Here’s a festive little treat that’s as fun to make as it is to eat: Strawberry Santas with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe. These adorable, bite-sized Santas bring a fresh burst of berry sweetness, paired perfectly with creamy frosting—a real crowd-pleaser for holiday gatherings or anytime you want to bring a smile to someone’s face.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients & Why They Work
- Make It Your Way
- Step-by-Step: How I Make Strawberry Santas with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
- Top Tip
- How to Serve Strawberry Santas with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
- Make Ahead and Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- Final Thoughts
- Strawberry Santas with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Making Strawberry Santas with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe is one of those moments that turns a simple snack into something special. I love how fresh, sweet strawberries meet fluffy, tangy frosting in these cute little Santa shapes – perfect for kids, parties, or a festive treat to brighten your day.
- Easy to Make: It takes just about 20 minutes and only a handful of ingredients to create a festive showstopper.
- Kid-Friendly Fun: The assembly is creative and hands-on, making it a great activity with little helpers around the kitchen.
- Versatile Snack: These Santas work as an appetizer or a light dessert, perfect for holiday parties or just a sweet afternoon pick-me-up.
- Visually Charming: They look adorable on any platter and bring instant holiday cheer, which is half the fun!
Ingredients & Why They Work
The magic happens when ripe, juicy strawberries meet the creamy tang of a vanilla-infused cream cheese frosting. Each ingredient plays a role in balancing sweet and rich flavors, while the mini chocolate chips add a cute detail to finish off these edible Santas.
- Strawberries: Choose ripe but firm berries so they hold their shape as you assemble your Santas.
- Cream Cheese: Softened cream cheese adds a silky, tangy base that pairs beautifully with the sweetness of strawberries.
- Vanilla Extract: A splash of vanilla rounds out the frosting flavor and keeps it from tasting too sharp.
- Powdered Sugar: This sweetens the frosting without any graininess—perfect for smooth pipes.
- Heavy Cream: Whipped into the frosting, it gives that light, fluffy texture essential for Santa’s “beard.”
- Mini Chocolate Chips: Tiny eyes and finishing touches! They make the Santas instantly lifelike—and infinitely cute.
Make It Your Way
I love to play around with a few tweaks when making Strawberry Santas with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe. Feel free to adjust the sweetness or swap out mini chocolate chips for other tiny edible decorations to put your own spin on this festive treat.
- Variation: One holiday, I added a pinch of cinnamon to the frosting for a subtle warming flavor that paired beautifully with the strawberries—you might find you prefer that cozy twist, too!
- Dairy-Free Option: Try replacing cream cheese and heavy cream with coconut cream and a vegan cream cheese for a non-dairy friendly twist.
- Seasonal Flavors: Swap strawberries for raspberries or even small pieces of peach to keep this recipe fresh beyond the winter.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Strawberry Santas with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Step 1: Whip up the Cream Cheese Frosting
Start by mixing softened cream cheese with vanilla extract and powdered sugar in a medium bowl. I usually use a hand mixer on medium speed—this ensures everything becomes smooth with zero lumps. Then, pour in the heavy cream and keep mixing for 4 to 5 minutes, until the mixture transforms into a thick, creamy frosting that holds its shape well. This step is key! If it’s too runny, piping will be a mess.
Step 2: Prepare Your Strawberries
Wash your strawberries carefully and thoroughly dry them—wet berries will make the frosting slide right off, and no one wants that! After, cut off the stem and slice about a quarter off the top to create the Santa “hat.” Keep those little tops aside; they’re critical to the look.
Step 3: Assemble Your Santa
Grab a piping bag (or a sturdy plastic bag with a small corner snipped) to pipe the frosting generously onto the larger bottom strawberry pieces. This creates Santa’s signature beard and body. Gently place the smaller “hat” strawberry pieces on top to complete the shape. For extra holiday feel, dust a bit of powdered sugar over the hats—you get that fresh snow-dusted look.
Step 4: Add the Finishing Details
Pipe a dollop on top of the hat to mimic a pom-pom, then add two side swirls below for Santa’s mustache—this really brings him to life! Carefully press in mini chocolate chips for the eyes. Once assembled, pop them into the fridge until you’re ready to serve. They hold up nicely for a couple of hours, making them perfect for party prep ahead of time.
Top Tip
After trying this recipe a handful of times, I learned a few tricks that really make a difference in both flavor and ease of assembly. These tips saved me from a few sticky mishaps and helped me nail those perfect little Santas every time.
- Use Cold Strawberries: Chilling the berries before assembly helps the frosting stick better and keeps your Santas fresh longer.
- Frosting Consistency Check: If your frosting feels too loose, add a bit more powdered sugar or give it another quick whip—this ensures it pipes nicely without smooshing the strawberries.
- Piping Bag Control: Don’t overfill your piping bag; working with smaller batches at a time makes decorating faster and less messy.
- Chocolate Chip Placement: Use tweezers or the tip of a toothpick to place mini chocolate chips precisely for perfect “eyes.” It’s a small thing but really counts for the final look.
How to Serve Strawberry Santas with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Garnishes
I usually keep garnishes simple with these Santas—just a light dusting of powdered sugar for that magical snowy feel. Sometimes I add a sprig of fresh mint or a tiny sprig of rosemary nearby for that evergreen vibe which looks festive and smells amazing too.
Side Dishes
Pairing these guys with other light bites works beautifully. I like to set them alongside spiced nuts, cheddar cheese cubes, or crackers for a balanced holiday snack platter. They also shine as a whimsical strawberry dessert after a holiday meal.
Creative Ways to Present
For parties, try arranging Strawberry Santas on a bed of fresh kale or arugula leaves for a pop of green. You can also showcase them on festive tiered serving trays or scatter edible glitter for extra sparkle that really impresses guests. Kids especially love when you create a “Santa village” scene with these on the table!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Any leftovers I usually keep covered tightly in the refrigerator for up to two days. Because strawberries release a bit of moisture, I recommend storing the Santas on a paper towel-lined plate to catch any excess liquid and keep the frosting firm.
Freezing
I haven’t found freezing Strawberry Santas with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe works well because the cream cheese frosting tends to separate and the strawberries get mushy after thawing. Fresh is definitely best with this one!
Reheating
These are best served cold or at room temperature. I don’t recommend reheating since it will affect the texture of the frosting and freshness of the strawberry. Just take them out of the fridge about 10 minutes before serving for the best flavor and texture.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Frozen strawberries are too watery and soft for this recipe, which can cause the frosting to slide off. Fresh, firm strawberries work best to keep your Santas sturdy and yummy.
You can store assembled Strawberry Santas in the refrigerator, covered, for up to two days. Beyond that, the strawberries may release too much liquid and affect the texture.
Yes! You can make the cream cheese frosting up to a day ahead and keep it refrigerated. Just bring it to room temperature and give it a quick whip before piping to restore smoothness.
Using a piping bag fitted with a medium round tip or simply snipping a small hole in a plastic bag works great. Keep the bag half full to maintain control, and practice a few swirls on parchment paper if you’re new to piping.
Final Thoughts
I truly adore how Strawberry Santas with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe combines simplicity and charm in a way that never fails to brighten a table—and a mood. Whether you’re whipping these up for a holiday party, a family treat, or just because you love strawberries and cream, I’m confident these little Santas will become a festive favorite. Give them a try, get creative, and enjoy every sweet, creamy bite!
Print
Strawberry Santas with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Delight in these festive Strawberry Santas with Cream Cheese Frosting, a fun and easy no-bake treat perfect for holiday gatherings. Sweet strawberries are transformed into adorable Santa figures with a creamy, vanilla-infused cream cheese frosting and detailed with mini chocolate chip eyes.
Ingredients
Strawberries
- 12 strawberries
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup heavy cream
Decorations
- Mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Prepare the frosting: Place cream cheese, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar into a medium bowl. Mix until creamy and smooth.
- Whip the cream: Add heavy cream to the cream cheese mixture and beat for 4-5 minutes until the mixture becomes thick, smooth, and creamy enough to pipe.
- Prepare strawberries: Wash the strawberries carefully and dry them thoroughly to ensure the frosting sticks well. Remove the stems and cut about ¼ off the top of each strawberry to form Santa's hat pieces. Set these hats aside.
- Assemble Santa's body: Transfer the frosting into a piping bag. Pipe the cream cheese mixture onto the bottom larger pieces of each strawberry to create Santa's beard and body.
- Add Santa hats: Place the smaller strawberry pieces (hats) on top of the frosted larger strawberry body pieces. Optionally dust the hats lightly with powdered sugar to mimic snow.
- Decorate details: Use the piping bag to add a white pom-pom on top of the hat and pipe two small side swirls to form Santa's mustache.
- Add eyes and chill: Press two mini chocolate chips into each Santa for eyes. Refrigerate the assembled Strawberry Santas until ready to serve to keep them firm and fresh.
Notes
- Ensure strawberries are completely dry before frosting to prevent slipping.
- Use a chilled bowl and beaters when whipping the cream for better volume.
- Substitute heavy cream with whipped coconut cream for a dairy-free option (though this will alter texture slightly).
- For easier piping, use a piping tip with a small round or star shape to create detailed shapes like the mustache and pom-pom.
- Keep finished Santas refrigerated and consume within 24 hours for best freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 120 kcal
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 35 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
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