Grinch Christmas Nougat

This Grinch Christmas Nougat is a whimsical, melt-in-your-mouth confection dotted with jolly red gumdrops that are as fun to make as they are to eat. It's a classic gumdrop nougat candy that's perfect for your holiday dessert table!

This Grinch Christmas Nougat is the playful twist a classic holiday treat. This sweet, chewy confection is just the right kind of naughty and nice, with a burst of red gumdrop pieces that'll have everyone’s taste buds dancing faster than jingle bells.

Nougat candy is a classic treat to make during the holidays. And while I've seen adorable Christmas nougat candy made with red and green gumdrops, we wanted to change things up a bit.

So are creating green nougat candies from marshmallows and melted chocolate and adding in red gumdrops.

Whip up a batch that's sure to make your heart grow three sizes! It's an easy Grinch dessert to make for parties or a Grinch movie night treat.

Jump to:

• What You'll Love About This Recipe:
• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Recipe
• Storage Instructions
• Top Tips

What You'll Love About This Recipe:

• The Festive Colors: The vibrant green and red embody the spirit of Christmas.
• The Chewy Texture: Just like classic nougat candies, it offers a delightful chewiness.
• The Flavor: It's reminiscent of your favorite candy bars, but with a homemade touch.
• The Versatility: Perfect for gifts, party favors, or a family movie night with a Christmas classic.
• The Nostalgic Feel: It brings a sense of childhood wonder to your holiday festivities.

Ingredients

For this homemade nougat you'll need the following ingredients.

Mini Marshmallows: A 10-ounce bag of mini marshmallows gives this nougat its classic stretchy texture. Make sure they’re fresh for the best meltability.

White Chocolate Chips: You’ll need about 16 ounces. Quality matters here, so those from artisan chocolatiers can elevate your nougat and make it creamy and delicious.

Red Gumdrops: A half-cup of these chewy candies cut into quarters not only adds a pop of Grinchy color but a delightful textural contrast to the nougat.

Unsalted Butter: Just a tablespoon is enough to add a hint of richness without making the nougat too dense.

Green Oil-Based Food Coloring: A few drops will do—this is powerful stuff, and it's the key to getting that vivid, Grinch-green color without affecting the texture.

Instructions

This easy candy recipe is fun to make, but I'll warn you, this process moves fast, so prepare your work space and have everything ready to go before you start melting everything.

Cut those gumdrops into quarters and set them aside. Then line your 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper and mist it ever so lightly with nonstick spray.

Next, put the white chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl and melt them in the microwave. Microwave for 2 minutes, checking and stirring every 30 seconds so they don't burn. If the chocolate burns it'll seize up and the nougat wont taste good.

Once the chocolate is smooth and free of lumps, set aside.

In a separate large mixing bowl, place your marshmallows and butter. If you are using butter from a stick, be sure to chop it up a bit so it'll melt evenly with the marshmallows.

Microwave the marshmallow mixture on high for 2 minutes. Stop and stir and place back in the microwave for 30 seconds and stir until the butter is fully melted and mixed in.

When the marshmallow mixture is smooth, add in your green food dye and mix well. Start slowly adding only a little bit of dye until you reach a nice green color.

Add the chocolate mixture into your green marshmallow mixture and mix well.

Now ¾ of the red gumdrop pieces go in next, folded gently into the nougat mixture. These red bits represent the Grinches heart inside all of that green.

If the mixture feels too thick, don't fret. A quick 15-second warm-up in the microwave will loosen it up.

Then pour it into your prepared baking pan or baking dish. If it's sticky, and it will be, consider donning a rubber glove sprayed with a bit of nonstick – it's a game-changer.

Finally, lightly press in the rest of the red gumdrop pieces into the top of the Christmas nougat to add some color.

Now you can pop the nougat into the fridge to chill. Preferably overnight to reach the delicious chewy texture of traditional nougat.

The next day, you can cut the nougat into little ½-inch squares of holiday joy, ready to be savored and shared.

Storage Instructions

Store the nougat in an airtight container to keep it chewy and fresh. Separate layers with wax paper to prevent sticking. Keep it cool and dry; the fridge is great for prolonging freshness for up to two weeks.

For longer storage, you can freeze the nougat for up to two months, but let it thaw at room temperature for a few hours before enjoying.

Top Tips

Coloring Know-How: Oil-based food coloring is the secret to that Grinch-green without any chocolate mishaps.

Consistent Heat: When melting marshmallows and chocolate, consistent low heat is better to avoid burning. Use the microwave in short bursts and stir frequently.

Pace Yourself: Have everything prepped and within arm's reach. Once you start, the nougat waits for no one. The chocolate will start to harden quickly after melted, so working fast is key.

Cutting Through: Dip your knife in hot water before slicing through the nougat—it'll cut like butter.

Little Helpers: This is a great recipe to involve kids, as they can help with adding the gumdrops—just make sure an adult handles the hot ingredients.

Our Christmas nougat candy isn't just a recipe, it's an invitation to create joy, to revel in the sweet side of the season, and to share a little piece of holiday magic with those you love.

Gather your ingredients and let your kitchen be a workshop of wonder as you craft these delightful treats that are sure to make even the Grinch's heart grow three sizes!

Merry Christmas!