Strawberry Santas: Adorable Holiday Treat!

Jump to Recipe

These festive Strawberry Santas make the cutest little appetizers or dessert for the holiday season! With fresh strawberries, fluffy cream cheese frosting, and red candy noses, they're the perfect addition to your holiday party and dessert tray!

Strawberries decorated as Santa Claus with cream and chocolate details on a white plate.

Why You'll Love Them!

Festive and fun: These tiny Santas spread instant holiday cheer!
Quick and easy: Takes only a few simple ingredients and 15 minutes of prep time.
Kid-approved: Perfect for kids to make during the holidays. Great to take to classroom parties too!

I love making these fun Santa hats with strawberries and cheesecake filling for my holiday dessert trays. They're always a big hit and never fail to bring out the kid in everyone! They're quick to make, adorable on the plate, and guaranteed to make everyone smile during the Christmas season! 🎅🏻

For more holiday fun, try this irresistible Hummus Wreath that's decked out in bright red and green, and be sure to make these Cookies for Santa so he'll bring you lots of presents this year!

Three strawberry Santa treats with cream and chocolate chip faces on a white plate, surrounded by pinecones.

Ingredient Notes

Here's what you'll need to make these cream cheese Strawberry Santas. For quantities, see the printable recipe card below.

Strawberries: Choose bright red juicy strawberries that are firm and fresh. Slice off the leaf-end of each strawberry so they create a flat surface.
Cream Cheese: Make sure it's softened at room temperature. This helps it whip up smooth and fluffy without lumps.
Powdered Sugar: Adds a touch of sweetness and helps the cream cheese filling hold its shape on the Santas.
Black Icing: Used to make Santa's eyes. You can also use mini chocolate chips, chocolate sprinkles or decorating gel.
Red Candy: Makes the cutest little nose for each Santa. Mini red M&Ms or cinnamon red-hots work great too.

Four bowls with cream cheese, strawberries, powdered sugar, red candy, and a tube of black gel on a white table.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Using a paring knife, slice off the leafy tops so the strawberries sit flat on your cutting board. Cut off the pointed end to make Santa's hat. Slice each strawberry so the pointed tip is about one-third of the whole berry. The larger section will be the body, and the small tip will be the hat.
In a small bowl, combine softened cream cheese and powdered sugar. Beat with an electric hand mixer on medium speed for about 2 minutes, until smooth and fluffy.
Transfer the cream cheese mixture into a piping bag or plastic bag. Snip off the end to pipe. Place the bottom half of the strawberry create Santa's body, on a serving platter. Pipe a small dollop of the cream cheese mixture on top of each.
Add the smaller strawberry tip on top to make Santa's hat. Pipe a tiny dollop of frosting on the tip of the hat for the pom-pom. Use black icing to add two eyes and place a red candy for the nose. Chill until ready to serve.

Step-by-step images showing how to make strawberry Santas with cream and strawberries on a wooden board and plate.

Favorite Pairings

Arrange this easy holiday dessert on a board with sugar cookies, fudge, and chocolate-dipped pretzels for an easy Christmas treat tray.
Serve with hot cocoa or peppermint mochas for a cozy family night.
Add them to a holiday brunch table with cinnamon rolls and fruit salad for a special holiday breakfast.

Variations

Chocolate Drizzle: Add a drizzle of melted chocolate over the tops before chilling.
Mini Marshmallow Hats: Place a mini marshmallow on the tip instead of the cream cheese pom-pom.
Mascarpone Mixture: Swap cream cheese for mascarpone for a lighter, slightly sweet flavor.
Dried Coconut Snow: Sprinkle with shredded coconut for a snowy effect.

Sliced strawberries and a knife on a wooden cutting board, with bowls of strawberries and ingredients nearby.

Helpful Tips

Pat the strawberries dry with a paper towel before assembling so the filling sticks better.
Make sure to use ⅛ cup powdered sugar, as it helps the frosting stay upright on the Santas.
Don't add vanilla extract to the cream cheese mixture because the filling won't stay bright white.

Recipe FAQ

Can I use Cool Whip instead of the cream cheese mixture?

Cool Whip won't hold its shape and gets too soft at room temperature. The cream cheese filling works best.

Can I make these ahead of time?

Prepare them up to 2 hours before serving and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Do I have to use icing for the eyes?

You can use mini chocolate chips or candy pieces instead.

Strawberries decorated as mini Santa faces with cream and chocolate, displayed on a white plate.

Storage Guide

Leftovers: Keep Strawberry Santas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Because the strawberries are freshly cut, they're best enjoyed within a day for the freshest flavor.

Freeze: Freezing isn't recommended because the strawberries will become watery once thawed.

Tried this Recipe and Loved It? ❤️ Please scroll down and leave a *STAR* review for others to read!

Recipe Card

Three strawberries decorated as mini Santas with cream and candy faces on a white plate.

Strawberry Santas

Make Strawberry Santas with the kids this Christmas! They're quick, adorable, and add cheer to your holiday dessert tray!

No ratings yet

Print Pin Rate

Course: Appetizers, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 0

Total Time: 15

Calories: 42kcal

Author: Debi Morgan | Quiche My Grits

*See notes in blog post for detailed tips, photos and instructions.

Equipment

Ingredients

▢ 12 fresh strawberries (choose bright red in color)
▢ 4 ounces cream cheese (room temperature for 10 minutes)
▢ ⅛ cup powdered sugar (use more if needed)
▢ 1 small tube decorative black icing (can sub mini chocolate chips)
▢ 1 dozen red candies (such as cinnamon red hots or mini red M&M's)

Instructions

Using a sharp knife, slice off the leafy tops so the strawberries sit flat on your cutting board. Cut off the pointed end to make Santa's hat. Slice each strawberry so the pointed tip is about one-third of the whole berry. The larger section will be the body, and the small tip will be the hat.
In a small bowl, combine softened cream cheese and powdered sugar. Beat with an electric hand mixer on medium speed for about 2 minutes, until smooth and fluffy.
Transfer the cream cheese mixture into a piping bag or plastic bag. Snip off the end to pipe. Place the bottom half of the strawberry create Santa's body, on a serving platter. Pipe a small dollop of the cream cheese mixture on top of each.
Add the smaller strawberry tip on top to make Santa's hat. Pipe a tiny dollop of frosting on the tip of the hat for the pom-pom. Use black icing to add two eyes and place a red candy for the nose. Chill until ready to serve.

Notes

Make sure to use at least ⅛ cup of powdered sugar, as it helps the frosting stay upright on the Santas.
I made these once and added a bit of heavy cream, but it made the cream cheese too soft. The cream cheese mixture needs to be stiff. Add more powdered sugar if it's not stiff enough.
I keep these in the fridge before serving.
Don't add vanilla extract to the cream cheese mixture because the Santas won't be bright white.