Can I use frozen strawberries?

No, for this recipe you must use fresh, firm strawberries. Frozen strawberries will be too soft and watery.

What can I use instead of coconut?

If you have a coconut allergy, you can use a tiny white candy melt, a dab of white frosting, or even a miniature marshmallow for the hat's pom-pom.

A tiny dab of the cheesecake filling on the tip of the hat acts as the perfect edible glue for the coconut.

Adorable no-bake holiday treats made from fresh strawberries filled with creamy cheesecake and decorated to look like mini Santas.

Scale

1. Rinse strawberries and pat dry completely.
2. Slice off the leafy top of each strawberry to create a flat base.
3. Cut off the pointed tip of each strawberry to form Santa’s “hat” and set aside.
4. In a bowl, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Add heavy cream if needed for piping consistency.
5. Transfer cheesecake filling to a piping bag fitted with a small round tip.
6. Pipe a swirl of cheesecake filling onto the base of each strawberry.
7. Place the strawberry “hat” on top of the filling.
8. Add a small dot of filling on the tip of the hat to make the pom-pom.
9. Use mini chocolate chips or sprinkles to create Santa’s eyes.
10. Add tiny dots of filling or sprinkles to the front of the strawberry for buttons.

Make sure strawberries are fully dry or the filling may slide off.
Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 12 hours for best texture.
For extra stability, insert a small toothpick through the center (remove before serving to kids).

Keywords: strawberry santas, cheesecake santas, Christmas treats, holiday dessert