Dessert

Grinchy Pull-Apart Cupcakes Recipe

Bylilan Sage December 22, 2025December 22, 2025

Introduction

Celebrate the holiday season with these festive Grinchy Pull-Apart Cupcakes. Combining rich chocolate cupcakes with colorful, creamy frosting, this playful treat is as fun to make as it is to eat. Perfect for holiday parties or a sweet seasonal centerpiece.

A large, flat cupcake shaped like a green face with two rounded ears on each side is shown. The cupcake has a smooth green frosting layer covering the entire face and ears, with a simple black frosting smile and nose drawn on. Two round yellow eyes with black outlines and small black eyelashes add detail to the face. On top, there is a curved red frosting hat layer with a thick, fluffy white frosting trim and a white frosting pom-pom on the tip. The cupcake rests on a white marbled surface with small glass bowls of white and green frosting nearby. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 (15.25-oz.) box chocolate cake mix, plus required ingredients
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter, softened
6 cups powdered sugar
5 tablespoons heavy cream
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Yellow food coloring
Red food coloring
Green food coloring
Black gel icing

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F and line two muffin tins with cupcake liners. Prepare the chocolate cake mix according to the box directions. Divide the batter evenly between the liners and bake for about 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow cupcakes to cool completely.
Step 2: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and powdered sugar together until combined. Add the heavy cream, vanilla extract, and kosher salt, then mix until the frosting is smooth and creamy.
Step 3: Separate the frosting into four portions. Tint about 1 1/2 cups red, leave about 1 cup white, add yellow food coloring to approximately one tablespoon, and color the remaining frosting green.
Step 4: On a serving platter, arrange 13 cupcakes to form the shape of the Grinch’s face. Use the white frosting to “dock” each cupcake. Pipe green frosting around the edges to outline the face, then fill in the center and smooth the surface with an offset spatula.
Step 5: Stack 5 cupcakes on top of the face arrangement to create the shape of Santa’s hat. Outline the hat with red frosting, then fill and smooth it.
Step 6: Decoratively pipe white frosting along the bottom and tip of the Santa hat to mimic the fluffy trim.
Step 7: Pipe two large yellow dots on the face for eyes. Use black gel icing to draw the Grinch’s facial features, adding character to your creation.

Tips & Variations

Use gel food coloring for vibrant frosting colors without thinning your icing.
Chill cupcakes after frosting to help the design set before serving.
For a fun twist, swap chocolate cake mix for a red velvet version to enhance the holiday colors.

Storage

Store leftover cupcakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Bring to room temperature before serving or warm slightly in the microwave for about 10 seconds. Avoid storing at room temperature longer than a day to keep the frosting fresh.

How to Serve

The image shows a large cupcake cake shaped like the Grinch's face. The cake has a bright green frosted base for the Grinch's face with smooth, slightly textured icing. It has two large round yellow eyes with black pupils and a simple black icing outline for eyebrows, nose, and a wide smiling mouth. The Grinch is wearing a red hat with thick, bright red frosting forming the main part and a row of white dollops of frosting at the base of the hat. The cake pieces are arranged so the edges are slightly visible. Three woman's hands gently hold the cake from different sides. All of this is placed on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make the cupcakes and frosting ahead of time?

Yes, you can bake the cupcakes a day or two in advance and keep them tightly covered at room temperature. Prepare the frosting a day ahead and refrigerate, then bring it to room temperature and re-whip before decorating.

What if I don’t have green food coloring?

If you don’t have green food coloring, you can mix blue and yellow gel food colors to achieve green or try natural alternatives like matcha powder, although this may slightly change the flavor.