No time? Enjoy 2 quick holiday treats

Time is precious during the holidays, so we’ll make this quick.

You want something fun for your get-togethers. You’ll make this quickly.

Santa strawberries

Ingredients

1 dozen strawberries

1 cup whipped cream

Handful of chocolate sprinkles

Directions

With a paring knife, cut the leafy end from each strawberry so they stand upside down evenly. Cut off the tip of each strawberry to make Santa’s hat.

With a spoon or a large icing tip, place 1 to 2 teaspoons of whipped cream on top of the strawberry base. Put Santa’s hat on top. Add a small dollop of whipped cream to the top of the hat to make a pom-pom.

Put two chocolate sprinkles in Santa’s face for the eyes.

With a toothpick, place two small dabs of whipped cream down the front of the strawberry for buttons. 

Store in refrigerator to keep cold.

Source: Leanne Bakes

Christmas tree cheese platter

Make this your way. Build either a slightly more involved version with parsley leaves or a simpler version framed by thin breadsticks, as pictured. Though this recipe uses grapes, you also can use cherry tomatoes or olives to complement the cheese cubes.

Ingredients

1 (8-ounce) package cheddar cheese

1 (8-ounce) package Pepper Jack cheese

1 (8-ounce) package Colby Jack cheese

½ of an 8-ounce package Monterey Jack cheese

(You can use any variety of cheeses you like, really.)

1 pound green grapes

1 pound red grapes

1 package fresh parsley leaves

1 (2-inch) piece of celery

Directions

Cut cheese varieties into ¾-inch cubes.

Place cheese cubes and grapes in alternating rows on a platter or cheese board to resemble a Christmas tree shape.

Arrange parsley leaves throughout grapes to resemble tree branches.

Put the celery at the bottom of the tree to create the trunk.

Tree-top options

1. Cut a piece of cheese in the shape of a star.
2. Roll 2 tablespoons spreadable cream cheese into a ball, then roll in 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley to coat.

Sources: Real Mom Kitchen and Kraft Canada