This sweet and creamy Grinch Layered Dessert is the perfect treat for the holiday season. Layers of vanilla cookies, fluffy cheesecake, and a creamy peppermint pudding layer get topped with whipped cream and sprinkles for a fun Grinch theme.
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Grinch Lush Recipe
Delicious, lush desserts are some of the easiest and most versatile desserts you can make. From colorful Pumpkin Lush to summery Strawberry Lush, they’re just so scrumptious! With this recipe, we’re going green. Grinch green, that is. This Grinch Lush is a delicious Christmas dessert that brings the spirit of Dr. Seuss’s favorite character to your holiday dessert table. With its vibrant, festive colors and whimsical theme, it’s a playful nod to the “mean one” himself.
Crunchy crushed Vanilla Oreo cookie crust gets this recipe started. Next, a sweet, velvety cream cheese layer is given a Grinch vibe with a little green food coloring. To represent the iconic Grinch heart, a red layer of peppermint extract-infused pudding layer is added next. For a fun and decorative finish, a dollop of green-tinted whipped topping and holiday sprinkles top things off. How is that for adorable?
Why We Love This Recipe
- Colorful, creamy, and yummy – Fun addition to any Christmas party or Grinch movie night during the Christmas season.
- Easy recipe – This no-bake easy Christmas dessert takes very little effort and just a few simple ingredients from the grocery store.
- Dr. Seuss inspired – It’s a super fun and festive dessert inspired by the holiday movie “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”
Ingredients
- Vanilla Oreo cookies
- Butter, melted
- Cream cheese, softened
- Powdered sugar
- Whipped topping
- Vanilla instant pudding mix (you can also use white chocolate)
- Cold milk
- Peppermint extract
- Green gel food coloring
- Red gel food coloring
- Green and red heart-shaped sprinkles
How to Make this Grinch Themed Dessert
You can line a 9 x 13 baking dish with parchment paper to make slicing easier, but it is not necessary.
Step One: Make the Crust
- In your food processor, crush all the cookies into crumbs.
- Place the cookies in a large bowl and add the melted butter. Stir until well blended.
- Press the cookie crumbs into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
Step Two: Make the Green Cheesecake Layer
- In a large bowl, using an electric hand mixer on low speed, combine the room-temperature cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth.
- Fold in thawed whipped topping.
- Stir in green food coloring until you get a light green color.
- Gently spread the cream cheese mixture over the cookie mixture.
Step Three: Make The Red Pudding Layer
- In a medium bowl, use an electric mixer or whisk to mix together the dry pudding mixes and milk until combined.
- Add the peppermint extract.
- Add in red food coloring until you get your desired shade of the Grinch’s heart.
- Spread in an even, thin layer over the cream cheese layer.
Step Four: Add the Topping
- Take the remaining container of whipped topping and add more green food coloring until it’s the same shade of green as the bottom layer.
- Spread the Cool Whip on top.
Step Five: Garnish, Chill and Serve
- Add the sprinkles to the top of the cake.
- Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
- Slice and serve.
Recipe Add-ins and Variations:
- Cookie crust – You can use regular Oreos or even mint Oreos for a more minty flavor.
- Cookie dough – Fold chunks of edible cookie dough into the cream cheese layer.
- Extract – Swap out the peppermint extract for vanilla extract, butter extract, or rum extract.
- Pudding – Instead of vanilla pudding, you can use pistachio instant pudding.
- Pumpkin spice – Swap out the peppermint flavors with warm pumpkin pie spice mixed into the cream cheese layer.
- Extra crunch – Add crushed candy canes, chocolate chips, coconut flakes, or chopped nuts to the cheesecake mixture.
How Long Does Layered Lush Last?
Store leftover Grinch cake in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Can I Make this Dessert Ahead of Time and Freeze it?
Yes, you can freeze this dessert. Here’s how to do it:
- Prepare the recipe according to the directions, but leave off the sprinkles. Make sure you’re using a freezer-safe baking dish.
- Cover it tightly with a layer of plastic wrap and then a layer of foil.
- Place it on a flat surface in the freezer.
- Before serving, allow it to thaw slowly overnight in the fridge.
- Once thawed, garnish, slice, and serve!
Can I use Homemade Whipped Cream Instead?
If you want to use homemade whipped cream instead of store-bought, you’ll want to make sure you use stabilized whipped topping to prevent it from deflating.
You’ll also love our popular Pumpkin Lush dessert that’s great for Thanksgiving or Christmas.
More Fun Grinch Dessert Ideas
Grinch Dessert Recipes are fun sweet treats for the whole family. Here are some of our favorites.
- Thumbprint Grinch Sugar Cookies
- Grinch Rice Krispie Treats
- Grinch Oreo Balls
- Grinch Crinkle Cake Mix Cookies
- Grinch Hot Chocolate
- Grinch Pretzel Bites
Grinch Lush
Ingredients
- 36 vanilla Oreo cookies
- 6 Tablespoons butter melted
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 cup confectioners sugar
- 16 ounces whipped topping 2 tubs, like Cool Whip
- 6.8 ounces vanilla instant pudding mix 2 boxes
- 2 ½ cups cold milk
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- green and red food coloring
- heart sprinkles
Instructions
- You can line a 9 x 13 baking dish with parchment paper to make slicing easier.
- In your food processor crush all the cookies into crumbs.
- Place the cookies into a large bowl and add the melted butter and stir until combined.
- Press the cookie crumbs into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- In large bowl using an electric mixer combine the cream cheese and confectioners sugar until smooth.
- Fold in one container of whipped topping.
- Stir in green food coloring until you get your desired shade.
- Gently spread the cream cheese mixture over the cookie mixture.
- In medium bowl, whisk together the dry pudding mixes and milk until combined.
- Add the peppermint extract.
- Add in red food coloring until you get your desired shade.
- Spread over the cream cheese layer.
- Mix the remaining container of whipped topping with more green food coloring until its the same shade green as the bottom layer.
- Spread the whipped topping on top.
- Decorate with the sprinkles.
- Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
Nutrition
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