Christmas Light Strawberries: A Whimsical Christmas Party Dessert
Turn fresh strawberries into candy-coated Christmas lights with this colorful and creative Christmas recipe. Dipped in candy melts, topped with mini Reese’s caps, and placed along a green icing “string,” these sweet little strawberries look like a festive string of lights, but they taste just amazing. They’re bright and cheerful, so they make the perfect Christmas party dessert. These brightly-colored lights are going to get just as many oohs and ahhs as the displays outside. That is, if they last long enough for people to even really appreciate them.
Ingredients for this Holiday Dessert Recipe
Creating these colorful Christmas light strawberries doesn’t require anything fancy, just a few simple ingredients that come together perfectly. This Christmas recipe is all about turning familiar flavors into something playful, fun, and eye-catching for any holiday table.
- Fresh strawberries
- Vanilla candy melts
- Food coloring (red, yellow, blue, and green)
- Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
- Green icing
- Small piping bag or resealable plastic bag
- Toothpick
How to Make Christmas Light Strawberries
1. Prepare the Candy Melts
- Melt the vanilla candy melts according to the package directions.
- Once melted, divide the mixture into four small bowls.
- Add a different color to each bowl, stirring until the color is smooth and evenly mixed.
2. Dip the Strawberries
- Wash and pat the strawberries dry completely to ensure the candy coating sticks.
- Poke a toothpick into the strawberry and dip it into one of the colored candy melts, covering most of the berry but leaving the leafy top exposed.
- Place the dipped strawberries on a sheet of wax paper or parchment paper to set.
3. Add the Mini Reese’s “Caps”
- Before the candy coating sets fully, place a small dot of the melted candy on top of the strawberry near the stem.
- Press a mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup upside down onto the melted spot. The candy melt acts like glue, securing the “light cap” in place.
- Repeat for all strawberries, mixing up colors for a vibrant strand of lights.
4. Create the Icing String
- Once all the strawberries are decorated and set, pipe a wavy line of green icing onto a serving platter.
- Arrange the strawberries along the icing string, so they appear connected like a strand of holiday lights.
Tips for Success
- Dry the strawberries well. Any moisture can prevent the candy coating from sticking properly.
- Use gel food coloring for bright, vibrant hues without thinning the candy melts.
- Let each color set before moving to keep the shine smooth and the edges neat.
- If the candy doesn’t melt smoothly, try adding coconut oil, a little at a time.
- Store in the fridge if not serving right away, but allow them to come to room temperature before eating for the best texture.
Playful Variations for This Christmas Party Dessert
This holiday dessert recipe is easy to customize and even more fun to experiment with. A few simple swaps can make each batch of Christmas light strawberries feel unique, whether planning a classroom snack, a holiday party dessert, or a colorful addition to dessert trays.
- Add sparkle: Mix in edible glitter or shimmer dust for a light-catching finish that makes the “lights” truly shine on the dessert table. The glimmer looks especially magical when placed near twinkle lights or candles.
- Try flavored melts: Use peppermint, caramel, or white chocolate candy melts to add layers of flavor that fit perfectly with the holiday season.
- Switch the “caps”: Rolos or upside-down chocolate chips make adorable alternatives to mini Reese’s. Each one gives a slightly different shape and taste, letting every “lightbulb” stand out in its own delicious way.
Mix and match colors, toppings, and flavors to create a unique strand of edible holiday lights. Every version looks merry and tastes just as bright.
How to Store
If making ahead, store the dipped strawberries in a single layer on a parchment-lined tray in the refrigerator. Cover loosely with plastic wrap. They’ll stay fresh for up to 24 hours. Just note that the candy coating can start to sweat slightly when cold, so serve soon after removing them from the fridge.
A Fun and Easy Christmas Treat for Kids
Christmas light strawberries make an adorable addition to any holiday menu, especially since these treats are colorful, sweet, and full of personality. The bright candy coating and playful “string of lights” design immediately catches kids’ attention, turning dessert time into a cheerful experience.
They’re perfect for classroom celebrations, family gatherings, or Christmas movie nights where everyone wants something that looks just as fun as it tastes. The best part is how approachable they are; easy to serve, easy to enjoy, and delightfully eye-catching on any dessert table. This Christmas treat for kids combines whimsy and sweetness in the most colorful way possible. Bright and fun, this is one Christmas recipe that proves that even the smallest treats can shine bright.
Liked This? You May Also Like…
- Egg Carton Tree Sensory Bin: A Hands-On Winter Wonderland for Learning and Play
Create a fun and educational winter activity with an Egg Carton Tree Sensory Bin! Perfect for toddlers and preschoolers to explore textures, colors, and imaginative play. - Spread Smiles All Year Long with These Adorable Seasonal Lunch Box NotesBrighten your child’s day with these seasonal holiday lunchbox notes—a fun and easy way to add joy, encouragement, and festive cheer to every meal! This collection of printable holiday lunchbox notes includes designs for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Halloween, Easter, and more, making it perfect for school lunches, snacks, or surprise notes at home.
- Wooden Gingerbread Keepsake Craft: A Christmas Craft That Lasts for YearsCreate a wooden gingerbread keepsake craft that lasts for years. Paint a board measured to your child’s height and decorate for a Christmas craft to treasure.
- Gingerbread Dip Recipe: An Easy and delicious Christmas Dessert IdeaGingerbread dip offers a no bake Christmas dessert idea. It’s a simple gingerbread treat idea kids enjoy helping with and sharing during holiday celebrations.
- Reindeer Bait Sensory Bin: A Nature-Inspired Christmas Activity for KidsReindeer bait sensory bin creates a nature-inspired Christmas activity for kids. This setup encourages storytelling, scooping, and imaginative holiday play.
- Fizzy Candy Cane Experiment: A Fun and Easy STEM Christmas Activity for KidsFizzy candy cane experiment creates peppermint-scented bubbles that spark curiosity. A Christmas science experiment that adds excitement to holiday learning.
- Candy Christmas Trees: An Edible Holiday Activity for KidsStack Rolos, Reese’s, and Hershey’s Kisses to make adorable candy Christmas trees! It’s an easy and fun Christmas fine motor activity for kids.
- Snow Globe Sensory Bottle: A Sparkly Winter Calm-Down Craft for KidsCreate winter magic with this calming Snow Globe Sensory Bottle! Perfect for toddlers, preschool, and kindergarten, this easy DIY sensory bottle encourages sensory exploration, mindfulness, and calm-down time. Great for winter activities, Christmas sensory play, calm-down corners, and early childhood learning centers. A simple, sparkly craft kids will love!
- Gingerbread Literacy Activities for the Holiday SeasonBring holiday magic to your literacy block with these Gingerbread Literacy Task Cards! Kids will love the gingerbread theme while strengthening letter sounds, sight words, and early literacy skills. Great for December centers, guided reading groups, winter classroom activities, and hands-on Christmas phonics practice. Perfect for teachers and homeschoolers!
