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Holiday fun starts with this Grinch Christmas Nougat. Soft, sweet green nougat with pops of red gumdrops. Perfect for parties. 💚✨
⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- This fun holiday treat delivers soft, chewy nougat with every bite.
- It is the perfect Grinch themed food for parties, gifting, and cookie trays.
- You only need a few ingredients to make this nougat, so it stays simple and stress-free.
- This works great when you want easy Grinch themed food without extra steps.
- If you love cute Christmas treats, this nougat candy recipe will be a new favorite.
- The bright green color makes it an adorable Grinch food that kids and adults enjoy.
🛒 Ingredients & Substitutions
- mini marshmallows
- white chocolate chips – use Nestle or Ghirardelli for best melting
- red gumdrops – use Dots all reds box to avoid picking through multicolor packs
- unsalted butter
- green oil-based food coloring
✨ Variations
- Swap the red gumdrops for red and green for a mixed holiday look that still highlights the Grinch food vibe.
- Stir in mini marshmallows that are not fully melted for a chunkier nougat texture.
- Make it fruity by folding in chopped dried cherries or cranberries with the gumdrops.
- Add a small amount of peppermint extract to turn this into a cool minty nougat candy recipe.
- Use green candy melts instead of dye if you prefer a milder but still fun Grinch themed food shade.
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🔥 Tips
- Prep everything first so you can move fast, especially when the nougat mixture gets sticky.
- Oil-based color works best because water-based dyes will seize the melted chocolate.
- Press the mixture into the pan with a sprayed rubber glove to keep things neat.
- Chill it for the whole time so the nougat slices cleanly and holds its shape.
- This easy Grinch themed food holds up well on dessert boards because it stays firm once chilled.
❓ FAQs
Can I use green gel food coloring instead of oil-based dye?
It is not recommended. Oil-based dye keeps the chocolate smooth and helps the nougat set correctly.
What other candy can I use besides gumdrops?
Red gummy bears, red Swedish Fish, or red spice drops all work. They keep the bright pop of color without changing the texture too much.
Why did my chocolate seize?
It usually happens when water-based color is added. Stick with oil-based dye for the best Grinch themed food results.
Does this nougat get hard or stay chewy?
It stays chewy, even after chilling. The texture is similar to candy bar nougat.
Can I double this nougat candy recipe?
Yes. Use a 9×13-inch pan for a double batch and chill a little longer.
Is this Grinch Christmas Nougat safe on a holiday dessert table?
Yes. It stays firm at room temperature for hours, making it perfect for easy Grinch-themed food at parties.
🍽️ Other Recipes You May Enjoy
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Grinch Christmas Nougat
Try this Grinch Christmas Nougat for a fun holiday candy. Sweet, chewy, bright green nougat with red gumdrops makes every bite festive.
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Equipment
- 8×8-inch baking pan
- mixing bowl (medium and large)
- rubber spatula
- nonstick cooking spray
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups white chocolate chips
- 1 bag mini marshmallows, (16 ounces)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ teaspoon green oil-based food coloring, more as needed
- 1 cup red gumdrops, quartered, divided
Instructions
- Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper and lightly spray it with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Add the white chocolate chips to a medium mixing bowl. Microwave on high for 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds so the chocolate does not burn.1 ¾ cups white chocolate chips
- When the chocolate is smooth, set the bowl aside.
- Add the mini marshmallows and butter to a large mixing bowl. If using stick butter, cut it into two or more pieces so it melts faster.1 bag mini marshmallows, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Microwave on high for 2 minutes. Stir, then microwave for another 30 seconds. Stir until the butter is melted and fully mixed in.
- Add the green food coloring. Stir until the mixture is evenly colored. Add more coloring a little at a time if you want a deeper green.¼ teaspoon green oil-based food coloring
- Add the melted chocolate to the marshmallow mixture and stir well.
- Add ¾ of the quartered gumdrops and fold to combine.1 cup red gumdrops
- Microwave the bowl for 15 seconds and stir again.
- Quickly pour the nougat into the prepared pan. Spread it evenly. A rubber glove sprayed with a little nonstick spray can help press it in.
- Press the remaining gumdrop pieces over the top.
- Refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.
- Slice into ½ inch squares and enjoy.
Notes
🥡 STORAGE
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 month.
- Keep pieces tightly sealed to keep them soft and chewy.
♨️ REHEATING
- None needed. This candy is enjoyed as is.
❄️ FREEZING
- Freeze in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
- Thaw in the fridge before serving.
💡 TIPS FOR BEST RESULTS
- Use oil-based food coloring. Water-based food dyes will seize the chocolate.
- Prep all ingredients first because you need to work fast once everything is melted.
- Expect the mixture to be sticky before it sets. A sprayed rubber glove helps.
- Older marshmallows will still work, but may make the nougat a bit firmer.
🍳 ALTERNATE COOKING METHODS
- Melt the white chocolate in a double boiler instead of the microwave if you prefer.
- Melt the marshmallows and butter on the stovetop over low heat, stirring often.
♻️ LEFTOVERS
- Keep leftovers refrigerated to keep them fresh.
- Add extra pieces to holiday snack boards or mix into cookie bars.
📝 NOTES
- Lime green oil-based dye can make the color brighter.
- If using candy melts instead of dye, the final green will be lighter than the melt color.
- Picking only the red gumdrops from multicolor packages may require three boxes, but the Dots all reds boxes work great.
- If you want the color brighter, add more oil-based dye a little at a time.
- The mixture will be sticky. That is normal for nougat and makes it chewy once chilled.
Nutrition
Serving: 1square, Calories: 84kcal, Carbohydrates: 14g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0.02g, Cholesterol: 3mg, Sodium: 14mg, Potassium: 22mg, Fiber: 0.03g, Sugar: 11g, Vitamin A: 19IU, Vitamin C: 0.04mg, Calcium: 15mg, Iron: 0.1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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