Strawberry Santas Recipe

This Strawberry Santas Recipe is an adorable and festive recipe, which features fresh large strawberries and a creamy mascarpone filling. It’s a fun holiday project for kids, ready in about 20 minutes.

Jump to Recipe

Strawberry Santas Recipe Ingredients

Frosting:

• 1/4 cup mascarpone cheese, at room temperature
• 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup powdered sugar

Santas:

• 12 large strawberries
• 24 mini chocolate chips

How To Make Strawberry Santas Recipe

1. Whip the frosting: In a medium bowl, using an electric hand mixer, beat the mascarpone cheese and vanilla extract until smooth. Gradually beat in the powdered sugar a little at a time until the mixture is thick, smooth, and holds its shape.
2. Prep the piping bag: Using a spatula, transfer the frosting to a pastry bag fitted with a small star piping tip. (If you don’t have a piping bag, you can use a ziplock bag with the corner snipped off, though the “beard” won’t have the textured fur look).
3. Cut the strawberries: Rinse the strawberries and pat them completely dry with paper towels. Using a paring knife, cut off the leaf-end (stem) of each strawberry to create a flat surface so the Santa can stand up. Cut a 1/2- to 3/4-inch piece from the pointed end of each strawberry and reserve these pieces as the “hats.”
4. Assemble the body: Place the strawberries, wide-side (flat cut side) down, on a work surface or serving platter. Pipe a 3/4-inch-high swirl of frosting on top of the wide strawberry base to create the head and beard.
5. Add the hat and eyes: Gently place the reserved strawberry “hats” on top of the frosting swirl. Pipe a small ball of frosting on the very tip of the hat to make a pom-pom.
6. Decorate: Carefully press two mini chocolate chips, pointed-sides inward, into the swirl of frosting to make the eyes. Serve immediately.

Recipe Tips

• Dry the Berries: The most important step is ensuring the strawberries are bone dry before piping. If they are wet, the mascarpone frosting will slide right off.
• Why Mascarpone? While many recipes use whipped cream, this recipe uses mascarpone (Italian cream cheese). It is much thicker, richer, and more stable than whipped cream, meaning your Santas won’t melt or collapse at room temperature as quickly.
• Size Matters: Look for the largest, most uniform strawberries you can find. Small berries are difficult to pipe onto and balance.
• Room Temperature Cheese: Ensure the mascarpone is at room temperature before mixing. If it’s cold, it can become lumpy when mixed with the sugar.
• Stabilizing: If the Santas feel wobbly, you can stick a toothpick down through the hat, frosting, and body to hold them together (just warn your guests!).

What To Serve With Strawberry Santas Recipe

These are usually served as a garnish or a part of a larger holiday dessert spread.

• Christmas Cupcakes: Place a Santa on top of a frosted cupcake.
• Gingerbread House: Use them to decorate the “yard” of a gingerbread house.
• Hot Cocoa: Serve alongside a warm mug of chocolate.
• Holiday Cheese Board: The fruit and cheese flavors pair well with a charcuterie board.

How To Store Strawberry Santas Recipe

• Refrigerate: These are best eaten the day they are made. If you must store them, keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
• No Freezing: Do not freeze strawberries; they will turn into mush when thawed.
• Make Ahead: You can make the frosting a day in advance and store it in the fridge. Assemble the Santas no more than 2 hours before serving to prevent the red strawberry juice from bleeding into the white frosting.

Strawberry Santas Recipe Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 85
• Total Fat: 2g
• Saturated Fat: 1g
• Cholesterol: 5mg
• Sodium: 5mg
• Total Carbohydrates: 18g
• Dietary Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 16g
• Protein: 1g

Nutrition information is estimated per Santa.

FAQs