Introduction
Looking for a simple, adorable, and healthy Christmas dessert? These Strawberry Santas are the perfect no-bake holiday treat that combines fun, flavor, and festive charm! With just four ingredients and about 15 minutes of prep time, you can create these delicious, cute strawberry-shaped treats that will surely impress your guests. Whether you’re a busy parent, home cook, or someone seeking a healthier alternative to traditional holiday sweets, this recipe is an easy-to-make, kid-friendly dessert that will brighten up your holiday table.
Jump to
- Why You’ll Love These Strawberry Santas
- Ingredients for Strawberry Santas
- How to Make Strawberry Santas: Step-by-Step Instructions
- Variations of Strawberry Santas
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Strawberry Santas: Fun, Easy, and Perfect for the Holidays
- Serve Your Strawberry Santas With These Holiday Drinks
- More Healthy Christmas Treats to Try
- Final thoughts
Why You’ll Love These Strawberry Santas
If you’re looking for a quick, healthy, and festive treat this Christmas, these strawberry-themed desserts are an ideal choice. Here are some reasons why these cute no-bake creations will quickly become a holiday favorite:
- Adorable & Festive: These strawberry-based treats are not only delicious but also bring the Christmas spirit to life with their charming Santa shape.
- Low in Calories: At under 50 calories each, they are a guilt-free, low-sugar dessert option that’s perfect for anyone keeping an eye on their calorie intake during the holidays.
- Healthy: Made with fresh fruit and a light, creamy filling, these bite-sized delights are a much healthier choice than traditional holiday sweets.
- Kid-Friendly: Children will love helping to assemble these sweet treats, and they make a perfect holiday snack for kids of all ages.
- Quick & Easy: With just four simple ingredients and a few easy steps, you can whip up a batch in no time.
Ingredients for Strawberry Santas
To make these festive treats, you’ll need just four main ingredients. You can also get creative by adding optional toppings for decoration.
- Fresh Strawberries: These will be the base for your Santa body and the “hat” of each treat.
- Whipped Cream Cheese: This will create the creamy, decadent filling for your strawberry Santas.
- Powdered Sugar: Adds sweetness and smooth texture to the filling.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances the flavor of the filling.
- Optional (for decoration):
- Decorator Icing: For extra detailing, such as creating facial features.
- Mini Chocolate Chips or Raisins: For eyes and a nose.
- Piping Bag with Star Tip: For a more precise and decorative application of the filling.
How to Make Strawberry Santas: Step-by-Step Instructions
Prepare the Strawberries
First, wash and dry your strawberries thoroughly. Trim the tops to create a flat base so they stand securely. Slice the top third of each strawberry to form the “hat.”
Prepare the Cheesecake Filling
In a mixing bowl, combine the whipped cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Stir until smooth and creamy. Once your filling is ready, place it into a piping bag (or a zip-lock bag with the tip cut off) for easy assembly.
Assemble the Strawberry Santas
To assemble, pipe a small amount of the cheesecake filling onto the base of each strawberry to form the “body.” Then, place the sliced top third (the hat) onto the base. Use the remaining filling to pipe a pom-pom at the top of the hat. For extra detail, pipe a small amount of filling around the base to create a beard effect. Finish off by adding mini chocolate chips or raisins for the eyes and nose, or use decorator icing for facial features.
Variations of Strawberry Santas
While the traditional strawberry Santa is delicious on its own, you can experiment with different fillings and ingredients to create your own variations:
- Greek Yogurt Filling: For a tangier and lighter alternative, use Greek yogurt instead of cream cheese.
- Ricotta or Cannoli Filling: For a more indulgent version, swap in ricotta or cannoli filling.
- Dairy-Free Option: If you need a dairy-free version, use non-dairy cream cheese or coconut whipped cream as a filling.
- Alternative Faces: Get creative with the facial features! You can use raisins, mini chocolate chips, or other dried fruits to decorate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can make these a few hours in advance. However, for the best texture and flavor, it’s recommended to serve them fresh within 2-3 hours of making them.
If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days. This will keep them fresh and the filling creamy.
Freezing is not recommended, as the strawberries may become mushy once thawed, ruining the texture of the dessert.
Fresh strawberries are the best option for this recipe. Frozen strawberries will not hold up well for the Santa hats and will become too soft and watery once thawed.
Use a piping bag with a star tip for a more decorative and precise filling. If you don’t have a piping bag, a zip-lock bag with the corner cut off works just as well.
Each one is typically under 50 calories, making them a low-calorie and healthier choice for holiday gatherings.
Strawberry Santas: Fun, Easy, and Perfect for the Holidays
These festive, no-bake treats are a fun and simple way to get into the Christmas spirit. Whether you’re making them for a holiday party or a special treat for your kids, these strawberry Santas are sure to be a hit!
Serve Your Strawberry Santas With These Holiday Drinks
Pair your strawberry treats with these festive drinks for the perfect holiday treat combination:
- Crock Pot Skinny Hot Chocolate: This lower-calorie hot chocolate is a perfect pairing.
- White Chocolate Peppermint Hot Chocolate: A creamy, minty drink that complements the sweetness of your strawberry Santas.
More Healthy Christmas Treats to Try
Looking for more healthy holiday desserts? Try these delicious and nutritious options:
- Easy Reindeer Cupcakes (cute holiday cupcakes for kids): Another kid-friendly, decorated Christmas dessert to pair with Santasa.
- Gingerbread Cheesecake Cookies: Cheesecake element aligns with Santasa’s cream-cheese filling.
- Cheesy Pull-Apart Christmas Tree Bread: Complements a holiday party spread alongside no-bake
Strawberry Santas: A Fun, Festive, and Healthy Christmas Dessert
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
Description
Looking for a simple, adorable, and healthy Christmas dessert? These Strawberry Santas are the perfect no-bake holiday treat that combines fun, flavor, and festive charm! With just four ingredients and about 15 minutes of prep time, you can create these delicious, cute strawberry-shaped treats that will surely impress your guests.
Ingredients
- Fresh Strawberries
- Whipped Cream Cheese
- Powdered Sugar
- Vanilla Extract
- Optional: Decorator Icing
- Optional: Mini Chocolate Chips or Raisins
- Optional: Piping Bag with Star Tip
Instructions
- Wash and dry strawberries thoroughly. Trim the tops to create a flat base so they stand securely. Slice the top third of each strawberry to form the ‘hat’.
- In a mixing bowl, combine whipped cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Stir until smooth and creamy. Place the filling into a piping bag (or zip-lock bag with the tip cut off).
- Pipe a small amount of the cheesecake filling onto the base of each strawberry to form the ‘body’. Place the sliced top third (the hat) onto the base.
- Use the remaining filling to pipe a pom-pom at the top of the hat. Pipe a small amount of filling around the base to create a beard effect.
- Finish off by adding mini chocolate chips or raisins for the eyes and nose, or use decorator icing for facial features.
Notes
These treats are a fun, easy, and healthy way to celebrate the holidays. Fresh strawberries are best for this recipe. Freezing is not recommended as it can alter the texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 50
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 10mg
- Fat: 2g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 5mg
Final thoughts
Strawberry Santas are the ultimate no-bake Christmas treat. With minimal ingredients and preparation time, these cute little bites are perfect for holiday parties, family gatherings, or just a special snack. Try these easy-to-make strawberry Santas today, and watch how they bring joy to your table this Christmas!
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