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.

Strawberry Santa Treats with Cream Cheese Frosting

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

Scale

Strawberries

12 strawberries

Cream Cheese Frosting

4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 cup heavy cream

Decoration

mini chocolate chips (for eyes)
powdered sugar (optional, for dusting)

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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 1/4 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