan instead just reduce cook time accordingly.
- Add Chocolate Chips: You can also mix in some chocolate chips to your brownie batter for more chocolate flavor.
How to Make Grinch Brownies
Here's a look at the main steps to make your Grinch brownies. Be sure to check the recipe card for the full details.
Step 1: Make the Brownie Batter and Bake
- Combine the sugar and butter in a large microwave-safe bowl.
- Heat the mixture for 30 seconds in the microwave. Stir and heat again for another 30 seconds and stir again.
- Add the eggs and vanilla extract after allowing the mixture to cool slightly.
- Whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, and cocoa in a separate bowl. Combine the wet and dry ingredients and mix together.
- Pour the brownie batter into the pan and bake for 45-50 minutes.
- Cool the brownies in the pan and on a wire rack until fully cooled.
Step 2: Make the Grinch Frosting
- Melt the white chocolate chips and cream in the microwave until all the chocolate is melted and smooth.
- Add the powdered sugar, peppermint extract, and a squeeze of green gel.
PRO TIP: Adjust the green color to the shade you want. Add more for a darker green color.
Step 3: Decorate Holiday Brownies
- Pour the icing over the cooled brownies and smooth it out using a spatula.
- Cut the Oreo cookies into halves and quarters.
- Add them to the top of your iced brownies.
- Sprinkle the red M&Ms over the top of the brownies.
- Cut and serve them up!
⭐️ Hint: Your brownies are cooked when you insert a toothpick into the center of the brownie and it comes out clean or with a few crumbs attached. Remove them from the oven and allow them to cool.
If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy our chocolate fudge brownie cake or salted caramel cheesecake with brownie bottom.
Storage
- Refrigerator: These are best stored in a sealed container or tin at room temperature. You can store these brownies for up to three days at room temperature out of direct sunlight, heat sources, or humidity to preserve their taste and texture.
- Freezer: Make sure you wrap your cooled brownies tightly in plastic wrap before freezing. Place the wrapped brownies inside an airtight container or resealable freezer bag for up to 2 months. Store them in a single layer with a piece of parchment paper or wax paper in between layers so they don't stick together. Thaw them at room temperature for about an hour or until fully defrosted.
What to Serve with Brownies
- Add a Scoop of Ice Cream. I love this Mint Brownie Ice Cream, Hot Chocolate Ice Cream, or White Chocolate Raspberry Ice Cream!
- Bring Out Your Inner Grinch. How about a Grinch Hot Chocolate or one of our hot chocolate for Christmas recipes? Cheers!
- Dessert Table. Offer a selection of lighter, fruity desserts to provide variety on your dessert table. Grandma's old fashioned fruit salad, easy grape salad recipe, mini key lime pie bites, or orange bundt cake make excellent alternatives to the brownies.
- Keep the Dr. Seuss Theme Going. Enjoy some Grinch rice krispie treats pops too.
Tips
- Gel food coloring is best. It achieves a much more intense color and doesn't change the texture of the icing.
- Experiment with different shades of green to find your perfect Grinch color.
- Cool the brownies completely before icing. If they're warm the icing may melt it off.
- Freeze your Oreos before chopping! It makes them easier to cut and they crumble much less.
- Line your baking pan with parchment paper. This makes it easier to remove and cut the brownies once cooled.
- Don't over-mix your batter. Only mix until just combined to achieve a fudgy texture and avoid dense brownies.
FAQ
Do you have questions about (insert recipe name or related keyword here)? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about (insert recipe name or keyword here)
You can certainly use a different frosting if you prefer. Store-bought or homemade works just fine. You can even simply sprinkle some crushed Oreos on top of the brownies instead of adding a frosting at all.
Yes, you can technically! But, why would you? Homemade brownies are so easy to make and taste delicious. These brownies are rich and chewy and perfectly fudgy.
You can use any type of Oreo that you prefer. However, Mint Oreos really make these Christmas brownies taste out of this-world delicious.
Peppermint extract is made up of pure peppermint oil and gives the impression of fresh mint. Mint extract is actually a blend of natural oils such as peppermint, spearmint, menthol, and others. I find this more rich and complex for curries or desserts. Peppermint extract tends to be higher quality because it's distilled, so it's better for baking.
These Grinch brownies are perfect for holiday parties, school parties, and just because you feel the urge to be a little grinchy today! I hope you have a wonderful holiday with your loved ones!
If you run into any trouble or would like to share what you think of these brownies, please don't hesitate to leave me a comment below.
What will you be making for Christmas this year? Remember, food is love and I hope you have a wonderful holiday!
Grinch Brownies Video
More Delicious Brownie Recipes
Do you like brownies? Here some recipes you may also like to try.
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Best Grinch Brownies
Ingredients
- ¾ cup butter
- 1 cup sugar -
- ¾ cup brown sugar packed
- 3 large eggs
- 3 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup all purpose flour
- ¾ cup cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
Icing and Decorations
- 2 cups 11 ounce bag white chocolate chips (Ghirardelis recommended)
- 2 - 4 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract
- icing sugar
- green food coloring gel preferred
Decorations
- 20 mint oreos some halved, some cut into fourths
- ¼ cup red M&M’s
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°, and position the oven rack on one of the top two rungs. Line the pan with parchment paper and spray with non-stick cooking spray.
- Combine sugar and butter in a large microwave safe bowl. Heat for 30 seconds then stir, heat again for another 30 seconds and stir again.
- Allow the mixture to cool and then add eggs and vanilla extract.
- Combine the flour, salt, baking powder and cocoa in a separate bowl. Whisk until blended.
- Mix the dry ingredients into the butter and sugar batter. Stir until incorporated.
- Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 45-50 minutes. Check with a toothpick to make sure only a few crumbs are possibly attached. Cool brownie completely in pan, on wire rack, before icing.
Frosting
- In a large microwave safe bowl melt the white chocolate chips and cream in the microwave for 1 minutes. Stir, until all the chocolate is melted and smooth. Add the peppermint extract and a squeeze of green gel. Stir to combine.
- If you want the color to be darker add a little more green coloring and stir. Add green coloring and stir until you have the shade you want. I always try and match the color of the cookies.
- Add icing sugar and stir until blended. Pour the icing over the cooled brownies. Smooth top as best you can.
- With a large sharp knife use a cutting board and cut the oreos in halves and quarters. Place on top of the icing. Until brownie surface is covered. Sprinkle with red M&Ms.
- Slice into squares. Serve.
Notes
- Gel food coloring is best. It achieves a much more intense color and doesn't change the texture of the icing.
- Experiment with different shades of green to find your perfect Grinch color.
- Cool the brownies completely before icing. If they're warm the icing may melt it off.
- Freeze your Oreos before chopping! It makes them easier to cut and they crumble much less.
- Line your baking pan with parchment paper. This makes it easier to remove and cut the brownies once cooled.
- Don't over mix your batter. Only mix until just combined to achieve a fudgy texture and avoid dense brownies.
Nutrition
This post was originally published August 2021. It has been updated with new images and content.
THEODORE DREW LINDEEN says
They look so good.
Karin and Ken says
They’re definitely a favorite around here. Thank you for noticing. All the best. Karin
Paul Gregg says
How can I make these brownies without chocolate?
Karin and Ken says
Replace the 3/4 cup cocoa powder with all purpose flour. 1:1 or the exact same amount. Use a tablespoon of powdered sugar sprinkled on top or whipped cream or nothing at all. Enjoy every bite! Karin
Charles Burham says
How much powdered sugar?
Karin and Ken says
I like to take a hand sieve with about a tablespoon of powdered sugar in it and gently tap the sides so the powdered sugar sprinkles nicely on top. Hope that helps. Enjoy every bite! Karin