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Grinch Cake with Hidden Red Heart Surprise Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.4 from 5 reviews
  • Author: Sue
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
  • Yield: 10 servings
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Description

This delightful Grinch Cake features a vibrant green pistachio-flavored exterior with a surprising red velvet heart hidden inside. Perfect for festive occasions or a fun dessert, this loaf cake combines moist cake layers with creamy pudding mix and is beautifully finished with white and green icing accented by red heart sprinkles.


Ingredients

For the Red (Heart) Batter

  • 15.2 ounces box of red velvet cake mix
  • 3 large eggs
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • 3 ounces packet of vanilla pudding mix
  • 1 cup sour cream

For the Green Batter

  • 15.2 ounces box of yellow cake mix
  • 3 large eggs
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • 6 ounces (two 3-ounce packets) of pistachio pudding mix
  • 1 cup sour cream

For the Icing

  • 1½ cups white icing
  • ¼ cup green icing
  • 2 tablespoons red heart sprinkles


Instructions

  1. Prep the Oven and Pans: Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C) and prepare two standard loaf pans by lining them with parchment paper or spraying them with non-stick baking spray to ensure easy removal of the cakes.
  2. Make the Red Batter: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the red velvet cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, water, vanilla pudding mix, and sour cream until fully combined. The batter will be thick; ensure it is well mixed with no lumps.
  3. Bake the Red Bread: Pour the red batter into one prepared loaf pan. Spread it evenly to the corners and sides since the batter is thick. Bake for 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. After baking, cool the loaf completely in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to firm it up for slicing.
  4. Cut Out Hearts: Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut as many red velvet hearts from the cooled loaf as possible. Set these aside for layering in the green batter.
  5. Make the Green Batter: In another large bowl, whisk together the yellow cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, water, pistachio pudding mix, and sour cream. Like the red batter, it will be thick but stir it well until smooth.
  6. Assemble the Cake: Pour a thin layer of green batter into the second prepared loaf pan. Arrange the red hearts in a row, face to face, spanning from one end of the pan to the other. Carefully pour the remaining green batter over the hearts, spreading it evenly and gently as the batter is thick. The batter will not fill the pan completely; the red hearts will be slightly raised - this is intentional as the green batter will rise during baking.
  7. Bake the Green Loaf: Bake for 45 minutes at 350°F (177°C), or until a toothpick inserted into the side of the pan away from the hearts comes out clean.
  8. Cool the Loaf: Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 30 minutes to an hour. For faster cooling, place the loaf in the refrigerator.
  9. Ice the Cake: Once completely cooled, carefully remove the cake from the pan. Ice the top and sides with white icing, drizzle with green icing, and finish by sprinkling red heart sprinkles over the top for decoration.
  10. Serve: Slice the loaf to reveal the hidden red velvet heart inside each piece, and enjoy your festive Grinch Cake!

Notes

  • Make sure to allow the red velvet loaf to cool completely before cutting out the hearts to avoid crumbling.
  • The batter for both cakes is thicker than typical cake batters; spread carefully in the pan.
  • Refrigerating the red loaf before cutting helps keep the heart shapes intact.
  • You can use store-bought white and green icings or make your own for a fresher taste.
  • For best results, use fresh pudding mix packets from a reliable brand for moisture and flavor.
  • The green batter rises during baking, so it’s normal if the red hearts appear raised in the final cake.