With a few simple ingredients and some easy instructions, you can warm the hearts of your family and friends with this gloriously easy to make realistic looking Grinch Guacamole.
"Every Who down in Whoville liked Christmas a lot, but the Grinch who lived just North of Whoville, did not!" "The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season!" "Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason." - Dr. Suess.
So I had this idea. A wonderfully awful idea! And I chuckled and clucked, what a great Grinchy trick, with guacamole and some cream cheese, he'll look just like St. Nick!
Jump to:
- Why this fun Christmas appetizer works?
- The ingredient list:
- Kitchen tool and equipment:
- How much in advance can this Grinch guacamole be made?
- IF you need to make him more than one day in advance...
- How to store the Grinch guacamole in the refrigerator before serving?
- The easy step-by-step photo instructions:
- For additional Grinch inspired recipes:
- Additional whimsical Christmas recipes:
- Printable Recipe Card
Why this fun Christmas appetizer works?
Grinch Guacamole comes together easily with cauliflower fur, a broccoli nose, and some tinted mayonnaise that is used to pipe on his evil grin and his big, bushy eyebrows.
In only a few minutes, you'll be amazed at how this gloriously Grinchy fellow comes to life right before your very eyes!
Then the WHO's, young and old, will sit down to a feast. And they'll feast! And they'll feast! And they'll FEAST! FEAST! FEAST!
FEAST on this Grinch Guacamole without a care in the least! 😉
The ingredient list:
**Note - The following lists of ingredients plus kitchen tools and equipment contain affiliate links (highlighted in blue) for your consideration and shopping convenience. #CommissionsEarned
- cream cheese
- prepared guacamole
- diced pimentos
- smoked paprika
- garlic powder
- salt and pepper
- cilantro or basil paste (found in the refrigerated produce section)
- cauliflower florets
- red, black, and green gel food color
- mayonnaise
- sriracha
- black olives
- yellow zucchini
- broccoli floret
Kitchen tool and equipment:
- Bowls: small, medium, and large
- Hand Mixer
- Spatula
- Paring Knife
- Serving Platter
- Piping Bag or Large Zip-Top Bag
- Scissors
- Gel Food Color (green, black, red)
- Skewers or toothpicks for storage (trimmed if needed)
How much in advance can this Grinch guacamole be made?
I suggest putting him together no more than one day in advance and keeping him refrigerated.
This way the guacamole will remain the lovely Grinchy green color before turning that off-shade of brown that nobody finds appetizing.
IF you need to make him more than one day in advance...
Make sure to add approximately 1 tablespoon of fresh lime juice (not listed in the recipe OR the ingredient list) to the guacamole before mixing and assembling the face portion.
The acid in the lime juice should help prevent the guacamole from oxidating and turning color. HOWEVER, I do not recommend making him more than one day in advance for optimal visual appearance.
How to store the Grinch guacamole in the refrigerator before serving?
Gently press skewers or toothpicks randomly over the surface of the grinch.
Carefully drape plastic wrap over the skewers making sure that it does not come in contact with the Grinch and smear his pretty face.
When ready to serve, remove the plastic wrap and skewers and gently smooth the surface of the Grinch (if needed) so no holes are visible.
The easy step-by-step photo instructions:
- Assemble your ingredients and bring the cream cheese to room temperature for easier blending.
- In a large bowl blend together 10 ounces of softened cream cheese, 2 packages (8 ounces each) prepared guacamole, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and basil or cilantro paste.
- Blend until creamy. Add a few drops of green food gel (if desired) and blend until you achieve your preferred Grinchy shade of green.
- Spoon the Grinch guacamole into the center of a large serving platter and use a spatula to shape the guacamole into a modified diamond shape, making sure to give your Grinch to large cheeks and a pointy chin.
- Use a damp paper towel to clean up any smears on the platter as you go and to give your Grinch a clean edge.
- Use the spatula to gently push the guacamole into angle into the top of the Grinch's head in order for his Santa hat to sit at a jaunty angle.
- Set the platter aside while you mix up the Santa hat ingredients.
- In a medium bowl, blend the remaining 6 ounces of softened cream cheese, 2 tablespoons drained pimentos (reserving two for his pupils), 2 teaspoons smoked paprika.
- Blend until smooth.
- Once blended, add a few drops of red gel food color until you reach your desired shade of red, and mix in 1 tablespoon sriracha (if desired).
- Spoon the Santa hat cream cheese onto the side of the Grinch's head where you angled his face to accommodate his hat.
- Use a spatula to smooth and shape the Santa hat, and clean the smears on the platter with a damp paper towel.
- Place the cauliflower florets as the rim of the Grinch's Santa hat, the ball, and around his neckline as the collar of his suit.
- Slice two ¼" slices from a yellow zucchini (approximately 2" in circumference) and then use a paring knife to cut two rounded pieces from the bottom of each zucchini slice.
- Place the zucchini slices (eyes) on the Grinch's face, and on a slight angle.
- Use place a pimento piece inside each olive slice and place it on the zucchini to resemble the eyeballs and pupils.
- In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise and a few drops of black gel food color until you achieve your desired hue.
- Spoon the mayonnaise mixture into a large zip lock bag (or a piping bag), and use scissors to snip a small corner so you can pipe a thin line for the Grinch's eye lines, mouth, and cheeks.
- Snip a larger tip from the bag and pipe on the Grinch's heavy, evil eyebrows.
- Press a small broccoli floret just under his eyes for his nose.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve, and then your realistic-looking Grinch Guacamole is ready to make his holiday appearance along with some chips, crackers, vegetables... and roast beast. 😉
For additional Grinch inspired recipes:
- The Grinch Hot Cocoa from Simplistically Living
- Grinch Heart Rice Krispie Treats from Mom 4 Real
- Grinch Christmas Jello Shots from The Soccer Mom Blog
- Grinch Christmas Cake from The Bearfoot Baker
- Minty Grinch Dip from Who Needs a Cape?
- Grinch Fudge from How to Make Easy Fudge
- Grinch Marshmallows from The Decorated Cookie
You're a foul one, Mr. Grinch. You're a nasty-wasty skunk.
Your heart is full of unwashed socks. Your soul is full of gunk.
Mr. Grinch! The three words that best describe you are as follows, and I quote, "Stink, stank, stunk"!
Additional whimsical Christmas recipes:
Making a 3D Rice Krispies Treat Christmas Tree is sticky work, but with my tips and tricks, you can have this pretty winter tree for your holiday centerpiece or party buffet table (if the kids don't eat it first)!
Ho! Ho! Ho! This tasty and charming Buttermilk Honey Santa Bread is as whimsical as he is delicious. With my easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions, he'll be on your holiday table in no time.
When you want a showstopper dessert this holiday season, this Bourbon Pecan Pie with Painted Poinsettia Crust is just the ticket!
This Goat Cheese Christmas Wreath Appetizer with dried cherries and pistachios is as festive looking as it is delicious. It's sure to make a statement on the buffet table at the annual holiday party!
Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more!
And what happened then? Well, in Whoville they say... that the Grinch's small heart grew three sizes that day!
Welcome, Christmas. Bring your cheer,
Cheer to all Whos, far and near.
Christmas Day is in our grasp
So long as we have hands to grasp.
Welcome Christmas while we stand
Heart to heart and hand in hand.
When you make this recipe (and I hope that you will), I'd appreciate it if you'd take the time to come back and give it a star rating along with a comment on why you rated as you did. Search engines such as Google appreciate comments and ratings and, in turn, will show my recipes to more people. Please look for the pink star rating box within the printable recipe card. Thank you!!
Printable Recipe Card
Grinch Guacamole Appetizer
Ingredients
- 2 blocks (8 oz. each) cream cheese softened and divided
- 2 packages (8 oz. each) prepared guacamole
- 1 tablespoon cilantro paste or basil paste
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons diced pimentos, drained (reserve two pieces for the pupils)
- 1 tablespoon sriracha or your favorite hot sauce, if desired
- red, green, black gel food color
- 3 cups cauliflower florets
- 2 round slices yellow squash cut into ¼" thickness
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- 2 individual black olive slices
- 1 piece small broccoli floret
- assorted vegetables and crackers for dippers
Instructions
- In a large bowl, blend together 10 ounces of softened cream cheese along with the guacamole, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Add the cilantro (or basil paste) along with a few drops of green gel color until you achieve your desired shade of green.
- Spread the green guacamole dip in the center of a large serving platter in a modified diamond shape, making sure to give him large cheeks and a pointy chin.
- Use a damp paper towel to clean any smears on the platter and to give the Grinch a nice, clean edge.
- Use a spatula to angle off the top of his forehead so the Santa hat will sit on a jaunty angle.
- Smooth the guacamole with the spatula. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, blend the remaining cream cheese, pimentos, smoked paprika until smooth.
- Stir in enough red food gel until you achieve your desired hue, and then mix in the sriracha (if desired).
- Spoon the red cream cheese mixture on the side where you angled the Grinch head and use a spatula to smooth and form the mixture into a Santa hat.
- Gently press cauliflower florets to form the fur trim of the hat, and place them around the base of his face to form the fir trim of his suit.
- Use a paring knife to cut semi-rounded pieces from each of the yellow zucchini slices.
- Press a pimento piece in the center of each black olive slice.
- Gently press the cut zucchini slices into the Grinch face, on a slight angle.
- Place the pimento and olive slices on the zucchini slices to form the eyeballs and pupils.
- In a small bowl mix together the mayonnaise and a few drops of black gel food color until you achieve your desired hue.
- Spoon the mayonnaise mixture into a large zip top bag, or a piping bag.
- Snip a small hole in the corner of the bag and gently (and consistently) squeeze the bag to pipe out the Grinch's eye lines, mouth, and cheeks.
- Snip a larger hole in the corner of the bag and pipe some thick, bushy eyebrows (on angles) over the very tops of the zucchini eyes.
- Finish by placing a small broccoli floret right below his eyes, for his nose.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Serve with crackers, chips, vegetables, and roast beast.
Notes
Nutrition
I sincerely hope you've enjoyed today's Grinch party appetizer recipe as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you!
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Until we eat again, I hope you have a delicious day!
Beth says
Ok, this is adorable! And with your step by step instructions, easy to make!
Janelle Heath says
This is such a cute idea! My friends and family a really into Christmas and we're always looking for new Christmas themed foods for our Christmas parties. This tastes so good and will be a family favorite at my next party!
Renée says
Hi, Sophie!
Yours is probably not as bad as you say.
However, if you ever want to send me a photo of your work I will try and help you out with a few pointers.
That said, I'll bet he tasted good! 🙂
Have a great day!
Renee
Aimee Shugarman says
this is so fun and creative. And delicious 🙂
Renée says
Thanks, Aimee!
Jennifer Banz says
I love anything Grinch, and Guacamole! What a great idea!
So fun & festive!
Renée says
Thank you, Jennifer!
Michelle Duale says
Beautiful! I can't wait to try this for our Christmas party at school! A good way to get kids to eat their veggies!
Renée says
That's awesome, Michelle. The kids are going to love digging into the Grinch with their carrot sticks and veggies! I love the idea of bringing him to school. Please let me know what the kids thought if you have time. I'd love to hear.
Take care!
Renee
megunprocessed says
Awesome! This is so creative!
Cathy | Lemon Tree Dwelling says
This is seriously the CUTEST Christmas dip ever!!!
Renée says
🙂 Thanks so much!!!
cookincanuck says
LOVE this idea! Every year since I was a little girl, my dad read The Grinch to us on Christmas Eve, and now I carry on the same tradition with my boys. It is adored by my whole family. I think that means I will have to order some of those amazing glasses!
Renée says
I still watch the Grinch every year. It's something that marks the beginning of the Christmas season in our home. That, and Rudolph of course 🙂
Glad you like the guacamole, and glassware. Thanks so much, Dara!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Oh my goodness, that is way too clever! LOVE the cauliflower, so cute!
Renée says
Cauliflower has no limits these days. It's a very versatile veggie 🙂
thespeckledpalate says
This Grinch-y guac is SO CUTE! This'll be a hit this Christmastime FOR SURE.
Renée says
Thanks so much!!
withsaltandwit says
You nailed the Grinch! Love it!
Renée says
I actually used to make bread dough jewelry several years ago and the Grinch was one of my most popular holiday pins. This is my riff of him, in edible food form 🙂
Julie is Hostess At Heart says
This is the cutest idea and a guarantee to be the hit at any party that you take it too!
Renée says
Thank you so much, Julie!
grandbabycakes says
This is seriously so fun and inventive! Genius!
Renée says
Thank you so much! I really appreciate the compliment coming from you! 🙂
Nancy | The Bitter Side of Sweet says
This is such a great idea! Fun for holiday parties!
Jamie Sherman says
I love, love, love this!! Thank you so much for sharing this fun idea, I can't wait to make it! You are soooo talented!
Renée says
Wow, Jamie. Thank you so much. I really appreciate the compliment! Enjoy your Grinch 🙂