Chocolate-dipped strawberries, that staple of anniversaries, Valentine’s Day and cozy couple’s bistros, aren’t just a romantic, eye-catching and sophisticated treat–they taste wonderful and appeal to all ages. Don’t think, however, that specialty dessert shops and fancy restaurants are the only places that can produce high-quality strawberries dipped in chocolate. Equipped with the proper tools, ingredients and procedure, making chocolate-dipped strawberries as a homemade dessert is a simple and rewarding task.
Step 1
Wash the strawberries thoroughly, being careful not to bruise them or detach their leaves and stems. Dry them completely with a soft kitchen towel, and place them in a row on a towel spread flat on the kitchen counter.
Step 2
Cover the baking sheet with a large piece of waxed paper. The waxed side of the paper should be facing up.
Step 3
Set the microwave to defrost or to the 50 percent power setting. Place the chocolate chips into the microwavable bowl, and place the 2 tbsp. of butter on top of the chips. Heat the bowl in the microwave for one minute. Remove the bowl, and stir the chocolate and butter together. Return the bowl to the microwave and continue to heat in 30-second increments until the chocolate is melted and stirs smoothly. Pay close attention to prevent the chocolate from burning.
Step 4
Grasp a strawberry by the stem and dip it into the melted chocolate, twirling it slightly as you pull it out of the mixture to remove excess chocolate. Leave a small portion of the ripe strawberry showing above the chocolate, near the leaves and stem.
Step 5
Shake decorative sprinkles onto all sides of the chocolate-coated strawberry, if desired. Place the strawberry on the waxed paper to dry completely. Repeat the process with all of the remaining strawberries, being certain to not allow them to touch one another on the baking sheet. Reheat the chocolate mixture in 30-second increments if it begins to thicken and harden.
Step 6
Place the baking sheet with the chocolate-dipped strawberries into the refrigerator to cool completely.
Step 7
Melt the alternate color of chocolate chips, if using, in the same manner as the first set of chips. Remove the strawberries from the refrigerator, and drizzle the contrasting melted chocolate over the strawberries. Return the baking sheet to the refrigerator until the drizzled, decorative chocolate has completely dried and hardened.
Photo Credit
- Choclate covered strawberries 2 image by Pat Lalli from Fotolia.com
