This week my adventure to find the internet’s most unusual creations ventures into the realm of Christmas as I try making strawberry cinnamon Santas and chocolate reindeers.

Christmas is my favourite time of year; the food, the decorations, the chance to spend time with my family, there is nothing I like better.

However, it is also a very stressful time, especially for those nominated to cook the Christmas dinner and treats for family, friends and unexpected guests during the festive season.

Luckily in my house, I am not the one that has to cook, however, I do like to try and make some sort of edible contribution to the festivities and the quicker, easier and tastier the recipe is the better.

With that in mind, I take to the internet to see if I can find a quick, easy and good looking recipe and eventually stumble across the Holy Grail of tasty simplicity; strawberry cinnamon Santas and spicy chocolate reindeers.

Now, these recipes claim to produce adorable little Santas and reindeer heads in less than 15 minutes. I am a bit sceptical but, given how cute the finished treats look, I am powerless to resist trying them. If these work they will be the ideal treat for unexpected guests; quick, easy and deceptive enough to look as if you have spent hours making them to get them just right.

I begin by cutting the top off of some of the strawberries to make my Santa bodies and hats. I then whip some cream and cinnamon together in a bowl and pipe the mixture on top of and down one side of each strawberry to create the Santa’s head and beard.

I place the top of the strawberry back onto each Santa to create his hat and add a bit more cream to the top and front to create his buttons and bauble. I finish each Santa off by adding bits of blackberry for eyes.

The finished Santas look absolutely fantastic and I can’t wait to try them but first I have got to make my chocolate reindeer.

I start by melting some chocolate in the microwave. I then coat some strawberries in the chocolate and add pretzels for antlers before placing them in the fridge to cool. Once chilled, I use icing pens to add the reindeer’s eyes and nose and they are finally finished and ready to taste.

Both of the treats taste fantastic and the salty and sweet combination of the pretzels, chocolate  and strawberries for the reindeer is wonderful. I am surprised that the recipes were as quick and easy as they claimed and the finished dishes are perfect for Christmas parties and any unexpected festive guests.

So it is possible to make some fantastic Christmas treats without slaving over a hot stove all day. If only the same were true of Christmas dinner!

If you would like to try making strawberry cinnamon Santas and chocolate reindeers follow the recipe below.

Strawberry cinnamon Santas

10 strawberries

300ml of whipping cream

A teaspoon of cinnamon

2 blackberries

1 Cut the top off of each of the strawberries to form a body and hat for the Santas

2 Whip the cream and cinnamon in a bowl until it thickens

3 Put the cream in a piping bag

4 Pipe the mixture on to the top of and down one side of each strawberry to cream the Santa’s head and beard

5 Place the top of the strawberries back on to each Santa and add some extra cream to the top of the strawberry and front to create the Santa’s buttons and bauble

6 Cut some sections off of a blackberry and use 2 bits on each strawberry to create the Santa’s eyes

7 Serve

 

Chocolate reindeers

10 strawberries

200g of milk chocolate

10 pretzels

Black and red icing pens

1 Melt the chocolate in the microwave, stirring regularly

2 Dip the strawberries in the chocolate, ensuring they are completely covered

3 Break the pretzels in half and push one into each side of the strawberry to create antlers

4 Place the strawberries in the fridge for 10-15 minutes to allow the chocolate to harden

5 Use a black and red icing pen to create the reindeer’s eyes and nose

6 Serve

Both of these recipes will make 10 Santas and reindeers.

If you have got a weird recipe that you would like me to try email me. Alternatively, if you have tried making this recipe, why not let me know how you got on by leaving a comment in the box below.

Happy baking!

Click here to read my Weird World of Food: dark chocolate and bacon cake blog