If you’re hosting a Grinch-themed Christmas party and aren’t sure what to serve, we’ve got you covered. With these Grinch party food and drink ideas, you’re sure to find some options that your friends will love.
The Grinch is coming to town.
That means you’re in charge of throwing a Christmas party that won’t be ruined by his shenanigans.
You want to keep it classy, but also festive and fun.
And most importantly, you don’t want your guests to go hungry! Or thirsty!
Don’t worry. We’ve got all the Grinchy food ideas you need for an epic holiday soiree.
From drinks and appetizers to cookies and desserts, these recipes are easy enough that anyone can make them.
Grinch Desserts
Let’s start with the Grinch dessert recipes.
Because I’m an “eat your dessert first” kind of person.
If you’re willing to put in a little work, these Grinch cupcakes with a heart inside, and the Grinch face made with buttercream frosting on top are the cutest Christmas dessert ever! And they look awesome on a Grinch party dessert table.
Image credit: Britni Vigil @ Play.Party.Plan For a Grinch cupcake recipe that takes a little less work, try this peppermint version. They combine an easy cupcake recipe with peppermint buttercream frosting on top to look like the Grinch in a Santa hat.- This Grinch cake pucks recipe is a fun way to add a festive touch to your dessert table. Made from red velvet cake and decorated with green chocolate and sprinkles, they’re a sweet, colorful treat that fits right into a holiday party. They’re a bit more involved but definitely worth the effort for a show-stopping dessert.
Image credit: Aimee Shugarman @ Shugary Sweets If you love mint and chocolate together (me!), then you’ll want to try this Grinch brownie recipe. It’s made with green mint ganache and mint Oreos combined with fudgy brownies and red hot candies. Don’t they look awesome?Image credit: Britni Vigil @ Play.Party.Plan These delicious homemade brownies combine Mint Oreos and a vibrant green chocolate ganache. With the red heart sprinkles they definitely have some Grinch flair.
Image credit: Kim @ Three Olives Branch This green Grinch Fudge is a simple microwave recipe made with white chocolate that has been colored green. Topped with large red heart sprinkles, it’s a Grinch dessert that everyone will love.
Image credit: Brittanie Pyper @ Simplistically Living For all the donut lovers! These green donuts covered with green icing and red candy hearts make great Grinch desserts that’ll have everyone coming back for more.
Image credit: Debi @ Our Wabisabi Life If you don’t want to do any cooking, you can use store-bought rice krispie treats to put together these Grinch pops. So easy to serve at a party and the kids will love them.
Grinch Cookie Recipes
Now we’re on to the cookie portion of our Grinch food ideas list.
Because you can’t have a Christmas party without cookies!
- These Grinch heart sugar cookies are super easy to make (there’s no icing involved!). Made with peppermint flavoring and green food color, they look and taste like Christmas.
Image credit: Emilie @ Finding Zest Covered with green frosting that’s made to look like fur, these sugar cookies are so adorable. They’re topped with red ganache hearts in three sizes, just like the Grinch’s heart in How The Grinch Stole Christmas.
Image credit: Bintu @ Recipes From A Pantry This Grinch cookie recipe gives you the option of making them with a cake mix or from scratch. So you get to decide how much work you want to do.
Image credit: Samantha Erb @ Everyday Family Cooking Try this recipe for the Grinch version of a Linzer cookie. These double-layered cookies are super easy to make and use a cream cheese frosting to hold the cookies together. Yum!
Image credit: Diana @ Fun Cookie Recipes Since these cookies are made with cake mix, they are about as easy as it gets to put together. And their green color and red heart definitely looks Grinch-inspired.
Image credit: Lisa Johnson @ Cooking with Curls No Grinch cookie collection would be complete without some green snowball cookies covered in white powdered sugar. And this recipe is made with pistachios and cranberries for added holiday flavor.
Image credit: Chandice Probst @ This Vivacious Life Made with only 4 ingredients, these Grinch cookies are super easy to make. And they are naturally colored, so you don’t have to add any food coloring to get them to turn out green.- For a break from all the green, try these red and white slice & bake peppermint cookies. They are easy to make, can be frozen until you need them, and look very festive. The perfect holiday party cookie!
Appetizers
While Grinch Christmas parties often revolve around desserts, cookies and drinks, you may also want to serve some “real” food.
Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered, starting with these appetizer recipes.
- Try this Grinch Charcuterie Board for a fun appetizer that fits right into a holiday party. It’s easy to assemble with colorful ingredients like kiwi, strawberries, and cheddar cheese, making it a cute addition to your Christmas spread.
- This cranberry salsa bites recipe is the perfect Christmas party appetizer. It looks festive, tastes great, and can be made ahead of time. And the red color pairs perfectly with all the green food at a Grinch party.
- Another super easy party appetizer that fits right in with the Grinch theme is guacamole. Served with chips or veggies, it’s always a hit.
- As a Grinch-themed side dish, these Green Deviled Eggs add a creamy, flavorful touch to your holiday spread. They’re made with avocado, sour cream, and a sprinkle of paprika, and can be prepared ahead of time to save you stress. They’re a simple, tasty way to bring a little green to your party table.
Image credit: Lisa Johnson @ Cooking with Curls Grinch-y green popcorn with red heart sprinkles! Need I say more? This is the perfect finger food for a Grinch party.
Image credit: Nettie @ Moore Or Less Cooking These Grinch pretzel squares are covered with different colors of candy melts to create a Grinch-inspired design that’s easy to serve for a crowd.
Image credit: Kristy Richardson @ On My Kids Plate Or you can use twisty pretzels with caramel and candy melts to create these easy Grinch pretzel bites.
Image credit: Lori @ Who Needs A Cape? I’m not sure if this qualifies as a dessert or an appetizer. But in any case, it’s minty, green and made with cream cheese. Which makes it perfect for dipping fruit, cookies or even veggies.
Mains & Sides
In case you’re going to be serving a meal at your Grinch Christmas party, here are a few recipes that will fit in with the green and red color scheme.
Image credit: Brittanie Pyper @ Simplistically Living Move over boring plain waffles! If you’re planning a Grinch-themed Christmas brunch, then these made-from-scratch green waffles are the perfect addition to your menu.- While not specifically Grinch-themed, coleslaw is a great salad to serve for a crowd. The cabbage is the perfect green color and it doesn’t wilt easily so it’s a great dish for the buffet table. Add in some red peppers and top with cherry tomatoes for some extra Christmas flair.
- This green fluff salad recipe is made with pistachio pudding mix which gives it a green color that is perfect for a Grinch themed party. And it tastes even better when it’s made a day ahead of time. Which is always a party planning bonus in my books.
Image credit: Debi Morgan @ Quiche My Grits These Burritos are stuffed with seasoned chicken and an amazing cheese sauce, then smothered with avocado, salsa verde, cilantro and lime. Which makes them just the right color to add to your Grinch-inspired food list.
Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Now on to the Grinch drinks, starting with the non-alcoholic ones that everyone can enjoy.
Image credit: Brittanie Pyper @ Simplistically Living This non-alcoholic Grinch punch has a great green color that looks very Christmas-y when poured into a glass rimmed with red sugar. A great holiday party recipe for all ages.
Image credit: M Caroline @ The Parent Spot This homemade Grinch hot chocolate is made with mint chocolate chips for a fresh take on the winter classic.
Image credit: Nettie @ Moore Or Less Cooking If you love floats, then this Grinch drink recipe is for you! Lime sherbet adds to the flavor and the green color.- For a fun, non-alcoholic option, the Green Appletini Mocktail is a lively choice for your Grinch party. It’s made with apple juice, lemon juice, and green apple syrup, giving it a tart and fruity flavor that everyone can enjoy.
Image credit: Julie Blanner @ Julie Blanner These Grinch hot chocolate bombs are a fun way to serve hot chocolate. Or you can give them away as party favors and let your guests continue the Grinch party at home.
Image credit: Victoria Pruett @ Down Redbud Drive Since hot chocolate bombs are so popular, there are many ways you can make them. Including this recipe with a dark green shell that melts into a perfect color for a Grinch-inspired drink.
Image credit: Stacey aka the Soccer Mom @ The Soccer Mom Blog Made with mint chocolate and marshmallows, these hot chocolate bombs add a twist to the traditional hot chocolate recipe. And of course some green coloring along with a red heart to go with the Grinch theme.
Image credit: Nicole Hood @ For the Love of Food For a non-alcoholic green drink that uses raspberries as its pop of red, try this Grinch punch recipe. It’s super easy to make with only 3 ingredients!
Grinch Cocktails
Last but not least are all of our Grinch cocktail recipes.
These adult beverages will make sure everyone is getting in on the Christmas spirit.
- With Grinch Sangria, you get a festive, fruity cocktail that’s easy to prepare ahead and adds a splash of holiday cheer. Made with white wine, melon liqueur, and fresh berries, it’s the perfect green color for a Grinch Christmas party.
- I never have a party without serving Jello shots. And these apple-flavored ones topped with a strawberry and whipped cream Santa hat are perfect for a Grinch-themed party menu.
Image credit: Stacey aka the Soccer Mom @ The Soccer Mom Blog For a peppermint flavored Jello shot with a Grinch-inspired red heart, try this recipe that will add an extra kick to your holiday party.
Image credit: Kim @ Christmas Crafts And Recipes This green Grinch cocktail recipe is made from apple vodka and melon liqueur for a tasty adult beverage that is perfect for a holiday party. And the red rim and heart make it perfect for the theme.
Image credit: Debi @ Our Wabisabi Life This adult beverage option combines orange, melon and pineapple flavors to make a refreshing fruity Grinch cocktail that everyone will love.
Image credit: Lisa Johnson @ Cooking with Curls For a Grinch-inspired hot chocolate with a kick, try this recipe that uses white chocolate and your choice of liqueur to customize the flavor to your taste.
Image credit: Aimee Shugarman @ Shugary Sweets This fun and fruity alcoholic Grinch Drink is the perfect cocktail recipe for your upcoming Christmas holiday party. Garnished with orange slices and maraschino cherries, you almost feel like you’re on vacation in the tropics while you’re drinking it.- While not specifically a Grinch recipe, these apple martinis are the perfect color! Add red sanding sugar around the rim of the glass (instead of green) and you have a great Grinch martini that everyone will love.
- I usually make this mint shake martini for St Patrick’s Day, but the color and taste is also perfect for a Grinch cocktail. Just replace the green sugar rim for a red on and you’re good to go!
That’s it for my Grinch party food and drink ideas. Hopefully you’ve found some green and red recipes that will make your holiday get-together the talk of the town.
Have comments or questions about our Grinch party food and drink ideas? Tell us in the section below.
This post was originally published on November 23, 2021 but was updated with new content on July 30, 2026.