Chocolate-covered strawberries have been a Valentine’s Day tradition for as long as we can remember, and they happen to be one of the easiest desserts you can make at home. Keep them simple with just strawberries or chocolate or make them more complex with toppings. Whatever you decide, here are some tips for making this sweet, romantic dessert.
Strawberries
A great chocolate-covered strawberry starts with strawberries. And while giant strawberries seem like a good idea, smaller ones are usually sweeter. Look for ones that are deep red and that are about the same size. Before dipping the berries into the chocolate, rinse them in water and let them dry completely.
Chocolate
About eight ounces of chocolate will cover one pound of berries. Use chopped dark, semisweet, or white chocolate, and stay clear of chocolate chips as they don’t melt as smoothly. The best way to melt the chocolate is by tempering it. Bring a saucepan filled with two inches of water to a simmer and put a metal bowl with two-thirds of the chocolate over the saucepan, stirring until melted. Remove the bowl from the saucepan and add the rest of the chocolate. Now reheat the chocolate over the saucepan for a bit.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent dripping and sticking. Dip the strawberries in one at a time, twirling them to coat. Let the excess chocolate drip back into the bowl and place the strawberries on the paper.
Toppings
Add unique flavors and texture to the chocolate-covered strawberries with toppings like toasted almonds, pecans, peanuts, shredded coconut, cookies crumbs, sprinkles, and chocolate chips. Put the toppings on a plate or in a shallow bowl and roll the chocolate strawberry in them. Press it gently to make sure the toppings stick and lay it on the paper.
