Romantic Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberries & My Roses

 

 

For Valentines Day I wanted to make dark chocolate covered strawberries as a treat for the love in my life, my amazing husband!!!  He loves them and I do, too!  This is probably only the second time I've made a batch of them, because I think they're more of a special thing to make.  I find something about chocolate and strawberries quite romantic and perfect for Valentines Day or wedding anniversary.  Mom has made a large batch for a cousin's wedding shower, and they weren't only a huge hit but looked so pretty on the table.

 

For Valentines I originally wanted to make a dessert ridiculously rich, insanely decadent and inevitably calorie-laden, but I decided since we had an indulgent dinner that these beautiful strawberries dipped in bittersweet chocolate would be a better idea.  I'm so glad I went with my instincts, because they were perfectly delicious and Mr. Cozy loved them!

 

I'm not a chocolate covered strawberry expert, but I do have know a couple of things that seem to make them a little better.   (Please remember they're very easy to make!) 

 

1. Be sure to thoroughly rinse the fresh strawberries off really well if you're not using organic strawberries, because berries really hold pesticides and dirt well.  You don't want those things on your dessert...not very romantic! 

 

2. Wash the strawberries just before using them.  It's not a good idea to wash them ahead of time, like the day before.  They can mold easily!  Which brings me to the next point.

 

3.  Gently dry them off very well!   You don't want to dip damp or wet strawberries in chocolate if want the chocolate to adhere well. 

 

4. Do not make these days in advance, but make the day you are eating them.  Also do not store for longer than 15 minutes in the fridge.  When they stay in the fridge long at all they'll develop annoying condensation that makes them seem slimy and appear not fresh.

 

These are all little tips I've learned from myself and other's trial and error, but above all, have so much fun with this!  It's great when you're working with yummy melted chocolate and can plop a couple of fresh ones in your mouth as you make them! 

 

Treat someone special in your life to some beautiful homemade chocolate covered strawberries and enjoy the chocolate covered fruit of your labor!!!

 

 

Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberries

 

8-10 Medium- Large Fresh Strawberries

3 oz. 60% Bittersweet Chocolate, chopped (I used Ghiradelli)

1 oz. White Chocolate, chopped (I used Ghiradelli)

1/2 tsp. Coconut Oil or Canola Oil

 

 

Rinse off and dry unblemished strawberries.

 

Pull up the leaves from the strawberries so they won't get coated.

 

In a small glass bowl, put about about 2/3 of the chopped bittersweet chocolate and oil.  Microwave for about 30 seconds, take out and stir with a whisk. 

 

Place back in the microwave for about 15 second intervals until the chocolate is almost smooth when whisked.  You do this to not burn the chocolate at all.

 

Add remaining 1/3 of chocolate and allow to sit in the melted chocolate about 1 minute.  Then vigorously stir with a whisk until very smooth and shiny. 

 

Congratulations, you've accomplished tempering the chocolate! This is the best way to melt chocolate and will keep it from turning a dull gray.

 

Hold each strawberry and carfully dip the the chocolate but leave a little of the red strawberry at the top.  You'll probably want to tilt the bowl to make it easier.  Let the excess drip over the bowl.

 

Place on a aluminum foil-lined baking sheet.  I don't mind if the chocolate pools a little, it's just tastier that way!

 

In a very small bowl, melt the white chocolate and once melted place in a Ziploc bag.  Snip the very end and carefully pipe the strawberries with white chocolate.

I was having trouble taking the photo and piping at the same time...sorry for the blur!

 

You can pop this sheet pan in the fridge-- if you want-- for just 5-10 minutes to flash harden these.  The dark chocolate doesn't take long to set and the white takes a little longer.

 

There are always those ugly ducklings, right?

 

Meet "Baldy".

 

This is "Spiky" or "Sloppy".  :/

 

Good thing, despite what they look like they're all Yummy!

Enjoy.

 

Mr. Cozy was gave me a few of my favorite things on this extra special day of love, but I wanted to show you the gorgeous deep pink-orange hue roses he gave me!   Flowers are a thoughtful gift from my husband, because he always makes the best decision on which ones to buy and often comes home with the bouquet and arranges them for me himself.  Doesn't he do a fabulous job!?  I love this man!!

 

 

I love beautiful things in life, and these sure look lovely in our home. 

 

 

 

 

Finally I'll leave you with a glowing snapshot of the romantic table setting I created for our Valentines Day dinner ..... 

 

 

 

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