Santa Inspired Goodies

Christmas is 11 days a way and that means lots of holiday parties. We have been looking for some yummy deserts that would be great to serve at these parties. Enjoy!

Santa Hat Brownies
Yields 12-16 brownies
Ingredients:
1 pan of your favorite brownies, cooled and cut into desired size and shape (I used a round cutter)
12-16 small strawberries, cleaned and hulled
vanilla-mascarpone buttercream (recipe below)
Mascarpone Buttercream
Ingredients:
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
8 ounces mascarpone cheese, room temperature
2-1/2 to 3 cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
pinch of salt
Method:
Using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat butter and mascarpone cheese until light and creamy, about 2 minutes.  Add vanilla extract and salt.  Add 2-1/2 cups of sugar, half a cup at a time and continue beating until smooth.  Add more sugar, if needed to reach desired consistency and sweetness.
To assemble, pipe a ring of vanilla buttercream on top of each brownie.  Cut off the base of a strawberry so it is flat and place it upside down on each brownie, pushing slightly to secure in place.  Top the tip of the strawberry with a dot of buttercream to finish the santa hat.
From Daisy's World via Pintrest.  

Strawberry Santa 

Ingredients:
1 pound of strawberries
Cool Whip
You may want something to make eyes for Santa, such as black food coloring.
Directions: 
1. Wash the strawberries and lay them on a paper towel to completely dry
2. Cut off the stem end so the berry will sit flat.
3. Cut off the tip of the berry, being careful not to cut off too much or it will become top-heavy. Then core just a little bit out of the tip end because more cool whip is BETTER.
4. Then you will need a star tip and possibly a round tip.
5. Using the star tip, put a little in the berry as it sits flat. If you put in too much, the “hat” will fall off. Then, taking the round tip put a tip on top of the hat and two little buttons. 
6. You have to work fast because the tiniest amounts of heat will them to begin melting. They only took 15 minutes and about $6 to make. 
From The Domestically Impaired Guide to the Retro Kitchen Arts via Pintrest