2 pints strawberries
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese softened
¾ cup powdered sugar
¼ teaspoon almond extract
¼ cup semisweet or dark chocolate chips
½ teaspoon shortening
Wash and dry strawberries. Set aside. Combine cream cheese, powdered sugar and almond extract in a mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Using a sharp knife cut the strawberries from the tip almost to the stem in the middle of the berry. Make another cut cross-wise, creating an “X”. Be careful not to cut all the way through the strawberry. After all the berries are cut Use a decorating bag filled with the cream cheese mixture to gently pipe it into the strawberries. I used a plastic sandwich bag with the tip cut off one corner to show it can be done if you don’t have a pastry bag. I also did the chocolate this way.
Melt the chocolate and shortening in a glass measuring cup in the microwave on ½ power. Chocolate burns easy so be sure to use ½ power. Place the chocolate in a sandwich bag with a small piece of the corner cut off and drizzle it on the strawberries. Place the strawberries in the refrigerator for a few minutes to harden the chocolate and serve.
These are a wonderful treat for Valentine’s Day but are good any day of the year as well!!!
KEEP SMILING!
My Own Little Corner 