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!
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?
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.
- 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!
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
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:
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.
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.
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.
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!
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Strawberry Santa Treats with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Strawberry Santa's with Cream Cheese Frosting are a festive and delightful holiday treat featuring fresh strawberries filled with a creamy vanilla-flavored cream cheese frosting, decorated to resemble Santa Claus. Perfect as a fun appetizer or a charming dessert, these bite-sized treats combine sweet, tangy, and creamy flavors with a touch of whimsy.
Ingredients
Strawberries
- 12 strawberries
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup heavy cream
Decoration
- mini chocolate chips (for eyes)
- powdered sugar (optional, for dusting)
Instructions
- Prepare Frosting: In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar. Mix until smooth and creamy.
- Whip Cream: Add the heavy cream to the cream cheese mixture and beat for 4-5 minutes until thick, smooth, and creamy.
- Prepare Strawberries: Wash strawberries carefully and dry thoroughly to ensure frosting adheres. Remove stems and slice ¼ off the top of each to form the 'Santa hat'. Set these hat pieces aside.
- Assemble Base: Pipe the cream cheese mixture onto the larger bottom parts of the strawberries to create Santa's beard.
- Add Hats: Place the smaller sliced top pieces onto the frosting-covered bottoms to form the hats.
- Decorate Hats: Optionally dust powdered sugar over the hats for a snowy effect. Use the piping bag to add a white pom-pom on top of each hat.
- Create Mustaches: Pipe two side swirls of cream cheese frosting below the hat to mimic Santa's mustache.
- Add Eyes: Place two mini chocolate chips on each Santa for eyes.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the assembled Strawberry Santas until ready to serve and enjoy the festive treat.
Notes
- Ensure strawberries are completely dry after washing to help frosting stick better.
- Use full-fat cream cheese and heavy cream for a richer and thicker frosting.
- Mini chocolate chips can be substituted with small edible pearls or raisins for eyes.
- For easier piping, chill the frosting slightly before filling the bag.
- These are best served the same day to keep strawberries fresh and prevent sogginess.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 strawberry Santa
- Calories: 120 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
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