Cheesecake Strawberry Santas: The Easiest, Most Adorable Holiday Treat

Get ready to create the most charming, delicious, and downright adorable treat of the holiday season. These Cheesecake Strawberry Santas are not only a feast for the eyes but an absolute joy to make and eat. Imagine plump, juicy strawberries filled with a sweet, creamy cheesecake filling, transformed into jolly little Santas with a single hat.

They are the perfect no-bake dessert for holiday parties, a fun project to do with kids, and a guaranteed showstopper on any dessert platter. Best of all, they come together in minutes with just a few simple ingredients!

WHY THESE LITTLE SANTAS ARE A HOLIDAY MUST-MAKE

These Cheesecake Strawberry Santas are a must-make for so many delightful reasons. You will love them because they require absolutely no baking and can be assembled in under 30 minutes. Furthermore, they are a wonderfully light and fruity dessert option amidst all the heavy holiday sweets.

They are also a fantastic, hands-on cooking activity that kids can help with, creating lasting holiday memories in the kitchen. Finally, their charming appearance brings instant festive cheer and is guaranteed to put a smile on everyone’s face.

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GATHERING YOUR SIMPLE, FESTIVE INGREDIENTS

The magic of this recipe is how simple ingredients create something so spectacular. Here is what you will need for your Cheesecake Strawberry Santas.

For the Cheesecake Filling:

• The Cream Cheese: 4 ounces of full-fat, brick-style cream cheese, softened to room temperature.
• The Sweetener: ¼ cup of powdered sugar, plus more for dusting.
• The Flavor: ½ teaspoon of pure vanilla extract.

For Assembling the Santas:

• The Strawberries: 1 pound of large, fresh strawberries with the stems removed. Try to find berries that are wide and cone-shaped for the best Santa bodies.
• The “Pom-Poms”: ⅓ cup of shredded sweetened coconut. You can leave it white or tint it pink with a drop of food coloring.
• The “Eyes”: Mini chocolate chips or black decorating gel.

THE ESSENTIAL ASSEMBLY TOOLS

You need very few tools to create these edible works of art. A piping bag fitted with a large star or round tip is the easiest way to create the beard and hat, but a small zip-top bag with the corner snipped off works perfectly too.

You will also need a small bowl for the coconut, a knife for prepping the strawberries, and a small mixing bowl for the filling.

CRAFTING YOUR EDIBLE SANTAS, STEP-BY-STEP

Let’s walk through the simple, fun process of creating these unforgettable Cheesecake Strawberry Santas.

PREPARING THE STRAWBERRIES

First, wash your strawberries and pat them completely dry with a paper towel. This is crucial so the cheesecake filling will stick. Carefully slice off the very top stem-end of the strawberry to create a flat base. This will be Santa’s hat. Then, slice off the very tip of the strawberry point to create a flat surface for the face.

MAKING THE CREAMY CHEESECAKE FILLING

In your small mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract together until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure everything is well incorporated.

ASSEMBLING THE SANTA BODIES

Scoop your cheesecake filling into your prepared piping bag. Pipe a tall, generous dollop of filling onto the flat, wide base of the strawberry (where the stem was). This is Santa’s fluffy white beard.

ADDING THE HATS AND FACES

Now, take the strawberry top that you cut off earlier and place it at a jaunty angle on top of the cheesecake filling to create Santa’s hat. Gently press two mini chocolate chips into the cheesecake filling below the hat to create eyes.

THE FINAL MAGICAL TOUCH

To create the pom-pom on the hat, dip the very tip of the strawberry hat into your cheesecake filling, then dip it into the bowl of shredded coconut. For an extra festive touch, you can dust the “hats” with a little powdered sugar “snow” just before serving.

MY SECRETS FOR THE PERFECT, STURDY SANTAS

Here are my pro-tips for guaranteed success. Ensure your cream cheese is truly at room temperature for the smoothest, lump-free filling. Make sure your strawberries are thoroughly dry; any water will make the filling slide off. If your filling is too soft to pipe, pop the bag in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to firm up.

For the cutest Santas, select strawberries that are uniformly sized and have a nice, classic cone shape.

DELICIOUS VARIATIONS YOU’LL ACTUALLY TRY

This Cheesecake Strawberry Santas recipe is wonderfully adaptable. For a lighter version, you can use Neufchâtel cheese or even sweetened Greek yogurt, though the texture will be softer. For a “Snowman” version, use a blackberry for the hat and a piece of a orange candy (like a Tic Tac) for the carrot nose. You can also add a tiny bit of lemon zest to the cheesecake filling for a bright, zesty flavor.

STORING AND SERVING YOUR CREATIONS

These Cheesecake Strawberry Santas are best served the same day they are assembled. You can store them in a single layer in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 8 hours. The strawberries may release a little juice over time, so they are truly at their peak within a few hours of making them.

TROUBLESHOOTING COMMON QUESTIONS

• My filling is too runny.
  This is likely because the cream cheese was too warm. Place the filling in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes to firm up before piping.
• My Santa hats won’t stay on.
  Make sure you are piping a thick enough “beard” to support the hat. You can also use a tiny dab of the cheesecake filling as “glue” to help secure the hat to the beard.
• Can I make these ahead of time?
  You can prepare the cheesecake filling and wash/dry/cut the strawberries a day in advance. Store them separately in the fridge and assemble no more than 2-3 hours before your event for the best results.

THE PERFECT WAY TO SERVE THEM

Arrange these little Cheesecake Strawberry Santas on a festive platter as the centerpiece of your dessert table. They pair beautifully with other holiday cookies and treats. They are the perfect finger food for a Christmas party or a sweet, special surprise in a lunchbox.

A NOTE ON SWEETNESS

These Cheesecake Strawberry Santas are a perfectly balanced treat. The natural sweetness and slight tartness of the strawberry pairs wonderfully with the rich, creamy cheesecake filling. They are not overly sweet, making them a delightful dessert for all ages.

MY STORY: A SWEET HOLIDAY ACCIDENT

I first created these Cheesecake Strawberry Santas on a whim for my daughter’s preschool holiday party. I needed something quick, cute, and nut-free. Throwing them together with what I had in the fridge was a happy accident that turned into a legendary hit.

The kids were mesmerized, and the parents were asking for the Cheesecake Strawberry Santas recipe all afternoon. Now, it’s our official kick-off to the Christmas season; the moment we assemble the first Santa, we know the magic has truly begun.

FINAL CHECKLIST BEFORE YOU ASSEMBLE

Before you start, quickly confirm: cream cheese is softened, strawberries are washed and thoroughly dried, and your piping bag is ready to go.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS