CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES
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Now you can make gourmet Chocolate Covered Strawberries right at your home at fraction of the cost. Perfect for Valentine’s Day, Mothers Day, or any special occasion these are a show-stealer.
Chocolate-covered strawberries are fancy, bite-sized desserts that we all love. But, did you know it takes only about 20 minutes to make them at home with just about 2 ingredients? So, next time you are planning to make a special dessert for a romantic dinner or looking for some exciting food gift ideas, make this beautiful dessert and surprise your loved one.
It amazes me that such a simple and easy-to-make dessert costs so much. With just a couple of tips, you can make them as good as the store-bought ones if not better.
ABOUT THE RECIPE
Chocolate-covered strawberries are an indulgent romantic dessert that can be made in under 30 minutes. They look elegant classy on a holiday dinner table or a special occasion. They are great for celebrating special days like Valentine's, Mother's day, Father's day, birthdays, or anniversaries.
The best thing about them is that they are fully customizable. Decorate them as per your preference with anything like crunchy nuts, sprinkles, or a drizzle of contrasting chocolates. Let your imagination run wild and make them as special as you want for your loved ones.
INGREDIENTS
Strawberries - Buy good quality fresh organic strawberries. They are easier to clean and use. Choose vibrantly red and plump strawberries with lush green leaves. Avoid buying bruised and blemished ones. Larger berries are preferable because they are easier to handle.
Chocolate - You may use Chocolate chips, Chocolate bars, or Chocolate melts but make sure they are of good quality. I prefer using dark chocolate bars (70% cacao) from Ghirardelli for a shiny, smooth, and dark finish.
Toppings - This is optional. Just chocolate and strawberries are a fantastic combination but you can make them look fancier with toppings of your choice. you may use anything from nuts to sprinkles to toffees.
HOW TO PREPARE THE STRAWBERRIES?
Before you proceed to make this dessert, it is important to wash and dry the strawberries. Any speck of water can ruin this recipe, which means you have to be extra careful about doing this step perfectly. Here is how you can do it:
- Place strawberries in a colander and rinse under cold water. Drain well.
- Working with one strawberry at a time gently dry with a paper towel by dabbing on the surface. Transfer on a sheet pan lined with paper towels to further dry in the refrigerator.
- Insert toothpick or skewers into the top of each strawberry to make dipping easier.
HOW TO MELT THE CHOCOLATE?
The best way to melt chocolate is to use a double boiler. A double boiler or “Bain-marie” is a culinary technique of heating ingredients over steam.
For a makeshift double boiler, fill a saucepan with about an inch of simmering water. Place a rimmed bowl with two-thirds of the chopped chocolate over the saucepan. Make sure that the bowl sits above the rim of the saucepan over the steam without touching the water. Stir with a spatula for about 2 minutes until mostly melted and then immediately remove from heat. Mix in the remaining chocolate and stir continuously until all the chocolate is melted and a little cooled. Tempering the chocolate results in a glossier finish.
HOW TO COAT THE STRAWBERRIES WITH CHOCOLATE?
Chilling the strawberries in the refrigerator before dipping will help them dry much faster. Pull back the leaves with your hand before dipping in the chocolate. Gently dip and roll the strawberry in the chocolate until fully coated, allow the excess chocolate to drip before placing it on parchment paper or a wide-mouthed mug or bottle.
Inserting a toothpick or skewer makes dipping a lot easier. if you want to remove the skewers before serving, wait until the chocolate has completely hardened. If double-dipping with two types of chocolate or using a drizzle, wait until the first coat has completely dried before applying the second coating.
DECORATING TIPS
You can skip this step because chocolate-coated strawberries are beautiful in themselves. However, for a fancier and more professional finish, you may use various toppings. some popular ones are:
- Chopped Nuts
- Sprinkles
- Sanding sugar
- Mini chocolate chips
- Toasted coconut
- Colored melted chocolate
- Graham cracker crumbs
- Crushed Oreo cookies
- Crushed pretzels
- Crushed Toffees
- Crushed candy canes
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What kind of chocolate should I use for making chocolate-covered strawberries?
This recipe is just a 2-ingredient recipe, so the quality of chocolate used goes a long way in determining the outcome. You may use any high-quality semisweet chocolate chips (brown or white), but I prefer using dark chocolate bars(at least 60% cacao) from Ghirardelli.
Should I refrigerate chocolate-covered strawberries?
Yes, refrigerating is recommended for setting the chocolate. Keep them refrigerated for at least 30 minutes but before serving it is recommended to let them sit out for a couple of minutes. Trust me you don't want to bite on ice-cold strawberries!
How can I harden the chocolate faster?
One popular method of hardening the chocolate faster and having a thicker covering is to add coconut oil with the melted chocolate. The coconut oil makes the chocolate act like a chocolate shell.
Can I melt chocolate in the microwave?
Yes, but be careful not to burn the chocolate. In a microwave-safe bowl, place chopped chocolate and heat for 20 seconds, stir then heat for another 15 seconds, and repeat until chocolate is melted.
Can I use a food color with the white chocolate?
Yes, you may use food coloring in white chocolate but avoid using water-based food coloring. Using gel-based colors is recommended.
What can I do with leftover melted chocolate?
Spread excess chocolate over a parchment paper and let it cool. Break into pieces and store in an airtight container for future use.
Can I Use Frozen Strawberries?
Unfortunately, only fresh strawberries are used for this recipe. Thawing frozen strawberries make them mushy and unsuitable for this recipe.
What is tempering chocolate?
Tempering is a method of alternately heating and cooling chocolate to stabilize it. This results in a nice shiny finish and crunchy texture.
Can I make chocolate-covered strawberries ahead of time?
Yes, you may refrigerate it uncovered overnight if making ahead. Serve about 15 minutes after removing it from the refrigerator.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS
You can serve the chocolate-covered strawberries on a fancy plate as a dessert item or wrap them in a gift box for a surprise.
You may also make a fancy bouquet as I did. Fill a mason jar with marshmallows or coffee beans or skittles/m&ms and place the skewered chocolate-covered strawberries in it like a bouquet. It looks amazing and it is also a neat way of presenting it to your loved ones.
STORING SUGGESTIONS
Chocolate-covered strawberries are best enjoyed within 1 or 2 days of making them. After 2 days, the chocolate on the strawberries will cause them to sweat and release moisture, making them soggy.
Chocolate-covered strawberries should be stored in a cool location. Store them in the refrigerator, uncovered, for up to one day.
Chocolate-covered strawberries can also be frozen. Place them on a parchment paper-lined sheet pan in a single layer, and freeze for 6 hours. Transfer to an airtight container and freeze for up to 1 month. Defrost in the refrigerator for 1 hour, do not let them completely thaw or they will be mushy in texture.
CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES
Ingredients
- 1 lb organic strawberries
- 6 oz dark chocolate bars
- optional toppings
Instructions
- Place strawberries in a colander and rinse under cold water. Drain well.
- Working with one strawberry at a time gently dry with a paper towel by dabbing on the surface. Transfer on a sheet pan lined with paper towels to further dry in the refrigerator.
- Insert toothpick or skewers into the top of each strawberry to make dipping easier.
- Fill a saucepan with about an inch of simmering water.
- Place a rimmed bowl with two-thirds of the chopped chocolate over the saucepan. Make sure that the bowl sits above the rim of the saucepan over the steam without touching the water.
- Stir with a spatula for about 2 minutes until mostly melted and then immediately remove from heat.
- Mix in the remaining chocolate and stir continuously until all the chocolate is melted and a little cooled.
- Pull back the leaves with your hand before dipping in the chocolate. Gently dip and roll the strawberry in the chocolate until fully coated, allow the excess chocolate to drip before placing it on parchment paper or a wide-mouthed mug or bottle.
- Sprinkle with nuts, crumbs, or sprinkles while chocolate is moist so it sticks together.
- For creating a bouquet, fill a mason jar with marshmallows or coffee beans or skittles/m&ms and place the skewered chocolate-covered strawberries in it like a bouquet.
Notes:
For best results use organic strawberries and dark chocolate with at least 60% cacao.
Calories
71.59Fat (grams)
3.64Sat. Fat (grams)
2.10Carbs (grams)
9.26Fiber (grams)
1.40Net carbs
7.86Sugar (grams)
6.91Protein (grams)
0.76Sodium (milligrams)
3.02Cholesterol (grams)
0.91The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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