Strawberry Santas

Method

1. Frosting

   Place confectioners’ sugar into a medium bowl, then add cream cheese and vanilla. Mix with an electric hand mixer to create thick frosting and add more confectioners’ sugar as needed to adjust thickness. Transfer frosting to a piping bag fitted with a large round tip. Refrigerate frosting 10 - 15 minutes or until firm.

2. Strawberries

   Remove leaves from strawberries, then carefully hollow out the centre of berries with a pairing knife. Chop the top 1/3 of the strawberries and keep aside to make Santa's hat. Then place cookies in a single layer on a serving platter.

3. Chocolate

   In a microwave-safe bowl, microwave chocolate chips for 5-10 seconds. Stir chocolate chips, and repeat heating and stirring in short increments until chocolate is melted and completely smooth.

4. Strawberry Santas

   Dip the wide base of one strawberry into melted chocolate, then place chocolate-covered strawberry onto one cookie to create Santa's body. Then dip two blueberries only halfway into melted chocolate to make Santa's boots, then place on cookies in front of Santa's body. Pipe a large dollop of frosting on top of Santa's body to make the head, then pipe a small dollop of frosting onto the front of the head to make Santa's beard. Press one pinch of coconut into the beard. Then press one mini white chocolate chip into the face to make Santa's nose, and two mini semi-sweet chocolate chips into the face to make Santa's eyes. Pipe frosting around the base of the strawberry tip to make trim for Santa's hat. Press pinches of coconut into the hat trim. Place hat onto Santa's head, then pipe a tiny dollop of frosting on top of the hat - then sprinkle with coconut. Use a toothpick to clean up decorations as needed. Chill strawberry Santa's in the refrigerator. Repeat steps with remaining ingredients to make 12 strawberry Santas. Serve immediately or keep chilled in refrigerator until ready to serve.