STRAWBERRY SANTAS.
- This is not a recipe I did with my mum. I have learned this one since she passed. However I can say that it is very successful. I have made them with whipped cream or cream cheese. I prefer cream cheese because they can be made ahead of time.
- INGREDIENTS
- Punnet of Large strawberries ( the bigger the strawberry the better).
- I packet of cream cheese or whipped cream.
- decorations of your choice. ( eg chocolate choc bits).
- METHOD
- 1. Slice the tops off the strawberries to create a flat surface for them to sit on. Slice the tip off the strawberry to make the hat.
- 2. Using a match stick, place some cream cheese on the strawberry and replace the hat. (You can also squeeze some frosting or whipped cream on the strawberry, and replace the top)
- 3. Using the match stick and the cream cheese, make buttons on the big part of the strawberry. Add a dob for eyes as well. Then add in your decorations ( chocolate chips or other decorations for the eyes.
(If you are decorating with whipped cream, then decorate the rest with a piping bag.) - 4.Add the mini chocolate chips for eyes.
- NB: Strawberry Santa are mischievous, and tend to disappear quickly! Make enough for family and friends!
- Enjoy!
- You can also cover them with chocolate and then decorate accordingly. Tastes great but does not look quite like Santa.
SOME IMPORTANT TIPS.
1. The larger the strawberry the better as you cut a little off to make a flat bottom and then a little off to get rid of the green leaf. Then you need to cut a smaller part for the hat. Remember when making this, do it as an assembly line and keep hats and bodies together. Otherwise it becomes very confusing.
2. Cut all your strawberries first and have them lined up ready to fill. Make sure you keep each hat with its respective body.
3. If you are taking them out, then make sure you make them on the plate you are going to use as extra handling can be a problem. It becomes fiddly and the less handling the better.
If you are going to keep them in the fridge and make them the day before, put them in a airtight container.
VARIATION 2020
This is a variation on the cream cheese mixture. Instead of plain original cream cheese, there is maple syrup and icing sugar added. Actually this is a frosting icing recipe but it would work well with strawberry Santas if you want to use them as introduction to desserts or an accompaniment to desserts. It is not too sweet but gives the cream cheese a sweeter taste.
INGREDIENTS
25O G Philadelphia Cream Cheese. ( original)- at room temperature.
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
juice of half an orange ( approx 1 tablespoon)
1/4 cup pure icing sugar ( sifted).
METHOD.
1. Place the cream cheese, maple syrup and orange juice in a bowl.
2. In a separate bowl, sift the icing sugar.
3. Put the sited sugar in the cream cheese mixture.
4. Blend until smooth with mixer until combined.
6. Remove paddle (beaters).
7. Seal and place in the fridge to cool and firm a little (approx 30 minutes).
8. When firm fill the strawberries to create the strawberry Santas as above.
