Name: Grinch Brownies
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 55 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 large eggs.; 1/2 cup (1 stick) salted butter, melted.; 1/2 cup brown sugar.; 1/2 cup white sugar.; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.; 1/2 cup all-purpose flour.; 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder.; 1/4 teaspoon salt.; 15 mint Oreo cookies.; 4 ounces cream cheese, softened.; 1/4 cup salted butter, softened.; 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar.; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.; Green gel food coloring.; 5 mint Oreo cookies, for topping.; 2 teaspoons red heart sprinkles.

A stack of festive brownies decorated with green icing, chocolate chips, and red candies, set against a holiday-themed background. | recipesbyclare.com

My kitchen turns into a holiday wonderland when I make these playful Grinch brownies. The combination of fudgy mint chocolate topped with bright green frosting and tiny red hearts makes everyone smile. They've become our family's favorite Christmas treat and watching faces light up when I serve them brings me so much joy.

What Makes These Special

These brownies steal the show at every holiday gathering. The rich chocolate mingles perfectly with cool mint while the creamy green frosting adds such a fun twist. My kids can't resist helping decorate them and honestly neither can the adults.

Everything You Need for the Brownies

Eggs: 2 large eggs at room temperature. They make everything rich and fudgy.
Butter: 1 stick melted. I always use unsalted so we can control the flavor.
Brown sugar: Half cup packed gives that perfect chew.
White sugar: Another half cup for the right sweetness.
Vanilla: A full teaspoon of pure vanilla extract makes everything better.
Flour: Three quarters cup is just enough for fudgy not cakey brownies.
Cocoa powder: Half cup unsweetened. The good stuff makes a difference.
Salt: Just a quarter teaspoon to make the flavors sing.
Mint Oreos: 20 cookies roughly chopped. Try not to snack on too many.

Lets Talk About That Frosting

Cream cheese: 4 ounces softened. I leave mine out for an hour before starting.
Butter: 2 tablespoons soft but not melted.
Powdered sugar: One and a half cups for perfect sweetness.
Vanilla: Half teaspoon pure vanilla extract.
Green color: I love gel food coloring for the brightest Grinch green.
More Oreos: 5 cookies chopped for sprinkling.
Red hearts: These make the whole thing magical.

A stack of festive brownies topped with green frosting, chocolate chips, and red and green candies, set against a holiday-themed background. | recipesbyclare.com

Let's Bake Together

Start With The Base: Get your oven warming to 350°F and line your pan with parchment. This might seem fussy but trust me it makes lifting these beauties out so much easier.
Mix with Love: Whisk those eggs until fluffy then blend in your melted butter sugars and vanilla. In goes the flour cocoa and salt then fold in those crushed Oreos. The batter will be thick and gorgeous.
Time to Bake: Spread the batter into your pan and let it work its magic for about 25 minutes. You want them fudgy but not raw.
Create the Magic: While they cool whip up that frosting until it's silky smooth. Add your green color bit by bit until you get that perfect Grinch shade.
Final Touches: Once the brownies are completely cool spread on your frosting sprinkle with Oreos and add those adorable red hearts.

Keeping Them Fresh

Pop these in an airtight container in your fridge and they'll stay perfect for nearly a week. I often make a double batch and freeze some. Just wrap them well and they'll keep for months. Though they rarely last that long in my house.

Mix It Up

Sometimes I swap in different Oreo flavors or try new sprinkle combinations. During the holidays I love crushing candy canes on top instead of extra cookies. The possibilities are endless and each version brings its own magic.

My Best Baking Tips

Let those brownies cool completely before frosting. I mean completely. A warm brownie will turn your frosting into a melty mess. For the brightest green color use gel food coloring it won't thin out your frosting like liquid ones do.

A plate stacked with vibrant green and chocolate brownies topped with red and green candies, set against a festive backdrop. | recipesbyclare.com

Quick Version Tips

On busy days I've absolutely used a boxed mix as my base. Just add those crushed Oreos to the batter and no one will know the difference. The frosting is where the real magic happens anyway.

Spreading Holiday Joy

These brownies make the sweetest gifts. I love packaging them in festive boxes or wrapping them individually for cookie exchanges. The green frosting and red hearts always bring huge smiles.

More Than Just a Treat

There's something special about these Grinch brownies. Maybe it's how they remind us of the beloved story or maybe it's just the joy of creating something so festive. Either way they bring out the holiday spirit in everyone.

Perfect Family Project

My kitchen fills with giggles when we make these together. Little hands love helping crush cookies and sprinkle hearts. Yes it gets messy but those are the memories we cherish most.

A stack of festive Christmas brownies topped with green icing, chocolate chips, and red candy ornaments on a white plate, set against a holiday-themed background. | recipesbyclare.com

Serving Suggestions

We love these with hot cocoa on movie nights especially when watching you know which movie. Sometimes I serve them alongside peppermint ice cream for an extra special dessert.

Party Planning Made Easy

I often make these a day ahead when hosting holiday gatherings. They actually taste better after the flavors have time to meld together. Just keep them chilled until about 30 minutes before serving.

Baking for a Crowd

Need to feed more people? This recipe doubles beautifully. Just use a bigger pan and add a few minutes to the baking time. Watch for that perfect fudgy texture when testing doneness.

Making Them Extra Special

Sometimes I add a tiny drop of peppermint extract to the frosting or sprinkle some edible glitter on top. During the holidays a little extra sparkle is always welcome.

A stack of festive green and black brownies topped with chocolate and colorful candy decorations. | recipesbyclare.com

Wrapping Them Up

When gifting these pretties I like using clear boxes tied with green ribbon. A little gift tag with a Grinch quote makes them extra special. They travel well and always bring smiles.

Party Perfect

These brownies have starred at many holiday parties in my house. They look adorable next to green punch and other festive treats. The kids especially love the theme.

Why Temperature Matters

Keep these chilled until about half an hour before serving. The cream cheese frosting stays perfect and the texture is absolutely divine when slightly cool.

Year Round Fun

While we love these at Christmas they're too good to make just once a year. I've made them with different colored frosting for other holidays. Green for St. Patrick's Day anyone?

A stack of festive brownies with green frosting, chocolate chips, and red heart-shaped candies on a white plate. | recipesbyclare.com

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I use regular Oreos instead of mint?: Yes, you can use regular Oreos, but you'll lose the mint flavor that makes these brownies special. Consider adding 1/4 teaspoon mint extract to keep the Grinch theme.
→ Why use gel food coloring?: Gel food coloring gives a more vibrant green color without making the frosting too runny. Regular food coloring works but might need more drops to achieve the same color.
→ How should I store these brownies?: Keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days due to the cream cheese frosting. Let them sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.
→ Can I freeze these brownies?: Yes, freeze them unfrosted for up to 3 months. Thaw completely before adding the frosting and decorations.
→ What if I can't find heart sprinkles?: Any red sprinkles will work for the Grinch theme. You can also use small red candies or cut red fondant into heart shapes.

Grinch Brownies