No-Bake Grinch OREO Balls (Christmas Truffles)

Jump to Recipe

The holiday season brings with it endless opportunities for festive baking, and these Grinch Oreo Balls are the perfect addition to your collection of holiday treats. Whether you’re hosting holiday parties, attending a Christmas party, or simply want to spread a little holiday cheer during the Christmas season, this easy recipe combines simple ingredients to create bite-sized treats that will steal the show – just like the famous character from Dr. Seuss’s “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

Grinch OREO Balls

These fun Grinch Oreo balls (also known as Grinch Truffles, Grinch Christmas balls, or Grinch Christmas Truffles) are a no-bake holiday treat that all Grinch-lovers are going to go crazy for! The fun green coating paired with adorable red candy hearts makes them instantly recognizable as Grinch-themed treats, and they’re sure to be a hit with kids of all ages.

Why You’ll Love This Grinch Oreo Balls Recipe

This Grinch Balls recipe is one of those fun dessert recipes that checks all the boxes. First, it’s a no-bake dessert – meaning you won’t have to heat up your oven during an already busy season.

Second, the ingredient list is incredibly short and straightforward, using Oreo cookies, softened cream cheese, and light green candy melts as the base.

Third, these Oreo Grinch Balls are versatile enough to work as party favors, great gifts, or a stunning centerpiece on your dessert table.

Lastly, this is the perfect holiday treat because they are truly delicious and everybody will love them!

Grinch Balls

The best way to think about this no-bake recipe is as a festive twist on Classic Oreo balls. While traditional Oreo balls recipe variations use regular Oreos and chocolate coating, you could use Red Velvet OREOs (for a festive red inside your OREO balls) or Mint OREOs for a Christmas-y flavor or any other flavor you like) and a vibrant green candy coating that screams Grinch.

The red heart sprinkle or candy heart on top symbolizes how the Grinch’s heart grew three sizes, making these treats not just delicious but also meaningful for your Christmas tradition.

Tools Needed

Parchment Paper
Food processor (or rolling pin and freezer bag for crushing)
Large mixing bowl
Electric mixer or hand mixer
Cookie scoop (approximately 1.5-inch)
Baking sheet lined with parchment paper
Microwave-safe bowl or double boiler
Airtight container for storage

Ingredients

You can easily find these simple ingredients at any grocery store.

OREO Cookies (or any flavor you prefer, even original) – these will be crushed into fine OREO cookie crumbs
Cream Cheese
Green Candy Melts – you could also use white candy melts or almond bark and add green candy coloring, not regular green food coloring (oil based coloring is required to color chocolate)
Red Candy Hearts

How to Make Grinch OREO Balls

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to hold the rolled balls while they chill.
Add the Oreos (filling included) to a food processor and pulse into fine crumbs. If you don’t have a processor, place the cookies in a zip-top bag and crush with a rolling pin until you have fine crumbs.

oreos on a black plate next to a food processor

In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth and creamy (1–2 minutes). Add the crushed OREOs and mix until a soft, dough-like mixture forms.

oreos in food processor next to bowl with softened cream cheese

Use a cookie scoop to portion the mixture, then roll in the palm of your hands to form smooth balls, about 1½ inches each. Place them on the lined baking sheet. You should get about 40–45 truffles.

oreo balls dough in mixer bowl next to sheet with parchment paper and cookie scoop

oreo balls on sheet lined with parchment paper

Refrigerate for at least 2 hours so they firm up for dipping. If you’re in a hurry, freeze for about 30 minutes, but don’t let them freeze solid.
Place the green candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each one, until smooth. If the coating is too thick, stir in a tiny bit of vegetable or coconut oil. You can also melt them in a double boiler if you prefer.

Optional: Reserve about ½ cup of the melted candy melts for drizzling later.

Remove the chilled balls from the fridge. Dip each one into the melted green chocolate using a fork or toothpick. Be sure to cover the entire ball, then gently tap to remove excess chocolate.
Place the OREO Cookie Balls back on the prepared baking sheet.

green candy melts in bowl next to tray of oreo balls

dipping oreo ball in melted green chocolate

If you saved some melted chocolate for drizzling, spoon it into a piping bag or a ziploc bag and snip off the tip (or corner). Drizzle the melted chocolate over the top of the balls.
With or without the drizzle, while the coating is still wet, sprinkle candy red hearts on the OREO cookie balls.

Chill for 10–15 minutes to let the coating set. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Pro Tips for the Best Grinch Oreo Balls

Temperature Matters: Always ensure your cream cheese is at room temperature before mixing. Cold cream cheese won’t blend smoothly with the Oreo crumbs, resulting in a lumpy texture.

Don’t Skip the Chill: Chilling the balls before dipping is essential. Without this step, the balls may fall apart when dipped in the warm candy melts.

Work in Batches: If you’re making a large batch, keep half the balls in the refrigerator while you dip the other half. This ensures they stay firm throughout the dipping process.

Create Different Flavors: While this recipe calls for Red Velvet Oreos, you can experiment with different Oreo cookies flavors. Try mint Oreos for a refreshing twist, or even brownie batter flavor Oreos for a richer taste. Just adjust the coating color to match your theme.

Make Ahead and Freeze: These Grinch balls freeze beautifully. Form the balls and freeze them in a freezer bag for up to three months before coating. When you’re ready, thaw them in the refrigerator, then proceed with the dipping and decorating steps.

Trouble with the candy melts? Check out this post ➡️ How to Thin Candy Melts for Perfect Cake Pops

Serving Suggestions

These Grinch Christmas truffles are incredibly versatile when it comes to serving and presentation:

Holiday Party Platter: Arrange your Grinch Oreo balls on a festive platter alongside other holiday treats like Grinch fudge, Hot Chocolate Cookies, or Grinch sugar cookies. This creates a stunning dessert table that guests will remember.
Gift Boxes: Package these Grinch truffles in clear cookies boxes or festive tins to give as great gifts to friends, neighbors, or coworkers.
Kids’ Treats: These Grinch OREO Truffles are perfect for school parties or as a special treat for kids of all ages. The fun green color and adorable heart topping make them especially appealing to younger crowds.
Next Holiday Party: Bring a tray of these Grinch-themed treats to your next holiday party and watch them disappear.

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

One of the best aspects of this Oreo balls recipe is how well these treats store:

Refrigerator: Store your finished Grinch Christmas balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. Layer them between sheets of parchment paper to prevent sticking.
Freezer: For longer storage, freeze the balls before dipping in a freezer bag for up to three months. You can also freeze the finished, dipped balls, though the candy coating may develop slight condensation when thawing.
Make-Ahead: Prepare the balls up through the chilling stage several days before your event, then dip and decorate them the day before or day of. This spreads out the work and reduces last-minute stress.

FAQ

Why are my Oreo balls falling apart when I dip them?

They likely weren’t chilled long enough or the cream cheese wasn’t fully mixed in. Make sure the mixture is well combined and chill for the full 2 hours before dipping.

What do I do if my candy coating is too thick?

Stir in a small amount of vegetable oil or coconut oil – about a teaspoon at a time – until it reaches a smooth, dippable consistency. I have a whole post about how to thin candy melts here.

Why are my candy melts lumpy?

They were probably overheated. Melt candy melts in short intervals and stir often. If overheated, they can seize and may not be usable.

Why isn’t the coating setting properly?

Check that your candy melts are fresh – old or expired melts don’t set well. Also make sure no water or moisture got into the bowl, as even a tiny amount can prevent the coating from setting.

More Fun Grinch Recipes

If you’re creating a full Grinch-themed menu, check out these fun ideas: