Chocolate strawberries are a tempting, luxury-style treat for any special occasion. Whether it’s Valentine’s Day, a birthday, Mother’s Day, or just because, people love to receive this special sweet treat. However, they’re pretty expensive to buy. But good news! They’re surprisingly easy (and fun!) to make yourself. This post and video will show you the easiest way to make perfect chocolate strawberries. I’ll walk you through the process step-by-step.
There is something so special about making a homemade gift. Friends and family always appreciate it when you’ve taken the time to make something special from the heart. Who wouldn’t love to receive a gorgeous box of homemade chocolate dipped strawberries? These luscious treats are scrumptious, gluten free, and can easily be made vegan or dairy free using dark chocolate. It’s a sweet, simple yet elegant treat that almost anybody can enjoy.
In some specialty stores and gourmet markets, a dozen of these gourmet strawberries will cost you upwards of $50. No need to spend the money when you can make them at home for a quarter of the price! As we approach spring berry season, the grocery stores and farmer’s markets will be teeming with luscious red berries.
In fact, you can even buy the extra large long stemmed berries for a few dollars more. This will make your strawberries look ultra fancy!
What is the Best Chocolate to Use for Strawberries?
You can use semisweet chocolate, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate for your chocolate-covered strawberries. All of these options will taste great! To make your strawberries vegan, use dairy free dark chocolate for dipping. I have provided instructions for all types of chocolate below. No matter which variety you use, be sure to choose a higher quality chocolate for the best flavor.
How Do You Get Chocolate to Stick to Strawberries?
Your strawberries must be clean, but also totally dry before dipping. Water and melted chocolate don’t mix well, and if there are drops of water on your strawberries, the coating won’t stick no matter how hard you try! Chocolate covered strawberries must also set in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to harden properly. While they can be served cold or room temperature, they should always be stored in the fridge. Chilled strawberries will have a crunchier chocolate shell. Room temperature strawberries will be softer to bite through, and you’ll taste the chocolate more – just remember to pop any uneaten strawberries back into the fridge.
Do You Need a Double Boiler to Make Chocolate Strawberries?
Double boilers are helpful contraptions for providing low heat and steady, even warmth, especially when melting delicate items like chocolate. However, if you don’t happen to have a double boiler, you can easily make your own with a heat-safe glass bowl and saucepan. Fill your saucepan with 2 inches of water and bring to a gentle simmer. Reduce heat to low, then place your heatproof bowl on top. The bowl should be covering the pot tightly without space around the edges, and there should be some space between the bottom of the bowl and the surface of the hot water. Place your chocolate in this bowl, and you can gently melt it by stirring over the heat. There are more details in the recipe below.
Alternatively, I have provided instructions for melting chocolate in your microwave.
What Toppings Are Best on Chocolate Strawberries?
If you want to make your strawberries extra fancy, a delicious topping is key! I’ve provided instructions for drizzling the dipped strawberries with white chocolate, as well as rolling them in nuts. Finely chopped pistachios, pecans, and almonds all taste amazing with these strawberries. Likewise, you can sprinkle your chocolate with a few flakes of sea salt for a sweet-and-salty effect.
Additionally, you can roll these berries in candy sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, or chocolate cookie crumbles. There are many delicious possibilities! No matter how you choose to make and decorate them, chocolate strawberries are a delicious treat that tastes totally amazing.
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Chocolate Strawberries
Ingredients
- 1 pound large ripe strawberries (long stems are best)
- 1/2 pound chopped chocolate or chocolate chips – milk, semi sweet or dark (8 ounces)
- 1/4 pound white chocolate (optional) (4 ounces)
- 1 cup chopped nuts – pecans, almonds, or pistachios (optional)
Instructions
- Rinse the berries well and pat dry (make sure they’re completely dry with no drops of water present). If there is any water on the berries, the chocolate won't stick. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or wax paper, or nonstick foil.
- Melt your chocolate. If you are using both dark and white chocolate, you will need to melt the two separately. The chocolate melts best with indirect heat– I use a double boiler pan. If you don't have a double boiler, simmer 2 inches of water in a saucepan, then place a heat-safe glass bowl in the water and melt the chocolate in the bowl.
- Alternatively, you can microwave the chocolate on 50% power power for 2 minutes (or until melted), stirring once halfway through cooking. At the end of cooking, stir– if the chocolate is not melted smooth, continue to microwave in 15 second increments till fully melted.Once your chocolate is melted, you're ready to decorate. Assemble your parchment lined baking sheet, melted chocolate, and chopped nuts, if using.
- Dip the strawberries one by one into the melted chocolate, coating them 1/2 to 3/4 of the way up. Lift and twist the strawberry as you pull it out of the chocolate, letting the excess drip back into the bowl. If your strawberries have short stems, you may use a toothpick in the stem-end of the strawberries to help you dip them easily into the chocolate.
- If you don't plan to dip the strawberries in chopped nuts, place the dipped strawberries onto the parchment. paper Do not move or touch them once you've set them down, or you will disturb the lovely chocolate shell.
- If you plan to dip the strawberries in chopped nuts, roll the chocolate dipped strawberries gently in the nuts to coat before placing them on the parchment. Finely chopped almonds, pecans, or pistachios work really well.
- After dipping the strawberries in chocolate, if you want to drizzle them with white chocolate, pour the melted white chocolate into the corner of a plastic zipper bag and seal. Cut a very small tip off the corner of the bag.
- Gently squeeze the white chocolate through the hole in the corner, drizzling the chocolate in a thin stream on top of the chocolate dipped berries, moving your hand to create artistic squiggles.
- Once your strawberries are decorated, place them in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes until the chocolate sets.
- You can serve the chocolate strawberries chilled or at room temperature. Chilled strawberries will have a nice crunch to the chocolate– room temp will make the chocolate a bit softer to bite through. Place them in a pretty tissue-lined box for gift giving, if desired.Store strawberries in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
Great recipe. Just finished making 150 chic covered with white chic swirls. 100 will be used to write “100” on display for my mother in law turning 100 tomorrow. All will be eaten for sure but wanted to use fruit to show the significant number.
Loved it was very helpful and easy to understand the steps thankyou.
I learn delicious recipe with the help of your site. I am very thankful to you I really don’t know about how to make chocolate dipped strawberries
The strawberry are delicious!!! Love them
Delicious recipe – when we make chocolate covered strawberries, I put them first in the fridge for 30 minutes – this way, melted chocolate solidifies faster.
Really great photos …
Thanks Tori, making these at kids cooking school today.
Thanks Tori, I know that about water. I was just so frustrated. I know white chocolate presents different issues than other chocolates. I just did them with semi-sweet chocolate and no issues at all. They are perfect! My friend prefers white, and I was making them for her birthday.
I’ve been frustrated with white chocolate on a number of occasions, it’s just more finicky for some reason. Glad you were able to make a pretty batch!
I need to make these with WHITE chocolate. Have choc melting in dbl boiler. Keeping it on heat. Berries are very dry. Chocolate just keeps globbing and sliding off. I want thin smooth chocolate.
Tried adding a bit of water to smooth and thin the chocolate, same results.
Beth, water should never be added to melted chocolate, it causes it to seize. I’ve found white chocolate much harder to work with than dark or milk, it doesn’t melt as smoothly. You might have better luck melting it in the microwave… just make sure to keep water very separate from the whole process.
If you will add a tablespoon of Crisco solid shortening while heating chocolate, this will make white chocolate easier to work with. Never add water to chocolate, it just doesn’t work. You always want smooth chocolate for dipping – strawberries, etc
Use coconut oil to smooth the chocolate
use butter or oil to thin
How long does it take for the strawberries to dry before dipping?
Hi Linda– do you mean, dry from rinsing? You can pat them dry with paper towels to get them completely dry, no need to wait. If you mean how long does it take for the chocolate to dry before dipping in the nuts, you shouldn’t wait– they should be rolled in the nuts while the chocolate is still wet. I hope that answers your question?
I’m making some for a baby shower for twin boy and girl, dipped in pink and blue melted Wilson’s brand candies.
Hi ladies, my 7 year old wants to incorporate Chocolate Covered Strawberries as part of our Purim Mishloach Manot this year. Any ideas on how I can make this work? My initial thought is a “fruits of the vine” theme using a flower pot and other strawberry items (seeds, fruit candy, etc.) but I’m not sold on this one yet. Thanks so much for any suggestions you can send my way. And Tori, thanks for much for the yummy recipe. I’ll definitely be using this one in a week or so : )
Thanks, Tori. I know I’m being specific about the timing for making the dipped berries, but as I read people’s questions and comments, it’s clear many people just don’t grasp how perishable this type of treat is. That’s why retailers can charge so much for them! As you said, if you want a treat you can make at least a day ahead, dip food that doesn’t spoil quickly. Dried fruits, pretzels, marshmallows, potato chips, cookies, fresh orange sections (or canned mandarins) and grapes will all work.
I’m going to make some with hershy chocolate, hopefully they come out right!
Anne92 Hershey’s chocolate syrup won’t work, you need to use melted chocolate as described in the recipe in order for it to harden into a shell around the fruit.
I meant hershys chocolate chips 🙂
Ahh! Well that’s a different story. Thanks for clarifying Anne! 🙂
I have 2 thoughts to share:
1.) You can always beg (or buy) a box at a local bakery or candy shop, if you don’t have time to shop for one. Additional resources for really cute containers (and inexpensive plain aluminum containers with clear lids) are places like Amazing Savings, Christmas Tree Shoppes, and even Target (in the $1-$3 bins in front). You can also order supplies online from many places.
2.) I’ve been dipping berries for years, and I really think dipping them a full day ahead is too far in advance (unless there is no other choice), if you want them to be a gift. Although they won’t be spoiled, they will not be quite as nice……and any leftovers will be less appealing the following day. Strawberries start to deteriorate quickly once picked, and dipping them doesn’t slow it down. I always try to buy the freshest berries (no more than one day ahead), and dip them them the day I will use them; even if I have to get up really early. If you get everything prepped the day before, it doesn’t take long to dip and chill a tray of berries;
my kids actually took over dipping them, by the time they were 9 or 10! As long as the washed berries are bone dry, it’s easy.
Lisa, great tips, and I totally agree– the fresher the berries are dipped, the better for the look of the berries… though they’ll taste the same the following day if they are refrigerated the whole time, they won’t look quite as nice.
Going to make some for valentine’s day. How many days in advance can I make them and how do you store them and for how long and what type of box to put them in for gifts? Thanks so much for all the kind help.
Glenda for the freshest look I wouldn’t make them more than 1 day ahead. Store them in the refrigerator to keep them fresh. As for the box, I suppose you could use any candy-sized box… best to visit a local crafting store, they should be able to help you find something suitable. Enjoy!
I been wanting to have some chocolate strawberries for a while!
I almost ordered my sister chocolate covered fruit/treats for her bday but decided to go with homeade which I always appreciate more. I have to mail them and it may take a couple days to get there… any suggestions or ideas to keep themlooking and tasting good.?
Hi Ashley, in order for your treats to stay looking pretty and fresh I would suggest using dried fruit instead of fresh. I don’t think that fresh fruit would keep for very long without refrigeration. There is always a chance that your chocolates appearance will change if the package travels through various changes in temperature, so keep this in mind. I would package the treats between sheets of wax or parchment paper in an airtight container, such as tupperware if you have some to spare.
I was thinking of serving strawberries as fruit at my daughter’s wedding in April 2014. It is a wedding weekend in the bush as she calls it so there are several meals to be made up and served between Fri – Sun. She is having finger food for her reception and now I have read your strawberry recipes I am convinced to do the many varieties. I am also doing the same with prunes. In this day and age you don’t need to serve the usual cakes and pastries for sweets. Thank you for the ideas. I am going to wander through your blog to find some other recipes I can make that a week (freeze) or a couple of days ahead so I am not running ragged cooking on this special weekend.
Congratulations Diana!
Love the idea of chocolate coated and nuts.I also did coloured sprinkles and sugar pearl on some with white chocolate.Thanks for the recipe amazing.
You’re welcome Hope!
=] AWESOME!!!