Name: Strawberry Santas with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 12 strawberries; 4 ounces cream cheese, softened; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1/4 cup powdered sugar; 1 cup heavy cream; Mini chocolate chips

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.

The image shows three small strawberry Santa figures arranged on a white plate with a gently scalloped edge, placed on a thin red and white striped mat on a white marbled surface. Each strawberry Santa has two parts: the bottom half is a bright red strawberry with visible seeds, and the top half is the strawberry cap placed upside down as a hat. Between these two strawberry layers is a thick swirl of white whipped cream forming a fluffy beard and face covering, with a small dollop of whipped cream placed on top of the hat as a pom-pom. Two small dark chocolate chips are pressed into the cream area to make eyes. A blurred fourth Santa is visible in the background on the same white marbled surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

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!

The image shows a small strawberry Santa made with three layers: a bottom layer of a whole strawberry standing upright, a middle layer of white cream piped in swirls forming a beard and face, and a top layer of a strawberry tip acting as a hat with a small dollop of white cream on top as the hat's pom-pom. Two small dark chocolate chips are placed in the cream to make eyes. The strawberry Santa is set on a rustic wooden surface with powdered sugar softly spread nearby and blurred warm lights in the background. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

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.

Flat lay of a dozen fresh bright red strawberries with green leafy tops, a small white ceramic bowl of softened cream cheese, a small white bowl filled with fine powdered sugar, another small white bowl containing thick heavy cream, a few whole brown eggs with clean shells, and a handful of tiny glossy dark mini chocolate chips scattered carefully on the white ceramic surface, all perfectly arranged in balanced symmetry, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

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.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

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:

Can I use frozen strawberries for this recipe?

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.

How long can Strawberry Santas with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe be stored?

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.

Can I make the cream cheese frosting ahead of time?

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.

What's the best way to pipe the frosting neatly?

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!