This easy and delicious Chocolate Covered Strawberries recipe can be made with just three simple ingredients using the microwave, or the Instant Pot! Make it for your loved ones around the holidays, Valentine’s Day or any special occasion!
The Best Chocolate Covered Strawberries
I come to you today with a simple and easy Chocolate Covered Strawberries recipe courtesy of my teen chefs! My girls love to make this dessert for their friends around the holidays and Valentine's Day!
If they are feeling extra generous, they make these chocolate strawberries for our anniversary, too! Isn't that just precious 🙂
Well, thanks to my girls, these chocolate-covered strawberries come with the added bonus of two methods - in the microwave, or using an Instant Pot as a double-boiler. I promise you, this is one of the easiest and most rewarding desserts that everyone will love!
Great Recipe to Make with your Kids
This is one of the first recipes that I started making with my kids when they were probably 5 or 6 years old. They enjoyed the whole experience so much, and later they would take so much pride in their creations. We made some beautiful memories for sure!
Long Stem Chocolate Covered Strawberries
You can't have chocolate covered strawberries without the strawberries 🙂
Always start with ripe but firm strawberries. For an even easier approach, try to find long stem strawberries or those with all their green stems still intact. This will ensure an easy grasp and help when dipping the strawberries in chocolate.
Also, make sure to wash and dry your strawberries completely. If the strawberries are wet, the chocolate will not stick. The added moisture will also completely ruin the texture of the melted chocolate.
Should Strawberries Be Room Temperature Before Dipping In Chocolate?
Yes - the strawberries should be room temperature before dipping in chocolate since the cold temperature will alter the texture of the melted chocolate and cause it to seize.
For best results, serve the chocolate covered strawberries at room temperature, too. The constant temperature degree will produce a chocolate covered strawberry that is smooth, silky and delicious.
What Is The Best Chocolate To Melt?
Dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips are the easiest to melt in a microwave or Instant Pot. Darker chocolate tends not to burn easily, as compared to the more delicate white chocolate.
But when done properly (either in 30-second increments in the microwave or in a double-boiler in the Instant Pot), your chocolate will melt beautifully - as long as you keep a close eye on it!
Quick Tip: Sometimes the chocolate is more melted than it appears to be, so stir after every increment in the microwave, or in the glass bowl over the Instant Pot. This prevents the oils and fats in the chocolate from separating.
Making Chocolate Covered Strawberries For Little Kids
If the lucky eaters for this chocolate covered strawberry recipe are little kids, feel free to replace the semi-sweet chocolate with either milk or white chocolate, which are both sweeter and contain less caffeine.
The reason is due to the cocoa content in chocolate. The higher the cocoa, the higher the caffeine. White chocolate, however, contains no cocoa solids and only cocoa butter (which is why it tends to burn easily).
According to HealthLine, the caffeine breakdown for chocolate is as follows:
- Dark Chocolate: 12 milligrams per ounce
- Milk Chocolate: 9 milligrams per 1.55 ounce
- White Chocolate (no cocoa solids): 0 milligrams
Decorating Tips if using white chocolate: If white chocolate ends up being your chocolate of choice, you can switch the drizzle to milk chocolate to get the pretty stripes!
Chocolate Covered Strawberries Ingredients
Here's what you need to make the best Chocolate Covered Strawberries recipe:
- Semi-Sweet or Dark Chocolate Chips: Dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips offer the best flavor to balance the natural sweetness of strawberries. I prefer Ghirardelli or Guittard, but any of your favorite chocolate chips will do.
- Strawberries: Vibrant, bright red strawberries are both pleasing to the eye and palate. For best results, purchase fresh from the market the day you are going to make the chocolate covered strawberries recipe. If you can find them, long-stem strawberries will make it easier to dip the fruit into the chocolate since the longer stem provides a handle for you to hold.
- White Chocolate Chips or Caramel Chips: This finishing touch is optional, but my girls love to make the strawberries with that extra special touch. They prefer white chocolate chips, but caramel chips offer a different flavor profile for your tastebuds!
How To Make Chocolate Covered Strawberries In The Microwave
- In a medium, microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate in 30-second increments, making sure to stir between each time. Continue until fully melted and smooth.
- Grab a (thoroughly dried) strawberry by the stem. Place in the chocolate and twist in a complete circle, making sure the strawberry is completely coated in chocolate. Allow the excess to drip off and transfer to parchment paper or a silicone mat. Allow to sit for about 30 minutes to set.
- If you want to get fancy with it, melt the white chocolate chips or caramel chips following the same method in step 1. Transfer to a small sandwich bag, snip off a small corner and drizzle over the strawberries. Allow to sit for 10 minutes and serve!
Alternatively, Melt Chocolate Using an Instant Pot as a Double Boiler
Yes, chocolate covered strawberries can be made using your Instant Pot, too! Since white chocolate is more delicate than dark, I prefer to use the double boiler method to melt the decorative drizzle.
Here's how to melt chocolate with an Instant Pot:
- Place about an inch of water in the bowl of your Instant Pot and set to Saute. Make sure it is on Low or Normal, not High.
- Place the chocolate chips in a heatproof bowl that is large enough to fit on the top of the Instant Pot (as shown in the photos above). Melt and stir the chocolate until smooth.
- After the chocolate is smooth, press Cancel and remove the bowl from the Instant Pot. Dip as directed.
How Long Does It Take To Make Chocolate Covered Strawberries?
The actual hands-on time is only about 5 minutes. It's the time the strawberries take to set that takes the longest.
Since we want to avoid placing the chocolate covered strawberries in the fridge, make sure to set at room temperature for about 30 minutes, and then once the final decorative touch is added, set for another 10 minutes before serving.
How Long Do Chocolate Covered Strawberries Last?
It is best to make the chocolate-covered strawberries recipe the day you are going to serve them to avoid sweating or leaking. They will keep at room temperature (ideally, a cool, dry place) for up to 10 hours on a piece of parchment paper or a silicone mat.
How Do You Keep Chocolate Covered Strawberries From Sweating?
The issue of sweating mostly comes from when you store the chocolate covered strawberries in the fridge. The additional moisture in the refrigerator causes those little water spots to develop.
Remember - moisture is not our friend in this recipe! Make as many as you think you need (and a few more for snacking!) and serve them to your friends and family for an exceptional chocolate covered strawberry recipe.
Recipe Tips For The Best Chocolate Covered Strawberries
- Always start with washed, dried and room temperature strawberries (long stem, if possible). The added moisture and cold temperature will completely alter the texture of the freshly melted chocolate.
- The best chocolate to melt is semi-sweet chocolate chips (such as Ghirardelli or Guittard).
- To prevent the chocolate from burning and scorching, make sure to stir in between each 30-second increment if using the microwave method. Alternatively, stir occasionally if using the Instant Pot double boiler method.
- Make the strawberries the day you are going to serve and store in a cool, dry place at room temperature on parchment paper or a silicone mat. Placing the chocolate covered strawberries in the fridge will produce sweating and leaking.
More Chocolate Recipes From My Kitchen
- Instant Pot Fudgy Brownies (Box Mix)
- 4-Ingredient Chocolate Nutella Brownies
- 15-Minute Chocolate Lava Cake
- Salted Caramel Lava Cake
- Mini Hot Cocoa Cheesecake
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📖 Recipe
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (Ghirardelli or Guittard)
- ½ lb strawberries (about 10 medium strawberries)
- 2 oz white chocolate chips or caramel chips to drizzle
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, microwave the chocolate chips in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring well in between. Melt until smooth.
- If the strawberries are wet, make sure to dry them properly. Grab the strawberry by the stem, gently place in the melted chocolate and twist in a complete circle, or until the strawberry is well-coated. Set aside on parchment paper or a silicone mat. Continue with the remaining strawberries and let sit for about 30 minutes.
- For an extra special touch, follow step 1 to melt the white chocolate chips or caramel chips. Transfer to a small sandwich bag, snip a small corner and pipe over the strawberries. Allow to sit for 10 minutes and serve!
Video
Notes
- Always start with washed, dried and room temperature strawberries (long stem, if possible). The added moisture and cold temperature will completely alter the texture of the freshly melted chocolate.
- The best chocolate to melt is semi-sweet chocolate chips (such as Nestle or Guittard).
- To prevent the chocolate from burning and scorching, make sure to stir in between each 30-second increment if using the microwave method. Alternatively, stir occasionally if using the Instant Pot double boiler method.
- Make the strawberries the day you are going to serve and store in a cool, dry place at room temperature on parchment paper or a silicone mat. Placing the chocolate covered strawberries in the fridge will produce sweating and leaking.
- When making this for little kids, you can choose to switch to white chocolate to avoid any caffeine content.
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