24 mini chocolate chips or black sesame seeds for eyes
Instructions
Start by washing the strawberries thoroughly under cold water. Pat them completely dry with a paper towel, as any moisture will cause the cream to slide off. Once dry, hull the strawberries by removing the green leafy tops. Slice the bottom tip of each strawberry off, about one-third of the way down, to create the “hat” for the Santa.
In a medium chilled bowl, combine the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and alcohol-free vanilla. Use a hand mixer or a whisk to beat the mixture until stiff peaks form. Be careful not to overbeat, or it will turn into butter. The cream should be firm enough to hold its shape when piped onto the berries.
Place the larger strawberry bases on a flat serving platter with the cut side facing up. Use a piping bag or a small spoon to add a generous dollop of whipped cream onto the top of each strawberry base. This cream represents the Santa’s face and beard. Carefully place the smaller strawberry “hat” pieces on top of the cream.
Pipe a tiny dot of cream on the very top of the strawberry hat to serve as the pom-pom. You can also add two small dots of cream on the front of the strawberry base to look like coat buttons. Finally, gently press two mini chocolate chips or sesame seeds into the cream “face” to create the eyes.
