Seriously quick Strawberry Santa Hats

Ideally I would have taken a bit more care with these, but I decided in the spur of the moment to make them for the children's lunchboxes that day.  I know most parents prepare lunchboxes the evening before, or even the week before and then freeze, but I like to do it in the morning so everything's as fresh as possible.  I think my children are more likely to eat and enjoy their food this way. 

Now if I am making something in the morning, I really need it to be quick.  This took less than 10 minutes.  It was barely more effort than preparing a normal lunchbox.  I got the idea from a little book titled Christmas Cooking for Kids, and then just did it my way. 

I always keep my dried coconuts in the freezer, it has a tendency to turn rancid, so flaked, shredded and desiccated all sit happily in the freezer.  This turns out to be a boon for this form of recipe so I would highly recommend sticking the coconut in the freezer if you feel like making this recipe, though it will work anyway.

Strawberry Santa Hats

12 white mini marshmallows
100g white chocolate
24 strawberries
1 tsp light olive oil, or other flavourless vegetable oil
1/4 cup (ideally frozen) desiccated coconut

Cut the mini marshmallows in half and set aside.

Put the coconut into a small bowl.

Break the white chocolate into pieces and place in a small microwave safe bowl (I use Pyrex).  Put it in the microwave at 50% for 1 minute.  Zap, give the chocolate a stir, and then return for 1 more minute at 50% before stirring again.  Add the teaspoon of oil and stir this through*.

Meanwhile, line a tray with baking paper and cut the calyx off leaving a nice flat base on the strawberry.

Dip the flat bases of the strawberries first into the white chocolate, allowing the chocolate to coat about 1cm of the edge of each strawberry. 

Dunk the strawberry into the cold desiccated coconut.  Place the strawberry onto the lined tray.  Continue with remaining strawberries.  The cold coconut will help the chocolate to set almost instantly.

Using a small spoon, dollop a teeny bit of the white chocolate onto the tip of the chocolate and then adhere one of the cut marshmallows to the tip.  Proceed with the other strawberries in the same way.

Store in the fridge until ready to serve or place carefully into lunchbox container to be enjoyed at recess!

Makes 24 hats
*The oil ensures the chocolate doesn't seize when the moist strawberries are dunked in it.

I have to say, I really didn't think these would be to MY taste, I am no fan of white chocolate.  I have to say though, the combination of strawberry and white chocolate with the coconut is a real winner.  The bases of the strawberries doesn't get much of a coating of chocolate because they're wet, so there isn't too much white chocolate.  Even in my haste to prepare these, they look rather cute and impressive, but with a bit of time and effort I am sure they'd look even more adorable.