The Hip Hostess

Why pay for expensive chocolate covered strawberries when you can make your own batch in about 15 minutes?  These are perfect with a glass of champagne for dessert on Valentines Day.  Or place them in individual candy wrappers (as shown), and place them in a small box or bag as a party favor or gift for your Valentine.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

8oz high quality dark (70% cacao) or semi-sweet chocolate

1 lb. strawberries with stems attached, preferably organic

1.       Wash strawberries carefully to keep stems intact.  Dry them completely – you don’t want any water left on the berries.  Line a sheet pan with parchment or waxed paper and set aside.

2.       Chop chocolate with a serrated knife and place in a microwave-safe bowl.  Heat in the microwave at 30 second intervals until half of the chocolate is melted, stirring each time you take it out.  Once half is melted, stir until the chocolate is smooth and shiny (the heat from the melted chocolate will melt the remaining chocolate and this method ensures that the chocolate won’t seize or burn).

3.       Hold the stems of the strawberries away from the berry and dip the berries into the melted chocolate.  Twist the berries as you lift them out of the chocolate to let the extra chocolate drip back into the bowl.  Place dipped strawberry on prepared parchment lined pan.  Repeat with remaining strawberries.  Allow the chocolate to harden at room temperature (about 30 minutes).  If you make these in advance or on a warm day you can put them in the refrigerator after they have set but cover them with plastic to prevent the chocolate from absorbing other flavors in your refrigerator.