Strawberry Santa Hats

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Every December, my kitchen counter turns into a North Pole wonderland with treats like these strawberry Santa hats. I use juicy strawberries, ripe bananas, and whipped cream to make a festive snack that looks too adorable to eat. These creative treats take just 20 minutes to make and double as a fun holiday activity for the kids.

Fresh fruit snacks like these strawberry Santa hats are a welcome break from the heavier and richer holiday desserts like my snowman cupcakes. If you like sticking to a healthier lifestyle even during a season where overindulgence is inevitable, these strawberry Santa hats keep the fomo at bay.

I first started making these strawberry Santa hats when my kids were asking for Santa pancakes nearly every morning in the lead-up to Christmas. But then, suddenly, they wanted something different for breakfast. I had a surplus of fresh strawberries and bananas and decided to get creative instead of just using them for smoothies. My kids and husband loved them so much that they even made a public debut at my Christmas party that same year, and have been a staple ever since.

🥘 Ingredients

When I make strawberry Santa hats, I keep the ingredient list intentionally simple, letting the fresh fruit take center stage. This is what I use:

Strawberries: I use large fresh strawberries with bright red color and firm flesh so they stay sturdy once assembled.

Bananas: Slightly ripe bananas create the best texture for the base. 

Whipped cream: I pipe tiny dollops of whipped cream onto the tops for the Santa hat detail. 

Sucker sticks or skewers: These help keep the strawberries and bananas stacked neatly together while making the snack easier to grab.

🔪 How To Make

I usually set everything out assembly line style on the kitchen counter so my kids can help build their own strawberry Santa hats. This is how we make them:

Prep strawberries: I rinse and dry the strawberries thoroughly before slicing the leafy tops off in a straight line.

Slice bananas: Then, I slice the bananas into thick, round slices, making sure they are sturdy enough to support the strawberries.

Assemble Santa hats: I place one strawberry upside down on top of each banana slice, then carefully slide a sucker stick or skewer through the center to keep everything in place.

Add whipped cream and serve: Finally, I use a piping bag or spoon to add a small dot of whipped cream on top of the strawberry to resemble the bobble on a Santa hat. I serve these Santa hats as soon as the cream is added.

📖 Variations

Around the holidays, I like changing up these strawberry Santa hats slightly, tailoring them for different parties and guests. These are 3 of my favorite variations:

Coconut trim: I roll the sides and bottom layer of the banana slices in some white desiccated coconut. This gives the hats a fluffy finish and hides any browning that may occur as the hats sit. I make this version if I know they will be sitting out among a larger spread. 

Snowy hats: Just before serving, I dust the assembled and displayed hats with powdered sugar to make them look as though they have just been worn out in the snow. My kids love the added sweetness of this version. 

Marshmallow bobbles: Instead of whipped cream, I use tiny slices of white mini marshmallows for the tops of the Santa hats. This is what I do if I am transporting them to parties. 

🍽 Serving Suggestions

These strawberry Santa hats make a wonderful addition to festive spreads. I recommend serving them with other holiday-focused dishes, with equally bright colors and fun features. They look stunning alongside my bright green Christmas Rice Krispie treats. Then, for something more hearty, you could add a tray of my Christmas muffins, or even a puff pastry Christmas tree if you want a more sophisticated dessert. 

Last year, during the holiday season, these strawberry Santa hats made countless appearances at breakfast, lunch, and dessert time. The leftover strawberries were also great for my reindeer holiday sandwiches. I let my kids decide how to serve them, and they came up with some fabulous dishes. My eldest placed the assembled skewers into a few scoops of bright green vegan matcha ice cream, which really made the red in the strawberries pop. My youngest kept it simple and served it with a side of my healthy vegan chocolate sauce. 

🧊 Storing And ♨️ Reheating

Refrigeration: I store leftover strawberry Santa hats loosely covered in the refrigerator for no more than 1 day. The bananas soften over time and taste best shortly after assembling.

Freezing: I usually do not freeze assembled Santa hats, as the texture of the fruit changes too much once thawed. Instead, I separate the fruit layers and freeze them separately, and use them in smoothies.

Reheating: These are best served cold and do not require reheating.

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