Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries
by Leann Gibson
I love creating gifts for my loved ones in my kitchen. This was one of my Mom’s favorites.
Ingredients

- 10-15 medium-sized fresh strawberries with stems
- You can use an assortment of dark, milk, and white chocolate if you wish. You will need approximately 1 cup of each. I like to use the chocolate in chip form because it melts more evenly.
- Parchment/waxed paper and a tray
- A small Ziploc bag
Preparation
Step 1: Washing the Strawberries
- Wash the strawberries and pat dry – a paper towel works best.
- It is essential that the fruit is completely dry; otherwise, the chocolate will not stick to the fruit.
- I recommend leaving the strawberries to continue drying for an hour or so. Water and chocolate do not mix; water in melted chocolate causes it to seize and curdle.
Step 2: Melting the Chocolate
- Melt the chocolate in microwave-safe bowls. I find this to be the easiest and safest method, since different types of chocolate melt at different rates. Dark chocolate takes longer than milk and white chocolate melts the fastest.
- Choose the chocolate you would like to start with. Heat the bowl in the microwave in 15-second increments, stirring thoroughly each time because the chocolate will continue to melt as you stir it.
- As the chocolate begins to melt, you will feel the spoon move through the chocolate quickly and easily.
- Press the back of the spoon against the side of the bowl to feel any non-melted bits.
- You want the chocolate to just be melted, not hot. Overheating causes the chocolate to burn and solidify.
Step 3: Dipping the Strawberries
- Grasp each strawberry by the stem and sweep and swirl in the chocolate, tipping the bowl if necessary until it is covered to the stem.
- Lay each strawberry on the paper-covered tray, making sure that you place each strawberry about two finger-widths apart.
- While the chocolate is still wet, you can sprinkle the strawberries with toasted coconut, Skor or Heath bites, nuts, or whatever your heart desires!
- If you would like to drizzle the berries with a different type of chocolate, put the tray in the refrigerator for 10 minutes to let the chocolate set.
Step 4: Drizzling the Chocolate
There are several methods for drizzling the chocolate:
- Working with one strawberry at a time, grasp the stem while the strawberry is still on the tray. Dip the bowl of a small spoon into the melted chocolate; tip the bowl of the spoon downward as you move it back and forth above the strawberry.
- You can also pour melted chocolate into the corner of a Ziploc bag and cut off the tip of the corner. Working with one strawberry at a time, hold the cut corner of the Ziploc bag downward as you move it back and forth above the strawberry.
Step 5: Set, Serve, and Eat!
- Place the strawberries back into the refrigerator for another 20 minutes to allow them to set completely.
- Transfer the strawberries to a decorative plate or dish of your choosing.
- These are good for up to two days – not that they will last that long!
More Cooking Information
Learn more about safe cooking techniques at Cooking and Meals: Master Your Kitchen.