Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Chocolate Covered Strawberries: A step-by-step guide for making the most amazing chocolate covered strawberries. How to make them look good, taste good, last longer, and work better, so you can make them yourself, rather than buy them.
We love chocolate at our house, from Rich Chocolate Cake, to Decadent Chocolate Lava Cakes, but when it comes to easy to make, amazing bite sized dessert, it doesn’t get easier or better than chocolate covered strawberries! Plus they make the perfect gift for Valentine’s Day or an anniversary, or just because! Aren’t edible gifts just the best?
Think about this: fresh strawberries covered in rich chocolate and finished off with a topping of your choice, makes this dessert simple, but perfect.
Add that to the fact that you can make Chocolate Covered Strawberries at a moment’s notice, since they can be done (start to finish if your berries are already cleaned and dried) in under 20 minutes. Or you can make them ahead of time, since storing Chocolate Covered Strawberries is easy.
This Chocolate Covered Strawberries recipe makes for the perfect dessert, Valentine’s Day gift, wedding shower treat, and more.
Once you realize that how to make chocolate covered strawberries is easy and cheaper than store bought covered strawberries, you will want to make this treat for any and every occasion. Even a Taco Tuesday!
How to Make Chocolate Covered Strawberries:
Chocolate covered strawberries are easy to make, but taking the right steps and precautions can make them even better. So let’s take a look at the steps, and then go into detail for each one so you can make fool-proof, perfect, beautiful chocolate covered strawberries:
- Wash and dry berries
- Melt Chocolate
- Dip berries
- Decorate
- Enjoy!
It is just that simple. But with a few simple tricks, you can get amazing berries that look store bought!
Wash and Dry Strawberries:
Washing and drying your strawberries seems like an obvious step, right? However, don’t skimp on either process.
Wash strawberries thoroughly with a quick fruit wash made up of water and vinegar. Why?
- I like to pretend that we live in a world of picking strawberries right off the vine and eating immediately. Unfortunately we live in a world of fruit often being sprayed with pesticides and strawberries is definitely one of those fruits where this is a common practice.
Once washed, you want to make sure that your strawberries are completely dry.
I mean completely.
No little droplets of water should be left on the strawberries.
If strawberries have water on them still:
- The chocolate coating won’t adhere to the strawberry.
- The chocolate can become compromised in the process.
- The strawberries will “weep” after they are covered in chocolate, and go bad faster.
Before you shun strawberries all together, strawberries are still a great fruit. Just do a little prep work and wash and dry thoroughly.
How To Wash and Dry Strawberries:
When? Wash Strawberries Once Ready to Use, Not Beforehand.
Washing strawberries days in advance is not a good idea. It decreases their shelf life. Wash when ready to use.
How? Wash Strawberries with Cold Water and Vinegar.
Soak strawberries in a bowl of water and vinegar:
- Half gallon of water
- 1 tbs of vinegar
Vinegar will help more thoroughly clean your strawberries than just rinsing with water, and can help prolong their life.
Soaked strawberries for a little while (at least 5-10 minutes, ideally about 20 minutes), then rinse with cold water.
Thoroughly Dry the Strawberries.
As previously mentioned, we don’t want any little droplets left on the strawberries.
- Pat strawberries dry with a dish towel or paper towel.
- Transfer strawberries to a dish towel and continue to air dry.
- Once completely dry, they are ready to be covered with chocolate.
Follow these simple steps and you have set yourself up for chocolate covered strawberry success.
How To Melt Chocolate for Making Chocolate Covered Strawberries:
Melt chocolate in a microwave or use the stove top method. Either way works great, so go with the method that is most appealing to you.
Melting Chocolate Options:
-
- Microwave
- Double broiler
- Homemade version of a double broiler
Microwave Method:
- Place chocolate in microwave safe bowl
- Microwave at half power, for 30 seconds.
- Then stir and heat for another 30 seconds.
- Stir, and continue doing this until melted.
Double Broiler Method:
- Fill the bottom of a double-boiler with water (1-2 inches) and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.
- Add all the chocolate into the top of the double-boiler and set the top over the simmering water.
- Let the chocolate melt, stirring regularly, until there are no more lumps.
- Remove the top of the double broiler/bowl with the chocolate from heat.
Homemade Double Broiler Method:
- Put semi sweet chocolate chips into heatproof medium bowl.
- Fill a saucepan with a couple of inches of water and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
- Then turn off the heat and set the bowl of chocolate over the water to melt.
- Stir until smooth.
Tip: Make sure to wash the strawberries first before melting the chocolate. This way the strawberries can finish up drying while the chocolate is melting, opposed to washing the strawberries afterwards and the chocolate hardening while waiting for strawberries to dry.
Dipping the Strawberries
Now is the fun part, your chocolate is ready, your strawberries are ready, so now comes the fun part!
- Set up a cookie sheet, and line with parchment or wax paper.
- Set melted chocolate and strawberries out.
- Dip each strawberry, and let excess chocolate drip off back into the bowl.
- Place on parchment/wax paper to let set up.
How To Decorate Chocolate Covered Strawberries:
Maybe this is actually the fun part. No two strawberries in your batch of Chocolate Covered Strawberries has to be the same.
There are so many topping options that each strawberry can have its own flavor and flare if you want. So have fun with it.
Chocolate Covered Strawberry Decorating Ideas:
The Purist.
Keep it simple and straight to the point and dip your strawberries in chocolate and end the process there. The combination of chocolate and strawberries is great on its own and extra toppings are not a requirement for a great chocolate covered strawberry. This is a particularly good way to have your strawberries if the berries themselves are really pretty and have a lot of greenery on top.
The Drizzle Effect.
Add a subtle bit of extra flavor and drizzle Chocolate Covered Strawberries with a little bit of white chocolate or a darker chocolate. Yummy, yummy. Pretty and tasty!
Tip: Add melted chocolate into a zip top bag, and snip the end for a nice, even drizzle.
Toppings Galore:
Dip each chocolate covered strawberry into a different topping that speaks to you. While the chocolate is still wet, you can dip or roll the berry (or sprinkle) a topping onto them. Here are a few ideas:
- Crushed Candy
- Chopped Nuts
- Toasted Coconuts
- Crushed Oreos
- Colored Sugar
- Sprinkles
- Crushed Graham Crackers
So many choices and so little time. Chocolate Covered Strawberries is such a fun little treat because you can definitely let your own personality shine though with all the different decorating ideas.
Tips For Making Chocolate Covered Strawberries:
- Don’t Use Overripe Strawberries. If strawberries are too ripe they won’t hold up well as a chocolate covered strawberry.
- Don’t Underestimate the Importance of Strawberries Being Completely Dry. If there is any water left on the strawberries the chocolate won’t bind to the strawberries. Plus water dripping into the chocolate can hurt the chocolate coating as well. Drops of water can also make your chocolate seize up and become grainy as you dip.
- Use a Toothpick in Styrofoam when Strawberries are Cooling. No one wants smudged chocolate covered strawberries or you may not want strawberries with flat bottoms. Prevent this from happening by turning the strawberries upside down and inserting toothpicks into a piece of styrofoam for easy cooling.
- Use Paraffin or Shortening in Chocolate if Chocolate is Having Trouble Melting. If chocolate isn’t melting well, a trick is to add paraffin or shortening to the chocolate to help assist in this process.
- Hold Stem of Strawberry When Dipping in Chocolate. By holding the stem of the strawberry you can keep your hands away from the part of the strawberry that is being dipped, preventing smudges and uneven coverage.
Do these 5 simple tips and you will have a great chocolate covered strawberry experience.
Can You Make Them Ahead?
Chocolate Covered Strawberries look their best and have the sharpest appearance the day they are made. However, don’t fret my friend they can be made ahead.
How to Store:
- Store strawberries in an airtight container in the fridge.
- Line the bottom of the container with a clean paper towel to help prevent moisture accumulating on strawberries while storing.
Note: Don’t expect stored chocolate strawberries to look as shiny and nice as fresh strawberries.
In a nutshell, for best results make Chocolate Covered Strawberries when you want them for best results. However, they will still be delicious if made ahead of time and stored.
Chocolate Covered Strawberries Really Are Just The Best!
Fresh, delicious strawberries covered with decadent chocolate and topped with your favorite topping, provides a party in your mouth with each and every bite. Chocolate Covered Strawberries is an easy, yet fancy treat that is great for Valentine’s Day, a party, a gift, or just to simply satisfy a sweet tooth craving. They make for the perfect romantic treat or can be made for a fun outing or event.
Other Fun Recipes to Try:
- White Chocolate Strawberry Mini Cheesecake
- Red Velvet Donut Holes
- Churros
- Instant Pot Lava Cake
- Valentine’s Day Rice Krispies Treats
- Red Velvet Cupcakes
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Ingredients
- 10 ounces semisweet chocolate chopped
- 1 pound strawberries with stems about 20, washed and dried very well
Toppings:
- Toasted Coconut
- 3 ounces white chocolate chopped and melted
- Mini chocolate chips
- Sprinkles
- Chopped nuts
Wash:
- ½ gallon Water
- 1 Tbs vinegar
Instructions
Wash and Dry Strawberries:
- Wash strawberries by dipping them into a mixture of cold water and vinegar, then place on a paper towel.
- Pay the strawberries dry, and transfer to a dish towel to continue air drying. The trick to good chocolate covered strawberries is letting them dry completely before dipping, as water and chocolate do not mix.
Melt the Chocolate:
- While strawberries dry, melt chocolate using a microwave, double broiler or a homemade version of a double broiler:
- Microwave: Place chocolate in microwave safe bowl, and microwave at half power, for 30 seconds, stir, then heat for another 30 seconds, stir, and continue doing this until melted.
- Homemade double broiler: Put the semi sweet chocolates into a heatproof medium bowls. Fill a saucepans with a couple inches of water and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Turn off the heat and set the bowls of chocolate over the water to melt. Stir until smooth.
Assemble:
- Once the chocolates are melted and smooth, remove from the heat.
- Line a sheet pan with parchment or waxed paper.
- Holding the strawberry by the stem, dip them into the chocolate, lift and gently twist allow any excess chocolate to fall back into the bowl.
- Set strawberries on the parchment paper. Or dip into topping of choice: Coconut, sprinkles. Mini chocolate chips. Alternatively, sprinkle them over the strawberries, rather than dipping into them.
- Repeat with the rest of the strawberries. Leave some plain to later drizzle with white chocolate.
- Set the strawberries aside until the chocolate sets, about 30 minutes. Or chill for 15 minutes.
White Chocolate drizzle:
- Melt white chocolate using the same method as above, and once dark chocolate has begun to set, pipe or use a fork to drizzle white chocolate over the dipped strawberries.
Notes
Nutrition
Our recipe card software calculates these nutrition facts based on averages for the above ingredients, different brands, and quality of produce/meats may have different nutritional information, always calculate your own based on the specific products you use in order to achieve accurate macros for this recipe.
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Matt Taylor says
I love chocolate covered strawberries! Thanks so much for sharing this. 🙂
April says
Chocolate dipped strawberries are a major weakness of mine. These came out SO GOOD – great tips!
Laura Reese says
I’ve always wanting to make these. This recipe didn’t disappoint it was filled with helpful tips. My strawberries look beautiful. Thanks.