Life
How To Make Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
For some, Valentine's Day is dedicated to showing your special someone just how much you love them. For others, myself included, it is a day devoted to indulging in a slew of delicious, chocolatey confections. And while cakes and cookies are appreciated, no dessert makes people swoon like the chocolate-covered strawberry.
A perfectly balanced blend of tart and sweet, the chocolate-covered strawberry is basically the best part about Valentine's Day. Though there is no Wikipedia entry explaining the dessert's popularity, it is easy to draw your own conclusions based on basic facts. For starters, this treat is not only packed with flavor, but health benefits as well. Chocolate alone can help your heart, reduce stress, and protect your skin from the sun. Add in an antioxidant-rich berry that also whitens your teeth, and you have a superhero-like sweet.
Second, many believe both strawberries and chocolate are natural aphrodisiacs, which is what you want to eat on a day that's all about emotional and physical love. Right?
Lastly, it is an absolutely stunning dessert that is surprisingly simple to make. Sure, some recipes require double broilers and freshly-chopped chocolate. But others only call for a few simple ingredients and a microwave. Here, an easy chocolate-covered strawberry recipe to whip up on February 14.
Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Yields: 20 berries
Ingredients:
- 1 pound strawberries, washed and dried thoroughly
- 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Crisco
Instructions:
- Place chocolate chips and a tiny bit of Crisco in a glass, microwavable bowl.
- Microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until the chocolate is melted and smooth.
- Holding the strawberry by the stem, dip into the chocolate and let excess chocolate drip off before placing on wax paper. Repeat with remaining berries.
- Allow chocolate to harden completely before transferring to a platter.
And there you have it! A simple, sweet, and delicious Valentine's Day dessert. Now, there is no shame in serving these berries in the buff, so to speak. But if you are looking to amp up your chocolate-covered creation, these variations provide plenty of wow factor for minimal effort.
Give Into the Swirl
Wait for the base to harden, then drizzle some melted white chocolate over your berries. This will add some serious style to a blank, brown canvas.
Go Nuts
For a crunchy layer, roll your freshly dipped berries in a bowl of crushed nuts.
Add a Little Color
Grab a jar of jimmies (bonus points if they are heart-shaped), and sprinkle them onto the berries before the chocolate hardens.
Think Pink
Why not incorporate the holiday's hue into your dessert? Swap the semi-sweet for white chocolate chips, and add a few drops of food coloring for a more festive chocolate-covered strawberry.
Say "I Love You"
Use icing (store-bought is fine) to write something sweet to your significant other.
Images: Fotolia (1, 2, 3, 4); Silly_Spartan /Instagram; Caballero81/Instagram; OrtizDesignsCatering /Instagram; Second_Serving_Desserts /Instagram
