Dark Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

A dessert that is actually good for you? That would be dark chocolate dipped strawberries: you can indulge and not feel guilty. Dark chocolate dipped strawberries are the perfect treat for Valentine’s Day or any special occasion. Don’t spend a fortune for fancy berries off the internet; make your own, save a bundle and have fun.

Dark Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

Few can resist the classic flavor of strawberries dipped in chocolate. They’ve disappeared quickly at every event I’ve ever catered. I once made 500 for a large event. It was so much fun! A site to behold, platter after platter of gorgeous, dark chocolate dipped strawberries. A small plate for just you and your special date or dinner guests is just as impressive. The accolades you’ll receive are almost guaranteed.

Washing Strawberries

When choosing strawberries, go for larger berries that have nice green leaves or stem. That stem becomes your handle when you dip the berries. Choose organic strawberries if you can for the best flavor and reduced exposure to pesticides. Wash the strawberries in Eat Cleaner, the fantastic produce wash I've used for years. It works great for fruit and vegetables and has become a mainstay in my kitchen.

The berries must be totally dry before dipping, because water and chocolate are enemies. If they are at all wet, the water will cause the chocolate to “seize” or become an unworkable, clumpy mess. Place the berries on a tray or plate lined with paper towels while you melt the chocolate and gather your decorations.

Choosing Chocolate

For health benefits, choose dark, bittersweet chocolate. Go for a 70% - 85% rating. That percentage is the amount of chocolate solids. The higher the percentage, the more bitter and the less sweet the chocolate is (and less sugar). My favorites include is Hu or Theo with other good options being Scharffen Berger, Valhrona (at Trader Joes), and Guittard.

It you want to decorate with white chocolate, I prefer Valrhona. It has the best creamy taste in white chocolate (which isn't really chocolate). You can order these brands off the internet or buy it at many higher end grocers, some cooking stores, and sometimes Cost Plus World Market.

Melting Chocolate - Get Ready To Dip

There are two ways to melt chocolate: double boiler or microwave. I prefer the double boiler  method because it’s easier to control the viscosity of the chocolate. Either way, you want to melt chocolate slowly to minimize any graininess.

To set up a double boiler, place a large (4-5 quart or liter) saucepan over medium heat with a few inches of water. Bring to a strong simmer. Place a small to medium sized stainless steel bowl on top of the pan. It should fit just inside the pan, and the bottom of the pan should not touch the water. Turn the heat down to low.

Place chocolate in the bowl and melt slowly. Once the chocolate is almost smooth, turn off the heat and stir. It will become smooth. I find that the chocolate dips and clings the best when it is not too fluid. You will feel the right temperature.

Carefully holding the strawberry by the stem, dip the berry into the melted chocolate, rolling it around to coat evenly. Leave a little berry showing at the top. Allow excess chocolate to drip off, then turn the berry upside down for a few moments. Place the chocolate dipped berry on a parchment or wax paper covered plate or tray. I use quarter size rimmed baking sheets, an indispensible tool.

Decorating Your Strawberries – Optional

If you are going to decorate the berries, allow the chocolate to set for a minute, then sprinkle with decorations. Sprinkling works better than rolling as it’s easier to control the coverage. Sometimes you get too much when you roll them in the decorations. Do what works best for you. One good option is the Natures Colors naturally colored sugars from India Tree.

To decorate with white chocolate patterns, melt the white chocolate in a double boiler. When fluid, drizzle the white chocolate with a fork and drag a toothpick through the white chocolate in the opposite direction. You can also use a small piping bag to create an kind of pattern you want.

Allow the berries to dry and set up completely. You can place them in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. They will be the best if enjoyed the day they are made, or at the latest, the next day.

Helpful Links and Tips

How to fix seized chocolate, and tips for working with chocolate.

Chocosphere, an internet resource that is chocolate heaven! If you order chocolate in bulk, check out their website.

If you can't eat chocolate, try this Not-ella carob spread. It's delicious and a treat for people who can't eat chocolate.

📖 Recipe

Dark Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

Sally Cameron

A dessert that is actually good for you: dark chocolate dipped strawberries. They are easy and fun to make for any special occasion treat. Choose large, organic strawberries for the best flavor and a good quality, dark or bittersweet 70% chocolate. These are best enjoyed the same day, but you can make them the night ahead and refrigerate. If you are following The Daniel Plan, skip the fancy sugars.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 6 servings

Calories 236 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 12 large fresh strawberries preferably organic
• ▢ 8 ounces dark bittersweet chocolate 70%-85%, chopped coarse

Garnish Options

• ▢ Assorted decorative sprinkles
• ▢ 3 ounces good quality white chocolate for decorating

Instructions

 

• Wash strawberries and allow them to dry totally and completely on a paper towel lined plate or tray. Ready another plate or tray with wax paper or parchment to hold the dipped berries.
• Set up a double boiler. Fill a 4-5 quart saucepan with a few inches of water. Bring to a strong simmer. Place the dark chocolate in a small to medium stainless steel bowl that will fit just inside of the pan. Place bowl on top of the pan and turn heat down to low. Melt chocolate slowly, stirring occasionally until smooth. Alternatively, use the microwave at low power levels and for short amounts of time until melted.
• Carefully holding a berry my the stem, dip and roll the berry in the melted chocolate. Allow excess to drip off, then turn the berry upside down for a few seconds to set. Place the berry on the clean lined tray. When the berry has set for a minute, sprinkle with decorative sugar if desired. To decorate with white chocolate, melt the white chocolate and use a fork to drizzle lines on the berries, then drag a toothpick across the lines to create a pattern.

Notes

Note – for clean white lines, allow the chocolate to set up completely, then drizzle with the white chocolate.

Nutrition

Serving: 2berriesCalories: 236kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 3gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 4mgPotassium: 297mgFiber: 4gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 19IUVitamin C: 32mgCalcium: 32mgIron: 3mg

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