Chocolate covered strawberries are a wonderfully decadent way to get your five fruits per day. They have a gourmet taste but are really easy to make. Here’s how:
Gather 1 quart of fresh strawberries. Check each one to make sure they are not bruised nor have dark spots. Leave the stems intact for easier eating. Use toothpicks in those strawberries that no longer have stems.
Wash the strawberries carefully in cold water and rest them on a paper towel to dry. Make sure they are thoroughly dry or else the chocolate won’t adhere to them.
Line a cookie sheet with waxed or parchment paper.
Melt 12 oz of chocolate in the top portion of a double boiler. If you don’t have a double boiler, you can make one by resting a small saucepan inside a larger one that is half-filled with water. Chocolate covered strawberries taste good whether you use dark, milk or white chocolate. You can use chocolate chips or bark. You can even melt down your chocolate Easter bunny. Stir the chocolate constantly as it melts to avoid burning it.
When the chocolate is completely melted it will be creamy and smooth, perfect for chocolate covered strawberries. Carefully dip the strawberries in it, twirling around each one to ensure coverage. (Be careful as the double boiler will be hot.)
Place the dipped strawberries on the cookie sheet. When the pan is full, place it in the refrigerator or another cool place to harden. Only place them in the freezer if you intend to eat them frozen on a hot day. Frozen chocolate covered strawberries become mushy as they thaw and don’t look particularly attractive.
One variation you may want to try is the tuxedo strawberry. Use the same steps above to dip the strawberries in white chocolate. Allow them to harden then carefully dip the sides of the strawberry in dark chocolate, leaving a white chocolate stripe down the center. While these harden, put some of the melted dark chocolate in a plastic bag. Pierce a tiny hole in a corner of the bag. When the strawberries are hardened, apply three dots of chocolate on to the white chocolate portion for tuxedo buttons.
Another variation is to use white chocolate with food coloring added. If you use the same piping method described for adding buttons to the tuxedo strawberries, you can draw shapes and patterns on each strawberry. This is especially fun at Easter when you can make chocolate covered strawberry Easter Eggs or carrots (depending on the shape and length of the strawberry).
When the strawberries are done, take a few minutes to carefully present them. Use your best crystal or china plate and arrange them carefully in a circle pattern with the points facing outward. (Be sure to allow enough room for fingers to reach the stems.)
Candied strawberries like these also make a wonderful gift. Place them in a small gift box and be sure to separate them with candy papers.
Chocolate covered strawberries are fun to make and fun to eat. It’s up to you whether you want to taste test them first.
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