Name: Strawberry Santa Treats with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 4 ounces cream cheese, softened; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1/4 cup powdered sugar; 1 cup heavy cream; 12 strawberries; Mini chocolate chips (for eyes); Additional powdered sugar for dusting (optional)

There’s something downright magical about these adorable little bites — isn’t there? The Strawberry Santa Treats with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe is one of those festive snacks that brightens up any holiday gathering with its combination of fresh, sweet strawberries and luscious cream cheese frosting. Trust me, once you try making these, you’ll want to add them to your seasonal must-make list!

Three small strawberry Santas sit on a white plate with a red and white striped napkin underneath. Each Santa has a layer of a halved red strawberry on the bottom as the body, a thick middle layer of white whipped cream shaped like a beard covering most of the strawberry body, two small dark chocolate chips for eyes placed above the beard, and a halved red strawberry top tilted as a hat. The hat is topped with a small dollop of white whipped cream like the hat's pom-pom. The background has warm, blurred yellow string lights and a soft wooden texture. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Strawberry Santa Treats with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Strawberry Santa Treats with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Strawberry Santa Treats with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I remember the first time I tried making these Strawberry Santa Treats with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe — they were a total hit with my family and neighbors. Not only are they super cute, but they’re surprisingly easy to whip up, and utterly delicious. Here’s why I think you'll want to make them too.

Festive and Fun: These treats add a whimsical holiday touch that kids and adults both adore.
Simple Ingredients: You only need a handful of items, most likely already in your kitchen.
Impress Without Stress: They look fancy but come together quickly, perfect for last-minute party prep.
Customizable: You can tweak the frosting or decoration to fit your flavor preferences or dietary needs.

The image shows a small dessert made to look like Santa Claus, placed on a wooden table with a dusting of powdered sugar on the left side. The dessert has two layers of bright red strawberry halves at the bottom and top. Between the strawberries, there is a thick layer of white, fluffy cream shaped like a beard and around the neck area. On top of the strawberry hat is a small dollop of the white cream as a pompom. Two small dark chocolate chips serve as eyes, set on the cream. The background has soft yellow bokeh lights, shining with warm tones. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

The beauty of this Strawberry Santa Treats with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe lies in its straightforward and fresh ingredients that balance each other perfectly. Let’s break down why each one is key and how to choose the best versions.

Flat lay of twelve fresh whole strawberries with green leafy tops, a small white ceramic bowl of softened cream cheese, a small white ceramic bowl of powdered sugar, a small white ceramic bowl of heavy cream, a small white ceramic bowl of vanilla extract, and a small white ceramic bowl filled with mini chocolate chips, all arranged symmetrically with perfect natural freshness, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Strawberries: Choose firm, ripe strawberries without bruises for the best “Santa” shape and flavor.
Cream Cheese: Softened cream cheese creates a rich, tangy frosting that pairs beautifully with the sweet berries.
Vanilla Extract: A splash of vanilla deepens the frosting’s flavor and adds warmth.
Powdered Sugar: This sweetener blends smoothly into the frosting for a light sweetness without graininess.
Heavy Cream: Whipping this into the frosting adds fluffiness and a soft texture perfect for piping.
Mini Chocolate Chips: These make adorable little eyes and add a hint of chocolatey contrast.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

Over time, I’ve played around with this recipe to suit different occasions and tastes. Feel free to get creative! Whether you want a lighter frosting or a dairy-free option, these treats adapt well. Here are a couple of tweaks I've liked:

Variation: I sometimes swap half the heavy cream for whipped coconut cream to give it a subtle tropical twist—and it's just as festive and smooth.
Decoration: Adding a tiny dot of red decorating gel on the tip of Santa’s hat makes these look even more magical during holiday parties.
Flavor Boost: A bit of finely grated orange zest in the frosting adds a lovely citrus lift that complements the strawberries beautifully.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Strawberry Santa Treats with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Step 1: Prep Your Cream Cheese Frosting

Start by softening your cream cheese to room temperature—it makes mixing so much easier. Then combine the cream cheese, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar in a medium bowl. I use an electric mixer to blend until smooth and creamy. Next, slowly add the heavy cream, whipping for 4-5 minutes until the frosting is thick but still fluffy. You want it pipe-able but not too stiff—this balance is key to getting those pretty Santa beards and hats!

Step 2: Prepare the Strawberries

Gently wash your strawberries and then dry them thoroughly—this prevents the frosting from sliding off. Cut the stems off, then slice about a quarter off the top of each berry carefully to create the little ‘hat’ piece for your Santas. Set these aside for assembly.

Step 3: Assemble Your Strawberry Santas

Now for the fun part! Using a piping bag, add a generous swirl of the cream cheese frosting onto the larger bottom pieces of the strawberry to create Santa’s fluffy beard. Balance the smaller “hat” pieces on top, then pipe a white pom-pom at each hat tip. For the mustache, two little swirls right under the nose area add that charming Santa expression. Finally, press two mini chocolate chips in as eyes, and voilà—your Santas are ready to impress.

Top Tip

From my experience, the biggest trick to making these Strawberry Santa Treats with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe flawless is patience and clean prep.

Dry Strawberries Thoroughly: Moisture makes cream cheese slip off—pat them dry for frosting that sticks perfectly.
Softened Cream Cheese: Don’t rush this—soft cream cheese blends butter-smooth, giving your frosting the best texture.
Pipe With Confidence: When piping the beard and mustache, steady your hand and use gentle pressure for neat shapes.
Chill Before Serving: Refrigerate assembled Santas for at least 30 minutes—they firm up nicely and hold shape better.

How to Serve Strawberry Santa Treats with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Strawberry Santa Treats - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I like to dust a little powdered sugar on Santa’s hats before serving to create a snowy effect—it’s such a simple touch but adds that festive magic. Sometimes, I add tiny edible silver balls as buttons on Santa’s “jacket” for extra sparkle, but mini chocolate chips always do a charming job for eyes.

Side Dishes

These treats pair wonderfully with warm drinks like hot cocoa or spiced apple cider. I’ve also served them alongside a cheese and charcuterie board for holiday parties, where they add a burst of sweetness and color.

Creative Ways to Present

For a festive platter, arrange the Santas in a circle around a bowl of whipped cream or chocolate sauce for dipping. Kids love helping make a Santa “forest” centerpiece! Another fun idea is to place each Santa atop mini cupcake liners or festive napkins to keep things neat and bright.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I recommend storing leftover Strawberry Santa Treats in a covered container in the refrigerator. They stay fresh for up to 2 days, but I’ve found they’re best enjoyed within the first day so the strawberries remain firm and the frosting holds its shape.

Freezing

Freezing isn’t ideal for these treats because the texture of the strawberries and cream cheese frosting changes upon thawing. If you must, freeze the components separately—the frosting and strawberries—and assemble fresh when ready to serve.

Reheating

Reheating isn’t necessary here since these are best served chilled and fresh. Just pop them out of the fridge about 10 minutes before serving so the cream cheese frosting softens up slightly for perfect biteability.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use frozen strawberries for this recipe?

While fresh strawberries are best for their firm texture, you could use frozen ones if thawed and dried very well. However, they may be mushier and harder to assemble into neat Santas.

What’s the best way to soften cream cheese for the frosting?

Take your cream cheese out of the fridge at least 30 minutes before mixing. If you’re short on time, a few quick 10-second bursts in the microwave (covered) help soften without melting it. Soft cream cheese blends much better with the other ingredients for a smooth frosting.

Can I make the cream cheese frosting ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can make the cream cheese frosting up to a day in advance. Just keep it refrigerated and give it a quick stir or re-whip before piping onto strawberries to restore its fluffy texture.

What if I don’t have a piping bag?

No piping bag? No problem! Use a sturdy zip-top bag and snip a tiny hole in one corner to pipe the frosting. Alternatively, a small spoon can help you dollop the frosting, then gently spread it into shape with the back of the spoon.

Final Thoughts

Honestly, I love how the Strawberry Santa Treats with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe combines simple, wholesome ingredients into a festive treat that feels special but doesn’t require a long time in the kitchen. Whether you’re making them for family, friends, or as a fun project with kids, they never fail to bring smiles. Give this recipe a go—it’s one of my favorite ways to make the holidays a little sweeter and a lot more joyful.