Chocolate covered strawberries are one of the tastiest treats around. There’s nothing quite like biting into a plump, juicy strawberry that’s covered in a crunchy shell of decadent chocolate. That’s why our Chocolate Dipped Strawberries are one of our most popular products. Everyone loves this delightfully indulgent treat that can satisfy any sweet tooth.
Surprisingly, chocolate covered strawberries aren’t that difficult to make. In fact, they only require two simple ingredients (strawberries and chocolate) and a double burner to melt the chocolate. Easy peasy! Here’s a DIY chocolate covered strawberry recipe so you can make your favorite treat at home.
How to Choose the Right Chocolate and Strawberries
In order to make fabulous chocolate covered strawberries, you need to start with the right ingredients. First, you’ll need top-quality chocolate. The higher quality your chocolate, the better the end result will taste. Look for high-quality baking chocolate or baking chips. These will be easier to melt and provide the perfect coating for your strawberries. Semisweet chocolate provides the perfect blend of sweetness and chocolate-y goodness, but you can also use milk chocolate, bittersweet, or white chocolate for dipping strawberries. You’ll need ten ounces of chocolate to coat two pounds of strawberries.
To choose the perfect strawberries, look for bright red strawberries with fresh, green leaves. Choose plump, juicy strawberries. If they appear shriveled or dry, they’re starting to get old and won’t taste great – even when covered with chocolate. You’ll also need to inspect the berries for signs of mold, because one moldy berry can ruin the entire batch. When it comes to choosing the perfect strawberry, size doesn’t really matter. Just look for strawberries that are red, plump, and juicy.
How to Make Your Own Double Boiler
In order to make chocolate covered strawberries, you’ll need a double boiler or fondue pot. If you don’t have either of those tools, don’t worry. You can make your own double boiler with a heat proof glass or metal bowl and a regular saucepan.
Fill the saucepan a quarter of the way with water and bring the water to a gentle boil on the stove. Reduce the heat to simmering and set the heat proof bowl on top. The bowl should tightly cover the pot so as not to let out extra heat, and there should be a few inches of space between the bowl and the water. Now, you’re ready to melt the chocolate.
DIY Chocolate Covered Strawberry Recipe
First, wash and dry the strawberries. Make sure to dry them extra well because if you start with a wet strawberry, you’ll end up with a soggy mess. Line a baking tray with parchment paper to place the dipped strawberries on. Next, set up your double boiler following the directions above.
Add three-quarters of chocolate to the bowl, keeping a handful reserved for tempering the chocolate after it’s melted. Stir the chocolate on the double boiler constantly, until melted and smooth. Remove the bowl from heat and add the reserved chocolate to the bowl to temper the chocolate. Stir continuously until the additional chocolate has melted.
Holding a strawberry by the stem, dip into the melted chocolate. Twist the strawberry gently, letting any excess chocolate drop off into the bowl. At this point you may dip the strawberry in toppings if desired. Then, place the strawberry on the parchment paper. Repeat with the rest of the strawberries. Place the strawberries in the refrigerator and chill until the chocolate sets, about 15 minutes.
Topping Ideas for Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Though chocolate covered strawberries are great on their own, delicious toppings only enhance the experience. You can melt white chocolate in a separate bowl and use a fork to drizzle it on top of the semisweet chocolate after you’ve dipped the strawberries. Or, roll the freshly dipped strawberries into a delicious coating, such as chopped nuts, toasted coconut, sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, crushed Oreo cookies, or crushed candy canes. The possibilities are endless. If you think it might taste great, it probably will! So, give it a go and see how it comes out.
If you’re looking to skip all the hassle and inconvenience of making your own chocolate covered strawberries, don’t worry. Just order a box of our Swizzle Berries® and have them delivered right to your doorstep.
