Chocolate Covered Strawberries

2/10/2020

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

If you're looking for a festive dessert to make for Valentine's Day, you really can't go wrong with chocolate covered strawberries. I wanted to make something cute and fun for Mitch, but given that I have minimal time for baking these days (Noah's naps are lasting about 20 minutes, help!), I needed something super quick and easy. Chocolate covered strawbs were the perfect solution - they only take a matter of minutes and I love that you can make them more special and fun by adding a variety of toppings. I mean... how cute did these turn out!?

A couple things to discuss when it comes to making this recipe as healthy as possible. First, the chocolate. I always use chocolate that's sweetened with unrefined sugars like coconut sugar. My favorites are from Hu Kitchen and Thrive Market. You can use either chocolate chips or a bar of chocolate that you'll chop up. Next, the strawberries. Because strawberries are listed as on #1 on the EWG Dirty Dozen list, which means that conventional strawberries are highly sprayed with pesticides (eeek!), it's important to go organic when you're buying them!

A couple recipe tips... You'll want to make sure your strawberries are totally dry before you dip them, otherwise you won't get a nice even layer of chocolate. So wash them in advance and let them dry before dipping.

For the toppings, get creative and mix it up with a few different ones! I love them with some chopped nuts like pistachios, walnuts, or pecans, some dye-free rainbow sprinkles (like these), mini chocolate chips, shredded coconut, and flaky sea salt. 

Wondering what the best way is to melt the chocolate? After too many times burning chocolate in the microwave, I've found the best way is in a double boiler, or a make-shift double boiler if you don't have one, like me! Here's how:​

• Fill a small pot halfway full with water and bring it to a low boil. Reduce to a simmer.
• Place a large heat-proof glass bowl on top of the pot. You don't want the water in the pot to touch the bowl, so pour some out if necessary. 
• Add the chocolate chips or a chopped up chocolate bar to the glass bowl with 1 tbsp coconut oil and stir every minute or so until melty and smooth. Remove from heat and get dipping right away!

Ingredients
1 lb organic strawberries, cleaned and dried
1 chocolate bar, chopped (or about a cup of chopped chocolate or chocolate chips)
1 tbsp coconut oil
Toppings: get creative! Try chopped nuts, shredded coconut, flaky sea salt, mini chocolate chips, rainbow sprinkles

1. Melt the chocolate. Either melt with the double-boiler method mentioned above with 1 tbsp coconut oil or if you prefer to microwave it, add coconut oil and chocolate to a heat-proof bowl and microwave in 30 second bursts, stirring in between. Be careful because if you overdo it in the microwave, it will burn and you'll have to start over! 
2. While your chocolate is melting, prepare your dipping station. Line a plate with parchment paper and get your toppings ready.
3. Holding the strawberry by the leaves, dip it into the chocolate, letting the excess drip off, and then place on the parchment-lined plate. Sprinkle the chocolate with your topping of choice. Repeat with the rest of the strawberries.
4. Place in the fridge or freezer to harden. It should only take a couple minutes. Enjoy!

Tip: Once the chocolate has hardened, store the strawberries in a cool location on your counter or in the refrigerator if you're not serving them until later. Best to enjoy within 1-2 days! 

Happy Valentine's, loves!