Stuffed Strawberries

I served these stuffed strawberries at the Christmas party, and they were so good! They'd be perfect for a bridal shower or dinner party. They don't transport particularly well (they like to move around), so plan to fill them on-site if you're taking them out.

Stuffed Strawberries

1 quart fresh strawberries
1 package softened cream cheese
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. Cool Whip
1/2 c. confectioner's sugar
sanding sugar

Prepare the strawberries for filling by slicing 3/4 of the way through the berry, from tip to stem. You can leave the green leafy part on if you like, though it may make it more difficult to stand the berries up. If you decide to cut it off, do so before making the slice from tip to stem. Once all the berries have been prepared, place them on your serving dish. In a bowl, beat the cream cheese with the vanilla. Beat in the Cool Whip and confectioner's sugar. Spoon the filling into a pastry bag fitted with a large tip or into a large ziplock bag with a corner snipped. Use one hand to gently open the strawberry, then insert the tip of the filling bag and squeeze until berry is filled. Garnish with chunky sanding sugar. Best if chilled for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Note: Experiment with the flavors and garnishes! Try orange extract, hazelnut, lemon juice... sprinkle with chopped nuts, grated chocolate, or lime zest!