How to Make Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Use sprinkles to match your party theme. There are all different colors and types of sprinkles you can select from. You can use sugar crystals, shape sprinkles or holiday sprinkles or even crushed candies or nuts. Arrange your chocolate dipped strawberries on a platter or in small paper candy cups. Package in clear cello bags and tie with a ribbon or colored twist tie. We will share how to make chocolate covered strawberries with variations.

How to Select Your Strawberries

• Although larger strawberries do make prettier chocolate covered strawberries, they are not always sweeter, especially if strawberries are not in season. If you have the option, taste one before you buy. Choose berries that have fresh green leaves and that have no soft spots or bruising on the fruit. Handpicked strawberries, fresh from a fruit stand or Costco may have stems. This is nice for presentation and they make dipping easier. If the stems vary in length, you can easily trim them to be uniform. Most store bought strawberries do not have very long stems.
• Whether you use dark, milk, or white chocolate, choose a chocolate that you like. a higher quality chocolate will contain more cocoa butter, and will be smoother and shinier when it melts.
• Plan to use your strawberries within two days of buying them for the best results.
• Chocolate covered strawberries do not last very long. They will last only one or two days in an airtight container in a cool spot. It is best to make them the day that you will be serving them. I like to put them in the fridge, because I enjoy them cold but they tend to collect moisture on them if you do so.

Ingredients

• Strawberries with green top and stem if possible (easier to hold and dip)
• Good quality chocolate
• Various Candy Sprinkles (optional)

Materials

• Parchment paper
• Small Microwave Safe Bowl, Double Boiler Chocolate pot or Wilton Chocolate Melter
• Spatula
• Silicone Brush or Small spoon to add chocolate in areas missed.

How to Make Chocolate Covered Strawberries

• Melt chocolate using a chocolate melter, double boiler or microwave safe bowl.
Heat until just melted. Chocolate should be warm not hot. Chocolate scorches very easily and will taste burnt if heated too long.
• Dip strawberry about 3/4 of the way into the chocolate and let excess drip. if you missed a spot you can add a bit with a silicone brush or small spoon.
• Place strawberry on parchment paper and sprinkle immediately after you cover it with chocolate.
Let set and harden. For quicker results and a harder coat, place in refrigerator for 20 min. Do not leave it in the refrigerator or you will get moisture bubbles on it.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries with Sprinkles

Dip in the chocolate of choice and dip in sprinkles before the white chocolate hardens. Let dry on parchment paper.

Tips for Making Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Learning how to make chocolate covered strawberries is easy but there are a few important tips that will ensure it comes out like a store bought one.

• When you are melting chocolate over a double boiler, don't let the water touch the bottom of your upper pan. Heat until only ½ of the chocolate is melted, then remove from heat and stir gently until it is all melted. The chocolate should actually be cool or tepid to the touch. If it's hot, chances are it will seize up and thicken.
When you are melting chocolate in a microwave, If you are using a microwave, keep in mind that microwaves vary, you will have to adjust the time to the strength of your microwave. Start with 30 seconds, stir well with wooden spoon, add 15 seconds as needed. It does not need to be fully melted as the chocolate will melt as you stir.
• Dark Chocolate Strawberries are also tasty but if you are decorating with sprinkles, it will stand out on white chocolate
• The metal portion of the chocolate melting pot will get hot so adult needs to be constantly monitoring if children are helping.
• Do not get any water in your melted chocolate, this will ruin it.
• Extra chocolate? Dip other fruit such as blackberries, or even dried fruit like apricots. You can also make some easy chocolate bark. Pour onto parchment paper for easy removal and add nuts, dried fruit like cranberries, mini m and m's.

Double Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Let the first chocolate harden before adding the second type of chocolate. We used a fork to drizzle the white chocolate over the darker chocolate.

Fresh Strawberries

Check for a local farm that allows kids to pick their own strawberries. We had a lot of fun and I know not all of them made it into the bucket but these were the sweetest strawberries we ever had. We had enough to enjoy fresh, make chocolate covered strawberries and strawberry jam.