Strawberry Santa Treats with Cream Cheese Frosting

There’s something utterly magical about these festive little bites that instantly brighten up the season. The Strawberry Santa Treats with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe brings together juicy strawberries and silky cream cheese frosting in a fun, playful way — perfect for holiday gatherings or just a sweet pick-me-up. They’re almost too cute to eat, but trust me, you’ll be reaching for seconds!

Three small strawberry Santas sit on a white plate with a red and white striped napkin underneath. Each Santa has a layer of a halved red strawberry on the bottom as the body, a thick middle layer of white whipped cream shaped like a beard covering most of the strawberry body, two small dark chocolate chips for eyes placed above the beard, and a halved red strawberry top tilted as a hat. The hat is topped with a small dollop of white whipped cream like the hat's pom-pom. The background has warm, blurred yellow string lights and a soft wooden texture. 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 Santa Treats with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Strawberry Santa Treats with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Strawberry Santa Treats with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’ve made these cute Santa treats every holiday season after discovering how simple and delightful they are. They feel festive without being complicated, which is key when you’re juggling a million things during the holidays. Plus, their charming look gets everyone — kids and grown-ups alike — excited to dig in.

Easy to Make: Just a handful of ingredients and minimal prep time make it a no-fuss holiday hit.
Beautiful Presentation: These little Santas steal the show on any dessert plate or snack tray.
Fresh and Creamy Flavor: The combo of sweet strawberries and tangy cream cheese frosting hits just the right balance.
Kid-Friendly Fun: A great activity to make with little helpers — who doesn’t love assembling edible Santas?

The image shows a small dessert made to look like Santa Claus, placed on a wooden table with a dusting of powdered sugar on the left side. The dessert has two layers of bright red strawberry halves at the bottom and top. Between the strawberries, there is a thick layer of white, fluffy cream shaped like a beard and around the neck area. On top of the strawberry hat is a small dollop of the white cream as a pompom. Two small dark chocolate chips serve as eyes, set on the cream. The background has soft yellow bokeh lights, shining with warm tones. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

The magic of this recipe really comes alive because these ingredients play off each other so perfectly. Fresh strawberries give you that natural sweetness and vibrant color, while the cream cheese frosting adds a luscious, creamy texture. When you combine them, you get something that feels indulgent yet fresh.

Flat lay of twelve fresh whole strawberries with green leafy tops, a small white ceramic bowl of softened cream cheese, a small white ceramic bowl of powdered sugar, a small white ceramic bowl of heavy cream, a small white ceramic bowl of vanilla extract, and a small white ceramic bowl filled with mini chocolate chips, all arranged symmetrically with perfect natural freshness, 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 firm, ripe strawberries—avoid overly soft ones to prevent sogginess and to help the frosting stick well.
Cream Cheese: Softened to room temperature so it blends smoothly into the frosting without lumps.
Vanilla Extract: Adds a warm, homey depth that complements the cream cheese and sweetness perfectly.
Powdered Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps achieve that silky frosting texture without grittiness.
Heavy Cream: Whipped into the frosting to create a light, fluffy texture that’s not too dense.
Mini Chocolate Chips: Perfectly sized to create Santa’s eyes — tiny and adorable!

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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 like to keep the base recipe intact because it works so well, but sometimes I switch up the frosting a bit or add a little something extra. It’s all about making it your own — and that’s half the fun, don’t you think?

Variation: For a lighter frosting, I sometimes substitute half the heavy cream with Greek yogurt — it adds tanginess while keeping things creamy and fresh.
Diet-Dense Option: Swap out the powdered sugar for a little honey or maple syrup, adjusting sweetness to your liking.
Festive Colors: Try tinting the frosting with natural red or green food coloring to make even more Christmas-themed Santas.
Advanced Decoration: Add tiny sprinkles or edible glitter dust to the hats for extra sparkle.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Strawberry Santa Treats with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Step 1: Whip a Smooth and Creamy Frosting

Start by beating the softened cream cheese with vanilla extract and powdered sugar until smooth and creamy—no lumps here, folks! Then add the heavy cream and whip it for 4-5 minutes. This is when the frosting turns that perfect fluffy texture, so patience pays off. You'll want it thick enough to pipe easily but still light and airy.

Step 2: Prepare the Strawberries Just Right

Wash your strawberries gently and pat them completely dry — trust me, extra moisture makes the frosting slide off, and no one wants that. Next, trim off the stems and slice about a quarter off the top of each strawberry to create little “Santa hats.” I find using a sharp knife helps keep the edges clean for a perfect fit.

Step 3: Assemble Your Strawberry Santas

Pipe a generous amount of the cream cheese frosting onto the larger strawberry pieces – this forms Santa’s fluffy beard. Top with the smaller strawberry cone (the hat), then add a dollop of frosting on top to create the pom-pom. Use two small swirls for the mustache, and don’t forget the mini chocolate chip eyes! It’s super satisfying to see these come together, and they look so festive on your plate.

Top Tip

From my many attempts at this recipe, a few things helped me get the best results—so I’m passing these tips on so you don’t have to learn the hard way like I did!

Whip the Frosting Thoroughly: Be patient and whip the cream cheese mixture until it’s light and fluffy—underwhipping results in frosting that’s too dense to pipe.
Dry Strawberries Are Key: Make sure the strawberries are very dry before assembling. I sometimes use paper towels and air dry them for several minutes to avoid slippage.
Use a Piping Bag: It’s easier and neater. I find a medium star tip gives the best “fluffy” effect for Santa’s beard and pom-pom.
Don’t Skip Chilling: Refrigerate assembled Santas for at least 15 minutes before serving to help the frosting set nicely.

How to Serve Strawberry Santa Treats with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Strawberry Santa Treats - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I like to dust a little powdered sugar over the hats to give that fresh snowy look — it really makes the Santas pop visually, especially for photos or when guests first see them. Sometimes I add a pinch of finely chopped mint leaves nearby for a hint of green contrast, though that’s optional depending on your flavor preference.

Side Dishes

These treats shine best as part of a holiday dessert platter alongside things like gingerbread cookies, spiced nuts, or even a simple cheese board. They also pair wonderfully with a warm cup of cider or hot cocoa — really sets the cozy seasonal vibe.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday parties, I like to arrange them standing upright on a bed of crushed graham crackers for a snowy “ground” effect. You could also serve them on small festive plates with decorative napkins or add tiny decorative picks to each for an elegant finger-food presentation. Kids love assembling them too, so a “build your own Santa” station is always a joyful hit.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once assembled, store your Strawberry Santa Treats in an airtight container in the fridge. They keep well for about 2 days — after that, the strawberries start releasing juice which can make the frosting a bit soggy. I always recommend enjoying them fresh for the best flavor and appearance.

Freezing

Freezing isn’t my favorite for this recipe since strawberries lose their texture when thawed, and the frosting can separate. But if you want to prep the frosting in advance, it freezes well — just thaw gently and re-whip before using. Fresh assembly always does the trick!

Reheating

No reheating needed here! These treats are best served chilled and fresh. If you want to soften the frosting a bit, just let them sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use frozen strawberries for Strawberry Santa Treats with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe?

Frozen strawberries tend to be much softer and release excess liquid when thawed, which can make the frosting slide off. It’s best to use fresh, firm strawberries for the best results.

How far in advance can I make Strawberry Santa Treats with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe?

These treats are best assembled and served within a few hours, but you can prepare the cream cheese frosting a day ahead and keep it refrigerated. Just refill your piping bag and assemble fresh before serving.

Can I make this recipe dairy-free?

You can try using a dairy-free cream cheese and coconut whipped cream as substitutions, but the texture and flavor will be different. I recommend testing small batches to see if you like the results.

What’s the best way to pipe the frosting onto the strawberries?

A medium-sized piping bag fitted with a star tip works beautifully to create the fluffy beard, pom-pom, and mustache. If you don’t have a piping bag, you can use a zip-top bag with a tiny corner snipped off.

Final Thoughts

I honestly love making these Strawberry Santa Treats with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe every year — it’s become a little holiday tradition that brings smiles every time. They’re a sweet, fresh, and fun treat that feels special but isn’t overwhelming to make. So go ahead, whip up a batch, invite a friend to help, and enjoy the magic of festive flavors in a bite-sized form!