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A step-by-step guide for how to make Chocolate Covered Strawberries. An easy chocolate covered strawberries recipe you can make at home!
Looking for more quick and delicious chocolate recipes? I think you’ll love my Easy Fudge recipe, Best Chocolate Cake, and my Peanut Butter Balls.
Chocolate covered strawberries make a fancy, bite-size dessert that everyone loves. They are beautiful and impressive looking, but they are also incredibly simple. They are made using three simple ingredients and are ready in about 20 minutes!
Why I Love This Recipe
- Easy. Made with 3 ingredients and ready in less than 30 minutes!
- Delicious. Bursting with the flavors of strawberry and chocolate.
- Elegant. A recognized treat that is perfect for special occasions, celebrations, and gifting. I love to make them for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, parties, and showers.
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
How to Choose Strawberries for Chocolate Covered Strawberries
For my chocolate covered strawberries recipe, I like to use the best tasting, juiciest, most delicious strawberries. It makes all the difference in the final result to me. Since strawberries do not continue to ripen once picked, be sure to choose the best strawberries you can find with these easy tips.
Color – Strawberries should be uniformly red throughout the packaging. The stem should be vibrant green. There should be minimal to no green or white areas on the fruit toward the stem as this means it is not ripe.
Quality – Check the strawberries for bruises, mold, smashed areas, and juices. I like to look on the bottom of the packaging especially. If any of these are visible, I would choose another package of strawberries.
Smell – Finally, lift the strawberry package toward your nose. You should be able to smell the signature strawberry scent.
What Chocolate Should You Use for Chocolate Covered Strawberries?
The better the chocolate used the better the final results. I have found that higher-quality baking chips or baking chocolate work best. They melt more smoothly, leave a better coating on the strawberries, and taste better.
I prefer semi-sweet chocolate, but you can also use dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or white chocolate.
I like to use Ghiradelli chocolate baking chips or Baker’s baking chocolate and always have good results.
How to Make Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Ingredients
- fresh strawberries – see my notes above on how to select strawberries.
- chocolate chips – see my notes above on what type of chocolate to use.
- coconut oil (optional) – the coconut oil keeps the melted chocolate smooth while dipping.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Prep. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper, top with a wire rack and set aside. Line another baking sheet with parchment paper to use for cooling the dipped strawberries. If using any optional toppings, place those onto individual small plates.
How to Prepare Strawberries for Dipping in Chocolate
Wash and Dry Strawberries.
Once you wash your strawberries, make sure that you dry them very, very well. Any water on the strawberry will prevent the melted chocolate from sticking to the strawberry. I recommend drying the strawberries with paper towels and then placing them on a wire rack lined baking sheet to air dry completely.
Water is the enemy of chocolate as it will cause the chocolate to seize up and become grainy.
Melt Chocolate. Add chocolate to medium microwave-safe bowl. Heat at 50% power in 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval. Repeat until the chocolate is all melted and smooth. Repeat with additional types of chocolate if making different types – white, dark chocolate, milk, etc.
How to Melt Chocolate
If you are only making a few to enjoy or for a small party, you can simply use the microwave or cooktop for melting the chocolate for dipping the strawberries. This easy method is great for making these anytime you want them! If you are making large quantities, I have found that a small fondue pot works wonderfully, too.
How to Melt Chocolate in the Microwave
Heat chocolate chips and coconut oil (or butter or shortening) in microwave safe bowl for 2 minutes on 50% power. Stir until smooth.
How to Melt Chocolate on the Stovetop (Double Boiler Method)
Fill a small saucepan halfway with water. Place on medium heat and bring to a low boil. Place an oven-proof glass or a metal bowl with the chocolate over the top of the saucepan to form a double boiler. Continuously stir the chocolate as it slowly melts. Remove from the heat as soon as it is melted to prevent it from overcooking.
Dip Strawberries. Hold each strawberry by the stem and dip into the melted chocolate. Lift the strawberry out of the chocolate and slightly twist to allow any additional chocolate to run off back into the bowl of chocolate. If you are adding any optional toppings, dip the chocolate covered strawberry into the topping and then place onto the parchment-lined baking sheet to cool and for the chocolate to harden.
Serve or store. Serve once the chocolate has hardened or store in the refrigerator. Best enjoyed within 48 hours.
How Far in Advance Can I Make Chocolate Covered Strawberries?
You will want to make a bit in advance to make sure that the chocolate has fully set before serving. I like to make them about 30 minutes to an hour in advance so that they completely dry.
They last the same amount of time in the refrigerator as other washed fresh strawberries. Generally, I recommend enjoying them within 48 hours.
How to Store Chocolate Covered Strawberries
To store. Store chocolate covered strawberries in a cool location. Store them in the refrigerator in a single layer. They are best enjoyed within 1 to 2 days of making them. DO NOT FREEZE chocolate covered strawberries.
Perfect for Gifts
These beautiful strawberries enrobed in chocolate certainly make a special gift!
Of course you’ll want to make these really close to the time you will be presenting them as a gift, following all the directions in the recipe, as well as the storage directions. When ready to package them for gifting, I like to simply place a layer of parchment paper or wax paper in a small white food box, place the completely dry chocolate covered strawberries inside, and tie a bow on the box. Let the gift recipient know the date that they are best enjoyed by. I believe they will appreciate knowing this information.
Here’s my Chocolate Covered Strawberries recipe. I know you’ll love them!
Chocolate Covered Strawberries Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pint fresh strawberries
- 1 (10-ounce) package Chocolate Chips semi-sweet, milk, or white chocolate (use a high-quality chip)
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil optional
Instructions
- Prep. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper, top with a wire rack and set aside. Line another baking sheet with parchment paper to use for cooling the dipped strawberries. If using any optional toppings, place those onto individual small plates.
- Wash and Dry Strawberries. Wash strawberries and then pat dry with paper towels and arrange on the wire rack to completely air dry to make sure chocolate adheres perfectly.
- Melt Chocolate. Add chocolate to medium microwave-safe bowl. Heat at 50% power in 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval. Repeat until the chocolate is all melted and smooth. Repeat with additional types of chocolate if making different types – white, dark chocolate, milk, etc.
- Dip Strawberries. Hold each strawberry by the stem and dip into the melted chocolate. Lift the strawberry out of the chocolate and slightly twist to allow any additional chocolate to run off back into the bowl of chocolate. If you are adding any optional toppings, dip the chocolate covered strawberry into the topping and then place onto the parchment-lined baking sheet to cool and for the chocolate to harden.
- Serve or store. Serve once the chocolate has hardened or store in the refrigerator. Best enjoyed within 48 hours.
Video
Notes
Nutritional Information
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
Does adding the shortening prevent the chocolate from turning white from blooming?
The added shortening makes the chocolate smoother and coats the strawberries more evenly.
How far in advance can you buy the strawberries?
Once the chocolate has hardened on the strawberries, Carol, they will stay refrigerated up to 3 days. I would buy the strawberries the day I make them or at least the day before. You will want the freshest strawberries for these.