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Dark Chocolate Strawberries – Coating Recipe and Tips for Dipping Strawberries

Nothing appeals to me more than dark chocolate strawberries or other fruits dipped in chocolate.  They make me feel as though I am eating something healthy but also have the decadence of a rich dessert. With Christmas right around the corner, what could be a more perfect treat than these dark chocolate strawberries that you made yourself?chocolate dipped strawberries

One of the keys to perfect chocolate dipped strawberries is a silky and smooth dark chocolate coating recipe. It must be shiny and rich with a wonderful taste and just the right consistency.

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Are chocolate strawberries healthy?

Strawberries are, of course, one of the healthy foods that Mother Nature has treated us with. They are full of vitamins, naturally sweet and low in calories. But what happens when we add a normal diet killer – chocolate – to them?bar of cgicikate and fresh strawberries

Chocolate has some health benefits.  As long as we don’t overindulge in it, it can be a boost to health. Dark chocolate, in particular, has lots of antioxidants and is known to improve blood flow and lower blood pressure

They key to the healthy part is limiting the amount we eat.  Fortunately, dipping strawberries in dark chocolate is an exercise in portion control because of their size.

As long as you don’t eat too many of these dark chocolate strawberries, you can fit them into any reasonable diet plan. Using my coating mix and large strawberries, each one works out to just 43 calories!

Learn How to Make your Own Dark Chocolate coating.

A tray of chocolate strawberries can be the highlight of any dessert table. They look very festive and make a wonderful hostess gift.

The nicest part of dark chocolate strawberries is the flavor of the coating, don’t you think?

fresh strawberries

Dark chocolate coating with baking powder

You can always use baking chocolate and add some sweetener to it, but my recipe combines the flavors of organic cocoa powder, coconut milk, vanilla and stevia for sweetness. It makes a luscious coating that is to die for. 

This recipe for dark chocolate coating is easy to make and will be much cheaper than premium store bought baking chocolate, but still has loads of flavor.cocoa-powder

Which strawberries should I choose?

Chocolate strawberries purchased from a retail location can be quite pricey. But with a little bit of patience and a few simple supplies, you can have a plate of these beauties gracing your holiday or Valentine’s day dessert table.hand holding a plump strawberry

Start with plump ripe strawberries.  The bigger ones are easier to handle when you get to the coating stage. They will likely also have a larger area of green leaves which makes them easy to hold on to when you dip them.

One of the keys to dipping chocolate it to make sure the melted chocolate is the right consistency. It should be glistening and very dark with a medium thickness.  Too thick and the coating will not be delicate enough on the strawberries.

strawberries in melted chocolate Tools for dipping chocolates

If the coating is too thin, it  will quickly run off the strawberries and not stick to them. At this stage, no amount of waiting time will make the chocolate adhere to the berries. Get the consistency right from the beginning for perfectly dipped dark chocolate strawberries.

A candy dipping set is an aid, but once you have dipped strawberries a few times, you will be able to use a fork, or even just the leafy tops to hold on to.

Once the berries are dipped, a silicone mat, wax paper or parchment paper is a good way to keep them looking good until you are ready to display them.Dark Chocolate coating recipe for dipping strawberries

Mini cupcake holders are the perfect size to hold the strawberries after they have been dipped, and they add a pretty touch to your dessert table presentation.

You can find these with holiday designs on them, making the dipped strawberries easy to display for any festive occasion.daark chocolate sstrawberries in a box

I love to use these mini liners in a decorative box. They make a lovely homemade Christmas gift.

Dipping tips for dark chocolate strawberries

When you are done making the coating mixture, the next step is to dip them. Fortunately, a strawberry has its own dipping tool – the leafy top part.

Pull the leaves up and dip into your mixture and you’ll have the perfect sweet treat in just seconds.Holding a strawberry

They look pretty just dipped into chocolate with the green leaves and top red part of the strawberry showing. strawberries dipped in chocolate

This is the easiest and quickest way to dip strawberries in chocolate. It takes just minutes and you’ll have a special treat ready for your party guests. 

But don’t stop there! Once the dark chocolate has set, I love to drizzle them with some melted white chocolate for a more professional touch.

This is easily done by adding the melted white chocolate to an icing bag fitted with a decorating tip. chocolate strawberries with a white chocolate drizzle

You can even add the white chocolate to a zip lock bag and snip off the corner to make your own icing bag!

You can also reverse the colors! Dip first in white chocolate and then drizzle with the melted dark chocolate coating placed in a piping bag. Lots of color combinations are possible.white chocolate strawberries with a dark chocolate drizzle

Another creative way of combining the two types of chocolate is to dip first in dark chocolate and then dip just the tip in melted white chocolate.

chocolate strawberries dipped in both white and dark chocolate

Dipping the tips of the strawberries while the chocolate is still warm is another pretty way to decorate them.

If you have a station set up when you are dipping the chocolates, you can also easily dip the still wet tips into sprinkles for an additional bit of decoration and texture.

Bits of coconut and crushed nuts are also a good choice. 

There are also so many varieties of Christmas sprinkles that can be used to dip the tips into.  

See some more tips for drizzling chocolate strawberries here.drizzled dark chocolate strawberries.Whichever way you choose to decorate them, the result will be a healthy and decadent end to any holiday celebration. They also make the perfect romantic end to a Valentine’s day meal with your special someone!

Pin this post for making dark chocolate strawberries for later

Would you like a reminder of this post for making dark chocolate strawberries? Just pin this image to one of your cooking boards on Pinterest so that you can easily find it later.chocolate dipped strawberries How to make dark chocolate strawberries

Admin note: This post first appeared on the blog in April of 2013. I have updated the post with all new photos, more dipping tips, a printable recipe card for the coating and a video for you to enjoy.

Yield: Makes just over 1 cup - Enough for 2 containers of strawberries

Coating for Dark Chocolate Strawberries

Coating for Dark Chocolate Strawberries

Take summers fresh fruit and dip it in dark chocolate for a sweet finish that your friends will love. This coating recipe is easy to make and much cheaper than premium dark chocolate from the store.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Additional Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • Coconut Oil - 1/2 Cup
  • Organic Cocoa Powder - 1/4 – 1/2 Cup
  • Coconut Milk - 1/4 Cup
  • Dash of Sea Salt
  • Vanilla And Stevia To Taste - 1Teaspoon
  • Strawberries (or any fruit you like)

Instructions

  1. Heat the oil on med/high to a thin consistency.
  2. Next, add cocoa, coconut milk, vanilla, and the salt. It will thicken when you add the coconut milk so keep it warm while you add the stevia a little bit at a time.
  3. Once you are satisfied with the taste, take it off the heat and pour it into molds or spread on a small plate and freeze. Even if left at room temp if will harden because of the coconut oil.
  4. Melt the frozen cubes when ready to use and dip strawberries or your favorite fruit into it.

Notes

If the mixture gets too sweet, just add extra coconut milk.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

32

Serving Size:

coating for one large strawberry

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 43Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 5mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g

Nutritional information is approximate due to natural variation in ingredients and the cook-at-home nature of our meals.

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