Peppermint Grinch Pops {Vegan, Paleo, Dye-Free}
Chewy and delicious Peppermint Grinch Pops! Just a few simple whole-food ingredients (and no food coloring)! Your heart might just grow 3 sizes larger when you enjoy these fun little treats!
Free from gluten/grains, dairy, refined sugar, eggs and soy– with a secret healthy twist!
Aren’t these just so FUN? My kids absolutely love cute & colorful treats like this.
And as their mom, I’m so happy to let them enjoy because they’re dye-free and nutrient packed! Can you guess what’s hidden inside? Shhh, it’s a secret 😉
Grinch Obsession
Last week we had movie night and I watched the remake of How The Grinch Stole Christmas with my 4 year old daughter. Oh how I love that movie!
I love the whimsical characters almost as much as I love the message: “Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps, means a little bit more.” Amen!
And I’m a little bit OBSESSED with the Grinch himself, lol. His feathery hands and pot belly. His creepy little smile. He’s creepy and adorable at the same time, ha. There’s no one like him.
I might be so very fond of this little guy because way back when my husband and I first started dating… maybe 16 years ago, we went on a “glamorous” date involving the Grinch. A date to the Walmart garden center, lol.
Why did we go to WALMART? I have no idea. We were 2 broke college kids that wanted to escape dorm life, I suppose. But we always had fun!
So it was 9:00 on a Saturday night in a small Texas town, and we ventured our way to the garden center of Walmart. We sat on a porch swing right in the middle of the Christmas decorations, just to people-watch and spend time together.
I’ll never forget laughing so much that cried buckets of tears. My (now) husband sang me the Grinch song, but changed the words to make it utterly ridiculous and hilarious. And we still sing it to this day. And laugh! He always makes me laugh. That’s what I love about him 🙂
HOLIDAY CHEER
These little Grinch pops make me so freakishly happy. Looking at them makes me smile. They make me laugh. They bring JOY! I hope they do the same for you!
You can make these pops in just a few minutes using a food processor. Literally just blend everything together. No baking! SO EASY. And easy makes me happy 🙂
5 real-food ingredients, one of which is a SECRET, makes me giddy! Do you know what it is??
What’s the SECRET?
Wanna know the secret ingredient? These pops are positively PACKED packed with veggies! Green vegetables! Can you believe they’re made with SPINACH? I PROMISE YOU CAN’T TASTE IT.
If you saw my Christmas Tree Pie, you know I love creating gorgeous GREEN colored desserts using spinach!
Not only can you create festive, fun treats, but they can be secretly healthy, too! Loaded with vitamins A & C, calcium and protein.
So eat up, kids! It’s basically the ONLY way I can get my 2 children to eat any spinach these days is to HIDE it in something else. #momlife haha
That’s how I roll
So, it’s totally up to you if you want to sculpt your own Grinch heads, or leave them rolled into balls. I actually think they look more appealing with a combination of different ingredients and textures.
I used chocolate drizzle on some, and an assortment of shredded unsweetened coconut, almond flour, and sugar for others. And also left some plain! Variety is the spice of life. 🙂
Making the actual Grinch faces isn’t all that hard if you’re a little crafty. I’m not really a crafty mom, but this was actually a fun project. I felt like I was playing with Play-Doh!
I’ll show you step by step below in the recipe how to make the faces. You’ll need almond slices, melted chocolate, and a sharp knife. (And a photo of the Grinch helps, too.)
Get in my BELLY, Grinch!
Did I mention how crazy DELICIOUS these guys are?! They almost taste like the inside of a peppermint patty, but thicker and more chewy.
SO good! They’re scrumptiously sweet and full of peppermint flavor. Bite-sized bliss. So perfect for the holidays.
These would be so CUTE for a cookie exchange or a Christmas party. Especially an elementary school party! My kids went crazy for these! 🙂
Who’s ready to make some GRINCH POPS? If you make them, I’d love to hear from you! Tag me on Facebook or Instagram! 🙂
Click here to save this recipe on Pinterest:
Peppermint Grinch Pops
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw cashews
- 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut - plus more for rolling
- 1/2 cup fresh baby spinach - packed
- 1 Tbs coconut flour
- 2 1/2 Tbs maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
- Pinch of pink salt
- almond slices & melted chocolate for the face and drizzle
Instructions
To make the dough:
- Blend cashews, coconut and spinach in a food processor until finely ground.
- Scrape down sides and add remaining ingredients. Pulse until thoroughly mixed.
- Scoop into 1 Tbs balls. Roll smooth with your hands. (Chill dough for 5 minutes if making faces) Or roll into desired toppings, such as coconut, or drizzle on melted chocolate.
To make the Grinch face:
- Pinch the top of the ball to form the shape of his head - smaller on top and large round cheeks.
- Cut almond slivers into eye shapes, using the rounded ends of each almond slice. Press the eyes into the ball to form an imprint, then set aside.
- Melt chocolate in a small bowl. Dip a sharp knife in chocolate and dot 2 eyes (this acts as glue). Place the almond eyes on the chocolate. Then draw eyes on the almonds with a chocolate dipped knife (it only takes a tiny drop)
- Draw evil eyebrow with the chocolate dipped knife, following the shape of the almonds.
- Use a clean, sharp knife to carve a big smile, nose and scowl on his forehead.
- Chill a few minutes to set the chocolate. ENJOY!
Notes
18 Comments
Cindy
These are so adorable! I’m going to make them with my niece this weekend. It just so happens well be visiting the Grinch in whoville at the City Market, too! Thanks for helping me make great memories!
Emily
Thank you Cindy What perfect timing! I hope you all enjoy them
Jennifer
My daughter loves the Grinch, but she doesn’t like coconut. Do you have a suggestion for a substitute for the coconut?
Emily
Hmm, you could try 2 Tbs cashew butter or almond butter.
You can’t taste the coconut at all, if that’s what she doesn’t like (no coconut flavor or texture.)
Pamela Dyer
I’m assuming you soak the cashews first?
Just checking.
Emily
No! No soaking just blend.
Christel
Is there a substitute for peppermint extract? I live in the Netherlands and we have peppermint oil, is that the same?
Emily
Yes you can use peppermint oil 🙂 if you have essential oil (highly concentrated) then it would only take a drop or 2.
Jeanne
Just finished making these and am getting ready to decorate with the Grinch face. 🙂 What kind of melted chocolate do you recommend?
Emily
Yay! Use your favorite bar of chocolate or some chocolate chips
Emily
Enjoy Life brand chocolate chips are free from dairy and soy.
Jennifer
I just wanted to let you know that I made these today and substituted 2 Tbs almond butter for the coconut like you suggested. They turned out great! Thank you!
Emily
Yay! So glad! Thanks for letting me know it worked
Jennifer
I forgot to mention that I made them sugar free by replacing the maple syrup with stevia. My kids loved them and had no idea they had spinach in them!
Emily
That’s so great, Jennifer! #momwin
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Leann
I’m so excited to try these! my kids are GF/DF/dye free and I’ve been hunting fun holiday ideas. We sadly can’t do peppermint- do they have enough flavor to just skip it? Or should I sub PB or almond butter as others did for the coconut if that doesnt contribute any flavor to give a flavor boost? I want to be sure they love the flavor and don’t balk at the green LOL!
Emily
I’m excited for you to try them too! And glad it fits your needs 🙂
Yes, you can leave out the peppermint, but if you can use other extracts I would add another something like vanilla or a tiny bit of almond just to boost the flavor. It’s good plain but I think even better with vanilla or something added.
I always recommend tasting the “dough” so you can adjust the flavor however you like 🙂
Hope you and your kids enjoy! Let me know how it goes!