Chocolate Covered Strawberries: Valentine’s Day Treat
Want to make something special for Valentine’s Day? Chocolate Covered Strawberries are my absolute favorite! They’re so pretty and taste amazing.
Plus, they’re actually easy to make at home. I love how sweet strawberries taste with rich chocolate. It’s the perfect combo! Your sweetheart will be so impressed when you make these.
They look fancy but don’t take much time. You can also make them just for yourself as a treat.
Once you try these homemade beauties, you won’t want the store kind anymore. The fresh berries and smooth chocolate make every bite feel special. Ready to make some magic happen?
Ingredients You’ll Need
You only need a few simple things to make these yummy treats. Check out the recipe card below for all the amounts you need.
- Fresh Strawberries: Pick berries that are firm and bright red with nice green tops for the prettiest results.
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: Good chocolate melts easily and tastes sweet but not too sweet with the berries.
- White Chocolate Chips: This is just for pretty drizzles on top if you want to make them extra fancy.
- Coconut Oil: This helps make the chocolate smooth and shiny, so your strawberries look really professional.
How to Make Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Making these is so much easier than you think! Just follow these simple steps, and you’ll have beautiful strawberries in no time.
Step 1: Prepare the Strawberries
Wash and dry your berries really well. Make sure they’re totally dry! Use paper towels to pat them. Even a tiny bit of water will mess up your chocolate and make it weird and lumpy.
Step 2: Melt the Semi-Sweet Chocolate
Put your chocolate chips and 1 tablespoon of coconut oil in the double boiler. Heat it on medium-low for 3-5 minutes. Stir it the whole time until it’s super smooth and melted with no lumps at all.
Step 3: Dip the Strawberries
Hold each berry by the green top and dip it in the chocolate. Turn it a little to coat most of the berry. Let the extra chocolate drip off back into the bowl, then put it on your parchment paper.
Step 4: Set the Chocolate Coating
Put your dipped berries on the baking sheet with space between them. Pop them in the fridge for 15 minutes. The chocolate will get hard and shiny and look SO pretty when it’s ready.
Step 5: Add White Chocolate Drizzle (Optional)
Melt your white chocolate with ½ teaspoon coconut oil the same way you did before. Use your fork to make pretty zigzag lines over the berries. This makes them look super fancy and special!
Step 6: Final Setting
Put the strawberries back in the fridge for 10 more minutes so the white chocolate gets hard. Once everything is set, they’re ready to eat! Time to ENJOY your amazing creation!
Tips for the Best Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Want perfect strawberries every single time? Here are my best tips to help you out!
- Use Room Temperature Chocolate: Cold chocolate is hard to work with, so let it warm up first before you melt it.
- Ensure Completely Dry Berries: Water is chocolate’s enemy! Even one drop will ruin everything, so dry those berries really well.
- Don’t Overheat Chocolate: Keep the heat low and stir a lot so your chocolate stays smooth and doesn’t burn up.
- Work Quickly: Chocolate starts getting hard fast, so dip your berries while the chocolate is still warm and runny.
- Let Them Set Properly: Don’t rush this part! Good chocolate should make a nice snap sound when you bite it.
Variations and Substitutions
Want to mix things up a bit? Here are some fun ways to change this recipe to fit what you like!
- Dark Chocolate: Use dark chocolate instead for a richer taste that’s not as sweet and tastes more grown-up.
- Milk Chocolate: Try milk chocolate if you like things sweeter and creamier, especially great for kids who love sweets.
- Toppings: Roll your dipped berries in crushed nuts, colorful sprinkles, or coconut before the chocolate dries for extra yum.
- Vegan Option: Use dairy-free chocolate chips to make these treats perfect for your friends who don’t eat dairy products.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this treat ahead of time?
Yes! You can make them a day early and keep them cold in the fridge so they stay fresh.
How do I store chocolate covered strawberries?
Put them in a container with a lid in one layer in your fridge for up to two days max.
Why is my chocolate seizing?
Water got in your chocolate! Make sure everything is super dry before you start melting and dipping your berries.
Can I freeze chocolate covered strawberries?
Nope, don’t freeze them! The berries get mushy and gross when they thaw out and it ruins the whole thing.
What’s the best chocolate to use?
Get good quality chocolate chips or bars with lots of cocoa in them so they melt nice and smooth.
How long does chocolate take to set?
It takes about 15 minutes in the fridge or 30 minutes if you leave them out on the counter.
Can I use frozen strawberries?
Fresh is best! Frozen berries have too much water in them, and the chocolate won’t stick right when they thaw.
How do I get a shiny finish?
That’s what the coconut oil does! It makes your chocolate look glossy and professional, like from a fancy store.
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Wash strawberries under cold water and dry them really well with paper towels so there's no water left on them at all.
- Put parchment paper on your baking sheet and set it aside so it’s ready when you need it for your strawberries.
- Put semi-sweet chocolate chips and coconut oil in your double boiler on medium-low heat and stir until it’s all melted and smooth.
- Hold each strawberry by the stem and dip it in the melted chocolate, and turn it to coat most of the berry.
- Let the extra chocolate drip off, and then put the strawberry on the parchment paper with space between each one so they don’t touch.
- Put the baking sheet in the fridge for 15 minutes so the chocolate gets hard and shiny and looks really pretty on the berries.
- If you want, melt white chocolate chips with coconut oil and use a fork to make pretty drizzle lines on the strawberries.
- Put them back in the fridge for 10 minutes to make the white chocolate hard before you serve them to everyone.
Notes
- Room temperature strawberries work best so the chocolate sticks better and coats evenly all over each berry.
- Work fast when dipping because chocolate starts getting hard really quickly once you take it off the heat.
- Keep finished strawberries in the fridge and eat them in 24-48 hours while they’re still fresh and tasty.
- Wash your berries a few hours before you dip them and make sure they’re totally dry first.
- Use really good chocolate with more cocoa in it so your strawberries taste better and look prettier.
