Homemade Chocolate Covered Strawberries are a ridiculously fun, simple, yet gourmet recipe for Valentine’s Day.
I have a confession: I LOVE chocolate covered strawberries way too much. I could eat a million and still want more. They’re so beautiful and are bursting with some of my favorite flavors and textures from the melted chocolate, each bite is pure magic!
There’s no reason to spend an arm and a leg on chocolate covered strawberries from a bakery or delivery service when they’re surprisingly easy to make from scratch right at home.
Be sure to watch the above video to see how these adorable romantic treats are made step-by-step. I also share some of my favorite tips and tricks and how to decorate them like a pro! Your family will think you bought these at the chocolate shop!
They’re not just a perfect Valentine’s Day recipe, but make a great dessert for any anniversary, birthdays, bridal shower, or anytime you’re craving this perfect flavor combination!
How to Make Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Overview of how to make chocolate covered strawberries:
- Rinse and thoroughly dry the strawberries.
- Melt and stir the chocolate and coconut oil together.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or grab a silicone baking mat.
- Using a toothpick, dip a strawberry into the melted chocolate.
- (Optional) Dip the chocolate covered strawberry into desired toppings or drizzle with any melted chocolate.
- Allow strawberries to set before serving.
TIP: Strawberries must be DRY before coating!
In order to make the best chocolate covered strawberries from scratch, the fruit itself must be thoroughly dried. Wash the strawberries well then dry completely, even the green leaves. I like to pat them down with paper towels then let them air dry for at least an hour. Any moisture is going to ruin the chocolate coating. Chocolate + water don’t mix well.
What kind of chocolate to use for chocolate covered strawberries?
I like to use semisweet chocolate because I find it has the perfect balance of sweetness for the strawberries. Milk chocolate and white chocolate are a little too sweet for me and it also has a lower melting temperature, meaning the coating will melt faster. You can use bittersweet or dark chocolate if you prefer!
Can I use chocolate chips for dipping in strawberries?
No, your best choice is baking chocolate. The kind you need to chop up! That’s because most chocolate chips are filled with emulsifiers and other ingredients to help them maintain their chip shape. I like to use Ghirardelli semi-sweet baking chocolate. OR, if you can find it, you can use Guittard® Organic Semi-sweet Chocolate Baking Wafers which are meant to be melted down.
Why use shortening or coconut oil in chocolate coating?
This is a bit of a shortcut which allows us to avoid tempering the chocolate. If you’d like to learn how to prepare a double boiler and temper chocolate for dipped strawberries that will stay solid at room temperature, click here for my tutorial.
This also allows us to avoid using chocolate candy melts, which aren’t really chocolate and don’t taste great. The shortening or coconut oil is solid at room temperature and helps to solidify the chocolate coating. However, the strawberries are still best served relatively cold so if it’s a warm day they’ll need to spend most of their time in the fridge.
How to store chocolate covered strawberries to make ahead of time?
Store the strawberries in the refrigerator, uncovered, for up to 3 days. Storing uncovered (NOT in an airtight container) presents condensation from forming on the chocolate. These will stay as fresh as the strawberries will, even a little longer since they won’t be sitting in moisture in the pint carton!
How to decorate chocolate covered strawberries:
- Melted peanut butter
- Melted white chocolate
- Chopped nuts (pecans, pistachios, peanuts, etc.)
- Crushed graham crackers
- Oreo cookie crumbs
- Sprinkles
Can chocolate covered strawberries be frozen?
No, they’ll get watery and mushy in the freezer.
More Delightful Chocolate Recipes:
-
1
pound
(454 grams) strawberries,
washed and dried thoroughly
-
6
ounces
(170 grams) semisweet chocolate,
chopped
-
1
teaspoon
coconut oil or vegetable shortening,
divided
-
3
ounces
(85 grams) white (and/or milk chocolate),
chopped
-
Chocolate chips, nuts or sprinkles for coating,
optional
-
Place the semisweet chocolate and 3/4 teaspoon coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each burst, until just melted. Be careful not to overheat.
-
Line a rimmed baking sheet pan with parchment paper or silicone baking mat.
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Insert a toothpick into the strawberry’s stem, pushing the leaves upward, and dip into the semisweet chocolate, coating completely. Tapping the toohpick, let the excess chocolate fall back into the bowl. If desired, dip into a shallow bowl of chocolate chips, nuts, or sprinkles. Set the strawberry on the parchment, sliding forward slightly and continue with the remaining strawberries. If the chocolate becomes too cool and firm at any point simply reheat in the microwave.
-
Place the white chocolate and 1/4 teaspoon coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each burst, until just melted. Be careful not to overheat. Remove the white chocolate to a ziptop bag and snip a very small hole in one corner. Drizzle the white chocolate over the strawberries.
-
Let the strawberries set before serving, about 30 minutes at room temperature or 15 minutes in the fridge.
I am making these for my 10 month anniversary with my boyfriend. Give me luck! They look delicious.
I’m attempting to make these tonight for the boyfriend! Wish me luck!
I just tried these and the mini chocolate chips fell right off after I rolled the dunked berries. Also the white chocolate drizzle turned out horrid lookinh-nothing like yours. I think the white chocolate cooled too fast & I snipped to big a hole?
Wow these come out beautiful and are easy to do. Thanks so much!