Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

Who doesn’t love chocolate-dipped strawberries? The sweet taste of fresh, juicy strawberries combined with rich, smooth chocolate…it’s just so good! Maybe that’s why they're a Valentine’s Day classic, whether as a romantic snack for your loved one or as a yummy dessert for the kids. Thanks to my super-easy chocolate covered strawberries recipe, you’ll find that they don’t take that long to make, it just depends on how much time you spend decorating them. It’s a bit of a labor of love, but hey, for Valentine’s Day, it’s all about the extra effort, right? I think so! 

Chocolate-covered strawberries are a delicious treat to make as an edible gift or elegant dessert at home. I love the crunchy, melt-in-your-mouth shell and the cool, sweet strawberry beneath. I especially love how easy they are to make at home — it’s an afternoon project with a result that looks fancy no matter your candy-making skills (or lack thereof)!

WHY WE LOVE THIS RECIPE

• Family-friendly recipe. Because making chocolate dipped strawberries is so quick and straightforward, it's a great recipe to make with the family.
• Delicious. The sweet, juicy goodness of the ripe strawberries combined with a crisp chocolate shell is such a tasty delight!
• Quick to make. One batch of chocolate covered strawberries can take about 20 minutes to make.
• Impressive to look at. It may look like a complicated dessert, but this chocolate covered strawberries recipe is a snap to make. With only a few ingredients, you’ll be ready to impress in no time.

INGREDIENTS

To make this chocolate covered strawberries recipe, you'll need:

• Strawberries
• Semi-sweet chocolate chips or carob chips
• Flaked sea salt
• Sprinkles
• Shredded coconut

INGREDIENT NOTES

• Strawberries: Use firm and ripe strawberries that are completely red. When preparing them, allow them to come to room temperature (take them out of the refrigerator and place on the counter for about 20 minutes).
• Chocolate chips: Semi-sweet to dark chocolate pairs well with the sweetness from the strawberries. Carob is rich in fiber and magnesium, and low in fat. I like it as a caffeine-free alternative to chocolate.
• Sprinkles: Ditch the hydrogenated oil, soy, and artificial food colorings found in most sprinkles and go with this clean, plant-based alternative from Let’s Do Organic.
• Flaked sea salt: The saltiness balances perfectly with the sweet strawberries and creamy chocolate.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

STEP 1: CLEAN THE BERRIES AND MELT THE CHOCOLATE

Wash the strawberries and spread them out on a dry kitchen towel. Next, dry each one individually with a dry paper towel. Let the fruit continue to air dry at room temperature.

Fill the bottom of a saucepan with roughly an inch of water and bring to a simmer. Next, place a stainless steel bowl on the saucepan. 

Add the chocolate chips to the bowl. Let the chocolate melt, occasionally stirring with a whisk, until all the chocolate melts.

STEP 2: COAT THE STRAWBERRIES

Line your workspace with parchment or wax paper. Next, arrange bowls filled with different toppings.

Remove the stainless steel bowl with chocolate from the heat.

Working with one strawberry at a time, pick up a berry by the top leaves and dip it into the chocolate. Swirl the fruit as needed to completely coat. Lift the strawberry out and shake gently to remove any excess chocolate. Place the dipped fruit onto the parchment paper. Repeat with the rest of the strawberries.

If the chocolate starts to cool, return it to the saucepan and warm on low heat until it melts once more.

STEP 3: ADD THE TOPPINGS

Add your choice of toppings to the dipped strawberries. I alternated between sprinkles, shredded coconut, and flaked sea salt.

Let the strawberries sit at room temperature until the chocolate sets and is dry to the touch, about one hour.

Serve and enjoy. If they are for gift giving, place them in a pretty tissue-lined box.

EXPERT TIPS

• Go for a good brand of chocolate. It might cost a little extra but the taste will be better and it’ll be easier to work with.
• Use a double boiler instead of a microwave. While melting chocolate in the microwave may be faster, you need to be very keen with it. If you don’t pause it frequently to give it a stir, it can burn (burnt chocolate has a terrible flavor). It’s easier to keep an eye on the melting chocolate when it’s in a double boiler.
• Work fast. For the toppings to stick properly, sprinkle them right after coating the strawberries with chocolate because they set very quickly.
• How to keep your melted chocolate thin and silky smooth. Add oil to the melted chocolate (it can be melted coconut oil or olive oil). This helps to keep the chocolate from becoming too thick and leaves your strawberry with a nice even coating. In addition, the oil helps give you a consistency that is easier for dipping.
• Don’t refrigerate leftovers for too long. Chocolate-dipped strawberries are fine to make a day before serving, but don’t leave them in the fridge for longer than 48 hours. If you kept them in the refrigerator too long, the strawberries might end up releasing their juice over time, making them soggy. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How do you get chocolate to stick to strawberries?

By getting rid of any excess moisture before dipping them. Make sure that you dry the berries off really well so that the chocolate can stick to the outside. 

What is the best kind of chocolate for melting?

For candy bars that snap, truffles with a shiny shell, and chocolate-covered strawberries that stay glossy and crisp at room temperature, go for chocolates with a high percentage of cocoa butter. Look for the word “couverture” on the packaging. Couverture chocolates have been specifically designed to use as a coating, with a minimum of 31% cocoa butter.

What makes chocolate covered strawberries shiny?

If you want super-shiny strawberries, add a pat of butter to your chocolate. The extra fat gives the chocolate coating an even richer flavor and a mirror-like finish. However, don’t add too much, or your chocolate covering will melt, even at room temperature.

Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. You can also stay in touch with us through social media by following us on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook!

Print

TRY THESE DESSERT RECIPES NEXT:

• First, try my blackberry tart recipe. Made with fresh berries and a homemade crust shell, you’ll fall in love with this beautiful dessert.
• Also, have a go at my poached pears recipe that makes an elegant dessert. It will impress your quests and won’t overpower your dinner spread.
• Finally, try my vegan peach coffee cake with streusel topping recipe. It’s a tender, fluffy and moist cake with a delicious streusel topping. In between you’ll find scattered peach pieces. So refreshing and yum! 

Natural Kitchen Cooking School, LLC participates in the Amazon Associate program. This means that we may receive a small commission for purchases made through links in this post. Thank you for your support of the work we do here at Natural Kitchen Cooking School!