Your family will love these gluten-free Santa Berries (with dairy-free option). Combine pineapple pieces with sugar-free icing, cacao nibs and fresh strawberries for a festive holiday treat!

Gluten-free, Sugar-free Santa Berries

 Ingredients:

• 12 toothpicks
• 12 fresh strawberries
• 12 pieces canned or fresh  pineapple *
• 24 cacao nibs
• Icing **

* It’s easy to reduce the sugar level in pineapple by fermenting it ahead of time:

Place bite-size pineapple pieces in a mason jar. Cover with filtered water, 1/4 c. whey, and a splash of lime juice. (You may also use water kefir or kombucha instead of the whey.) Cover and allow to sit at room temperature for 48 hours.

** You have lots of options when it comes to real food icing:

1. Fresh whipped cream sweetened with sweetener alternative.

2. Whipped coconut cream or whipped coconut cream and palm shortening. (See Dairy-free, Sugar-free Frosting.)

3. Whipped cream kefir and coconut cream.

Looking for sweetener suggestions?  Check out 5 sweetener alternatives here.

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Assembling the Santas:

Prepare icing. Set aside.

Cut strawberries in half, horizontally. Place icing on the cut side of both the top and bottom halves.

Sandwich a piece of pineapple between both parts of the strawberry and secure with a toothpick.

Add cacao nibs to the pineapple for eyes.

Using a piping bag or a spoon, apply the icing to create a beard and add trim on the hat.

Serve and enjoy!