Strawberry Santas Recipe
If you’re looking for a festive treat that’s as fun to make as it is delicious to eat, these Strawberry Santas are an absolute delight. Combining the natural sweetness of ripe strawberries with the creamy smoothness of a lightly sweetened cream cheese filling, Strawberry Santas bring a burst of color, flavor, and holiday cheer to any gathering. They’re playful, charming, and perfect for sharing with friends and family throughout the season.

Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe calls for just a handful of simple yet essential ingredients that each play a vital role in creating the perfect balance of taste, texture, and festive appearance. From the juicy strawberries forming the base and hat to the rich cream cheese filling that adds a dreamy softness, every element enhances the overall experience.
- 12 large strawberries: Choose firm, ripe berries for vibrant color and ease of slicing.
- 1 cup whipped cream cheese: Provides a smooth, tangy contrast to the sweetness of strawberries.
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar: Sweetens the cream cheese without weighing it down.
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla: Adds a warm, mellow flavor to the filling.
- Decorative red and black icing: Essential for giving your Strawberry Santas their charming faces and festive hats.
How to Make Strawberry Santas
Step 1: Prepare the Strawberries
Begin by washing your strawberries carefully to remove any dirt or residue. Next, trim the green stems to create a flat base so each strawberry can stand upright nicely. Slice each berry into three pieces — the bottom section serves as the body, while the top slice will become the iconic Santa hat. Be sure to keep the top portion proportionate enough to rest securely on the cream cheese filling later.
Step 2: Make the Cream Cheese Filling
In a small mixing bowl, combine the whipped cream cheese with powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Stir gently until the mixture is smooth, creamy, and sweetened just right. This filling will provide the luscious “beard” and body texture for your Strawberry Santas, making them taste as delightful as they look.
Step 3: Prepare the Piping Bag
Transfer your cream cheese mixture into a piping bag fitted with a medium-sized round tip. This will make it much easier to pipe the filling neatly and build the fluffy Santa body. If you don’t have a piping bag, a resealable plastic bag with a tiny corner snipped off will work just as well.
Step 4: Assemble the Strawberry Santas
Place the bottom halves of the strawberries on your serving plate, flat side down. Pipe a generous mound of cream cheese filling onto each base, stacking it tall enough to give room for the face and hat. Then, carefully position the top slice of the strawberry to form the Santa hat, slightly angled for a cute, festive look.
Step 5: Add the Finishing Touches
Use white cream cheese piped from your bag to add the fluffy trim and the pom-pom on the tip of the Santa hat. Lastly, employ your decorative red and black icing to add eyes, a nose, and buttons, giving each Strawberry Santa a personality that will charm everyone who sees them.
How to Serve Strawberry Santas

Garnishes
Consider adding a sprig of fresh mint or a few edible silver glitter sprinkles to your plate for an extra festive touch. These little accents not only elevate the presentation but also provide a subtle refreshing contrast to the rich cream cheese and sweet strawberries.
Side Dishes
Strawberry Santas pair beautifully with light, complementary treats like sugar cookies or shortbread, creating a delightful holiday platter. For a more substantial spread, serve alongside a bowl of mixed nuts or a crisp green salad to balance the creamy sweetness.
Creative Ways to Present
Get imaginative by arranging Strawberry Santas on a bed of powdered sugar to mimic snow or place them around a festive cake centerpiece. You can also thread them onto skewers alternating with marshmallows for a fun and inviting display kids will love.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you happen to have any Strawberry Santas left after your celebration, no worries—they store well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Keep in mind that the filling may soften the fruit slightly over time, so best to enjoy them fresh or within a day.
Freezing
Freezing Strawberry Santas is not recommended because the texture of the fresh strawberries will suffer once thawed, becoming mushy and losing their bright color. For the best taste and presentation, prepare them the day you plan to serve.
Reheating
Since Strawberry Santas are meant to be served cold and fresh, reheating is unnecessary. Simply bring them out of the fridge about 10 minutes before serving to let the cream cheese soften slightly for the perfect bite.
FAQs
Can I use regular cream cheese instead of whipped?
While whipped cream cheese offers a lighter texture that works wonderfully for piping, you can use regular cream cheese by beating it thoroughly to make it smooth before adding the powdered sugar and vanilla.
What if I don’t have decorative icing?
If you don’t have decorative icing, you can substitute with melted chocolate or colored frosting applied with a toothpick for the facial features and hat embellishments.
Are Strawberry Santas suitable for kids?
Absolutely! Strawberry Santas are a kid-friendly treat that’s fun to make together and perfect in size for little hands. They’re a clever way to add some healthy fruit alongside a creamy filling.
Can I make this recipe vegan?
Yes, by using dairy-free cream cheese and whipped toppings, along with vegan-friendly icing, you can create delicious vegan Strawberry Santas that everyone can enjoy.
How long does it take to make Strawberry Santas?
From start to finish, making these festive treats should take about 20 to 30 minutes. They’re perfect for a quick holiday project that yields impressive results.
Final Thoughts
There’s nothing quite like the charm and whimsy of Strawberry Santas to brighten up your festive spread. Easy to make, visually adorable, and absolutely delicious, they’re sure to become a holiday tradition you look forward to every year. Give these delightful bites a try—you might just find yourself turning to them as your go-to festive treat!
PrintStrawberry Santas Recipe
These adorable Strawberry Santas make a festive and healthy holiday treat. Juicy strawberries are filled with a sweet vanilla cream cheese mixture and decorated with icing to create charming little Santa faces. Perfect for holiday parties, kid-friendly snacks, or a fun dessert, they offer a delightful blend of fresh fruit and creamy sweetness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert, Snack
- Method: No-bake, Assembling
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Strawberries
- 12 large strawberries
Filling
- 1 cup whipped cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Decoration
- Decorative red and black icing for the face
Instructions
- Prepare the strawberries: Carefully wash the strawberries and pat them dry. Cut off the stem end to create a flat surface so the berries can stand upright. Then, slice each strawberry into three pieces – bottom, middle, and the top ‘hat’ part, leaving enough height on the bottom piece to create the body of the Santa.
- Make the filling: In a small mixing bowl, combine the whipped cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth and creamy to create the sweet filling for the Santas.
- Prepare the piping bag: Spoon the cream cheese mixture into a piping bag fitted with a medium round tip or a zip-top bag with a corner snipped off for easy piping.
- Assemble the body: Place the bottom piece of the strawberry on a serving plate. Pipe the cream cheese mixture generously on top to form Santa’s body and enough height to attach the hat.
- Add the hat: Place the top strawberry piece on the cream cheese layer as Santa’s hat. Use the piping bag to add a small dollop of cream cheese at the tip of the hat to mimic the fluffy white pom-pom.
- Decorate the face: Carefully use red icing to enhance the hat and black icing to draw Santa’s eyes and mouth on the cream cheese body, creating a charming Santa face.
- Serve or store: Serve immediately for freshest taste or refrigerate until ready to enjoy. Best consumed within 24 hours to maintain freshness and texture.
Notes
- Use fresh, firm strawberries for the best shape and stability.
- Whipped cream cheese works best for piping; if unavailable, soften regular cream cheese and whip until fluffy.
- Decorative icing can be homemade or store-bought; gel-type icing gives better detail for faces.
- These treats are best eaten the same day they are made to prevent strawberries from becoming soggy.
- Optional: Dust with a little powdered sugar for a snowy effect before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Strawberry Santa
- Calories: 70
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 30mg
- Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 7g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1.2g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
Keywords: Strawberry Santas, Holiday dessert, Christmas snack, Festive fruit treats, Cream cheese filling