Sweets for Your Sweetie!

How to make Chocolate Dipped Strawberries ~

Materials needed:
fresh strawberries, paper towels, a colander, Candy Quick or Almond Bark in white and chocolate (you can also use white and brown chocolate chips, candy papers or cupcake papers, tooth picks or a very fine paint brush, Crisco, tupperware bowls, paper plates, wax or parchment paper, and a container to put your finished berries in.

Step #1 - Start with chilled berries. Wash and drain your strawberries in a colander and lay them out on paper towels to dry. I always go back and hand dry each strawberry with paper towels - making sure to check the stems and leaves for dirt, etc.

Step #2 - Heat your chocolates in the microwave for a minute at a time until they melt to the desired constistency. I prefer Almond Bark over chocolate chips because it melts quickly and easily without lumps. If you are using chocolate chips then you will need to add a tsp. or so of Crisco until you get the chips completely melted and to the desired thin consistency. (Note: I prefer to melt my chocolate in tupperware because then I can just throw it away when I'm done...or save what is left by covering it.)

Step #3 - Seperate out some of your papers (either candy papers or cupcake papers) so that you will be able to move quickly once you start dipping. Place a piece of wax paper or parchment paper on your work table - this is to place your dipped strawberries on as the chocolate "sets".

Making Black and White Drizzled Strawberries 

Step #1 - Dip a strawberry in chocolate about 1/2 - 3/4 of the way.

Step #2 - Holding the dipped strawberry over a paper plate, drizzle the thin white chocolate back and forth until your berry looks similar to this. You can also make swirls with the white chocolate!

Step #3 - You can either let the chocolate on your chilled berries "set"on wax/parchment paper before placing them into the papers OR you can place them immediately into the papers after dipping. The papers make it easy to pick up a strawberry and eat it - especially if serving them at a party or event.

NOTE: If you use chocolate chips instead of Almond Bark or Candy Quick - you will need to place your dipped strawberries into a refrigerator for a few minutes (maybe 2-4 min.) to help the "setting process". Otherwise the chocolate from the chips will not get firm.
FYI: Almond Bark and Candy Quick are normally found on the baking aisle of a grocery store next to the chocolate chips.


Making Tuxedo Strawberries 

Step #1 - Dip your strawberry in white chocolate and let it "set" or become hardened.

Step #2 - Once the white chocolate is hard - dip the same strawberry in the darker chocolate - tilting it to one side.

Now to the other side....

This forms the"vest" or "jacket"  of your tuxedo!

Step #3 - Place your strawberry into your paper so that the chocolate can completely harden.

For really large strawberries (like this one) it is best to use the cupcake size paper.

Step #4 - Now it's time to add the buttons... ( I normally use a toothpick or a very fine point paint brush) and dip it into the chocolate barely touching the strawberry.

Step #5 - Almost done!! Now it's time to add the bow-tie. (This is basically two triangles touching in the middle.)

Now the other side...

Lookin' Good!!

Important Information:

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries normally sell for approx. $1.50-$3.50 each.

(especially for the Tuxedo style!) They make a great dessert or garnish on a cake.

Once dipped they normally are only good for a day or so. When they heat up to room temperature - the chocolate separates from the berry so...

you will want to dip them at the last minute possible to ensure freshness.

With these simple steps ...you can dip your own berries for a fraction of the cost - while giving a "very rich" gift!

Here's an example of how I  package my chocolate dipped strawberries.

Other ideas would be on a platter, in a box, or a basket.

Have fun dipping and Happy Valentine's Day!!

Blessings!

Brandy