Strawberry Christmas Tree

This was SO MUCH FUN to make! I got the idea from our Relief Society Christmas party and thought that it would be just PERFECT for Alexi's Christmas party. It was a huge hit and I can't wait to make another one next year! Alexi's school teacher took it for her husband to use at his work Christmas party the next day (that's because no one at Lexi's party would eat it - they all said it was too pretty. Silly people!) And his coworkers at the party wanted to know if I was taking orders for Christmas! It was sure tempting to make a little extra cash, but spending the last two weeks of the holiday season with my girls doing what we want to do won out over the extra cash. That may sound crazy but I can only handle so much stress in my life right now. Maybe next year.... :))

Ingredients:

3-4 lbs (approx.) Strawberries - the freshest you can find
1 bag of white chocolate chips
1 star fruit also called carambola fruit*
1 bunch of mint (or other greenery)
1 box toothpicks
1 craft cone
wax paper

*Note: If you can’t find a carambola, you can use a 1-inch star-shaped cookie cutter to cut out a star shape from a mango slice instead. 


Directions:

- Using wax paper cover craft cone securing it with tape.
- Carefully choose strawberries with one point - this will give your tree the best appearance.
- Wash and air dry or pat dry with paper towel. Make sure strawberries are room temperature, no condensation. This will allow the chocolate to stick the best.
- Melt approx. 1/2 bag of white chocolate chips in ziplock bag in the microwave, clip small hole in the corner.
- Drizzle melted chocolate on one side of the strawberry and lay on wax paper to allow chocolate to cool and set.
- Once cooled use toothpicks in the fat or hull end of the strawberry and cover craft cone. Using larger ones on the bottom and getting progressively smaller as you work your way up.
- Slice star/carambola fruit and top the tree by using a toothpick.
- Use mint or other greenery - I used holly here - to fill in the gaps and add a little extra color.

Tips:

Use wax paper to cover the craft cone before sticking the strawberries into it. This prevents it from getting foam all over the strawberries.

Drizzle chocolate on both sides of the top strawberry so it will not matter which direction you place the tree.

Use greenery and cranberries around bottom of tree, place on a pretty plate, or in the center of large plate surrounded by other goodies/more strawberries or on a large pretty Christmas candle holder.

To reduce the toothpick size, stick the pointed end into the cone to make a hole. Remove and cut off one-third. Place the blunt end back into the hole in the cone and skewer the strawberry with the sharp end. 


I found it easier to put the toothpick in the cone first and then stick the strawberry onto the toothpick.