The Ultimate Guide to Making Perfect Chocolate Covered Strawberries: An Easy & Romantic Recipe
Elevate your special occasions, from a romantic Valentine’s Day to a casual weeknight treat, with the timeless elegance of classic Chocolate Covered Strawberries. This delightful dessert is universally loved, offering a sweet indulgence for all ages, with an exciting optional twist for adults!
Imagine juicy, ripe strawberries enveloped in a smooth, rich chocolate shell – a truly irresistible combination. This guide provides everything you need to create these exquisite treats at home, complete with creative topping suggestions and a fun, **OPTIONAL** cheeky addition to pre-soak your strawberries in your favorite booze. We’ve ensured all bases are covered, guaranteeing a memorable dessert for you and your loved ones to enjoy. Best of all, a batch of these beauties can be ready in just 15 minutes of active prep time!
Want to take your dessert experience up a notch? Pair these decadent chocolate-dipped strawberries with a chilled glass of homemade creamy eggnog. The luscious, spiced drink complements the rich chocolate and the fresh, tart berries perfectly, creating a sweet, cozy, and just a little bit naughty symphony of flavors. It’s an ideal combination for a romantic evening or a festive gathering.
Why Chocolate Covered Strawberries are the Ultimate Romantic Dessert
Is there any dessert more intrinsically linked with romance and indulgence than chocolate covered strawberries? While perhaps Champagne soaked strawberries offer a different kind of allure, the classic chocolate-dipped version holds a special place in our hearts. They stand proudly alongside other legendary chocolate desserts like a rich chocolate cake, warm molten lava cakes, or a silky double chocolate mousse.
This exquisite pairing of fruit and chocolate isn’t just a modern trend. Its origins trace back to ancient times, embodying both indulgence and sophistication. The historical connection between strawberries and lovers dates back to Ancient Rome, where the vibrant red berry was revered as a symbol of Venus, the goddess of love. This rich history, combined with their alluring appearance and delightful taste, makes chocolate covered strawberries the quintessential romantic gesture, perfect for expressing affection or simply treating yourself to a moment of pure bliss.
How to Make Perfect Chocolate-Covered Strawberries: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide
You might be surprised at just how incredibly simple it is to make professional-looking chocolate covered strawberries right in your own kitchen. The process is so straightforward that it barely needs a full recipe card, yet we’ll walk you through each critical step to ensure perfect results every time. Follow these easy steps to create your own batch of irresistible treats:
- Prepare Your Strawberries: Begin by gently rinsing your fresh strawberries under cool water. This removes any dirt or residue. The most crucial step here is to thoroughly pat them dry with paper towels. Any residual moisture on the strawberries will prevent the chocolate from adhering properly, leading to a frustrating experience. Ensure they are completely dry, from the berry itself to the stem, before moving on.
- Melt Your Chocolate: For the chocolate, combine your chosen chocolate (more on the best types below) with a touch of coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in short, 30-second intervals, stirring vigorously between each interval. This gradual melting process prevents the chocolate from burning and ensures a smooth, consistent texture. Alternatively, for a more traditional and refined approach, you can melt the chocolate using a double boiler method over simmering water, stirring until glossy and fully melted.
- Dip the Strawberries: Once your chocolate is perfectly melted and smooth, it’s time for dipping. To keep your fingers and nails clean and to get a more even coating, gently pierce the stem-end of a dry strawberry with a fork. Submerge the strawberry into the melted chocolate, rotating it to coat evenly.
- Remove Excess Chocolate: Carefully lift the strawberry just above the bowl and gently twist it a couple of times. This allows any excess chocolate to drip off, ensuring a thin, even coating that sets beautifully and avoids pooling at the bottom.
- Set and Chill: Immediately after dipping and shaking off the excess, place the chocolate covered strawberry on a pan lined with waxed paper or parchment paper. This prevents the chocolate from sticking. Repeat this process with all remaining strawberries. Once all strawberries are dipped, transfer the pan to the refrigerator to chill until the chocolate has fully set and hardened.
Cheeky Bonus: Adult-Only Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
For those looking to add a little extra “kick” to their dessert, this optional R-rated bonus takes your chocolate covered strawberries to a whole new level of sophistication and fun. Infusing the berries with your favorite spirits creates a delightful boozy surprise with every bite. Here’s how to prepare these special adult treats:
- Soak the Strawberries: Place your fresh, clean strawberries in a large bowl. Pour your alcohol of choice – champagne, vodka, Kahlua, brandy, rum, or even a sweet dessert wine – into the bowl, ensuring the strawberries are completely covered. The type of alcohol you choose will significantly impact the final flavor, so pick one that complements chocolate and berries well.
- Refrigerate for Infusion: Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or for up to 6 hours for a more pronounced flavor. Do not exceed 6 hours, as the strawberries can become overly soft.
- Drain and Dry Thoroughly: After soaking, drain the strawberries in a colander, making sure to reserve the alcohol if you plan to use it for future cocktails or other culinary endeavors. This step is critical: thoroughly pat dry each strawberry with paper towel. Just like with regular chocolate covered strawberries, any moisture will prevent the chocolate from sticking. This step is even more important with alcohol-soaked berries.
- Dip in Chocolate: Once completely dry, proceed to melt your chocolate as directed in the main recipe above and continue with the standard chocolate dipping process. The slightly boozy, sweet strawberry will be a delightful surprise encased in rich chocolate.
Should I Refrigerate Chocolate Covered Strawberries Overnight?
Yes, absolutely! Refrigeration is essential for ensuring the chocolate sets properly and maintains its crisp, firm shell. After dipping, allow your chocolate covered strawberries to set in the refrigerator for about 15-30 minutes. This period is usually sufficient for the chocolate to harden completely.
For the best eating experience, however, we recommend removing them from the refrigerator about 10-15 minutes before serving. This allows the berries to lose their initial chill and the chocolate to soften just slightly, bringing out a more intense flavor and a more pleasant texture. We find that our chocolate covered strawberries taste best when they are closer to room temperature, typically after about 30 minutes out of the fridge, offering a delightful contrast between the cool, juicy strawberry and the melty chocolate.
To Decorate and Personalize Your Chocolate Covered Strawberries
While a simple chocolate coating is delicious on its own, adding decorations can elevate the visual appeal and add extra texture and flavor. Drizzling with additional chocolate is a classic and elegant touch, but don’t stop there!
Simple Drizzle: To achieve an elegant zig-zag pattern, melt any remaining leftover chocolate (or a small amount of fresh chocolate if needed). Dip the tip of a fork or a small spoon into the melted chocolate and drizzle it artfully over the coated strawberries. For striking contrast, use white chocolate drizzle over dark chocolate-dipped berries, or vice versa.
Creative Toppings: After dipping the strawberries in the main chocolate, but before it fully sets, you can immediately roll or dip them into various toppings. Consider:
- Crushed Nuts: Finely chopped almonds, pistachios, walnuts, or pecans add a satisfying crunch.
- Mini Chocolate Chips or Shavings: For an extra dose of chocolate goodness.
- Coconut Flakes: Toasted or untoasted, for a tropical twist.
- Sprinkles: Rainbow sprinkles for a festive look, or themed sprinkles for holidays.
- Crushed Cookies: Oreos or graham crackers for a unique texture and flavor.
- Sea Salt: A tiny sprinkle of flaky sea salt can beautifully enhance the chocolate’s richness and balance the sweetness.
After decorating, let your masterpieces set in the refrigerator for a further 30 minutes, or until all coatings are firm. These personalized touches make your homemade treats even more special and impressive!
What is the Best Chocolate for Dipping Strawberries?
The choice of chocolate is paramount to the success and flavor of your chocolate covered strawberries. For the most balanced and universally appealing taste, I highly recommend using a 50/50 combination of high-quality semi-sweet chocolate and milk chocolate. This blend offers the perfect balance of sweetness and cocoa bitterness, creating a rich flavor profile that complements the natural tartness of the strawberries beautifully. Feel free to use your favorite brand of chocolate chips, baking bars, or wafers.
You can also experiment with other types of chocolate:
- Dark Chocolate: For those who prefer a more intense, less sweet chocolate flavor, dark chocolate (70% cocoa or higher) works wonderfully. It creates a sophisticated contrast with the sweet fruit.
- White Chocolate: While technically not a chocolate due to the absence of cocoa solids, white chocolate offers a creamy, sweet coating that pairs delightfully with strawberries, especially when used for drizzling or creating a two-tone effect.
- Ruby Chocolate: For a truly unique and visually stunning option, consider ruby chocolate, which has a natural pink hue and a fruity, slightly tart flavor profile that beautifully complements strawberries.
Ultimately, the “best” chocolate is the one you enjoy most, but a good quality chocolate will always yield superior results in terms of flavor and melt consistency.
Do I Need to Use Coconut Oil in the Chocolate?
While you can melt chocolate on its own, adding a small amount of coconut oil is highly recommended for achieving the best results. The addition of coconut oil to your melted chocolate offers several key benefits, enhancing both the setting process and the final texture:
- Smoother Consistency: Coconut oil helps thin out the melted chocolate slightly, making it smoother and easier to dip the strawberries evenly. This results in a beautifully uniform coating.
- Quicker and Harder Set: It allows the chocolate to set and harden more quickly and with a slightly thicker, more stable shell than plain melted chocolate. This effect is similar to a “magic shell” – it creates a satisfying snap when you bite into it.
- Enhanced Gloss: The coconut oil also contributes to a lovely, shiny finish on your chocolate covered strawberries, making them look even more appealing.
- No Added Flavor: Rest assured, coconut oil is used purely for its textural and setting properties. In these small quantities, it doesn’t impart any noticeable coconut flavor to the chocolate, allowing the natural flavors of the chocolate and strawberry to shine through.
So, while not strictly mandatory, including coconut oil will significantly improve the overall quality and ease of making your chocolate covered strawberries, resulting in a more professional-looking and satisfying treat.
How Far in Advance Can I Make Chocolate Covered Strawberries?
For optimal freshness and taste, it is best to prepare chocolate covered strawberries no more than a day in advance. Strawberries are delicate and can start to weep or soften over time, especially when coated in chocolate, which traps moisture. Making them the day before ensures they are still fresh, firm, and absolutely delicious for your event or romantic gesture. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator to keep them at their peak quality.
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Chocolate Covered Strawberries
BONUS: An adult version with booze is included!
Ingredients
- 5 ounces semisweet chocolate broken into smaller blocks or chopped
- 5 ounces milk chocolate broken into smaller blocks or chopped
- 2 teaspoons coconut oil
- 2 pounds strawberries with stems, about 20 strawberries
Instructions
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Line a sheet pan with parchment or wax paper. Set aside.
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Wash strawberries and thoroughly pat dry with paper towel. (The chocolate will not stick if the strawberries are not dried well).
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In a microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate and coconut oil. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until completely melted.
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Pierce the stem-end of a strawberry with a fork and dip strawberry into the melted chocolate. Lift strawberry just above the bowl and twist around a couple of times to let excess chocolate drip off. Place strawberry on lined pan and repeat with remaining strawberries.
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Chill until the chocolate sets, about 15-30 minutes.
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To drizzle strawberry with extra chocolate for effect: Melt remaining leftover chocolate, if needed. Dip the tip of a fork into the chocolate and drizzle in a zig-zag pattern over the dipped strawberries. Let set in the refrigerator for a further 30 minutes, or until set.
Notes
WHAT CAN YOU PUT ON CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES?
For additional ideas to coat strawberries, dip strawberries into melted chocolate as above, then dip into crushed nuts, mini chocolate chips, chocolate flakes or coconut flakes.
FOR ADULT CHOCOLATE DIPPED STRAWBERRIES:
- Place strawberries in a large bowl. Pour alcohol of choice (champagne, vodka, Kahlua, brandy, etc) into bowl to completely cover strawberries.
- Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 6 hours.
- Drain strawberries in a colander, reserving alcohol for future use. Thoroughly pat dry strawberries with paper towel.
- Melt chocolate as directed above and continue with recipe.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.