Your guide to making the BEST Chocolate Covered Strawberries. Homemade chocolate strawberries are truly easy to make and are perfect for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, or any special occasion.
Watch the video tutorial for our tips on melting chocolate and achieving the perfect dipping consistency. You’ll be making all kinds of chocolate-covered fruit in no time!
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
We love special Valentine’s Day Recipes from Lava Cakes to Panna Cotta, and of course Red Velvet Cake. If you are a fan of romantic desserts or just want to surprise someone with a sweet treat, these chocolate-covered strawberries are a must-try!
Chocolate-Covered Strawberries Video Tutorial
Watch as Natasha teaches the best techniques to master chocolate-covered strawberries, from preparing the strawberries to melting chocolate properly, dipping, and of course decorating. If you enjoyed this video tutorial for Chocolate Strawberries, please subscribe to our Youtube Channel.
Why you will Love this Recipe
- Easy – you only need 2 ingredients here: chocolate and strawberries.
- Proven method – We’re sharing our tips on how to temper (melt) chocolate to achieve shiny and non-sticky chocolate-covered strawberries that have a little crunch when you bite into them.
- Dipping technique – learn how to dip strawberries to keep the strawberry stems clean and avoid making a mess.
- Decorate like a pro (it’s easier than you think!) – These will impress anyone, whether you’re keeping them simple, or if you want to go all out with adorable tuxedo strawberries.
Only 2 Ingredients!
To make simple chocolate-covered strawberries, you only need two ingredients and you can easily cut the recipe in half or double it depending on how many chocolate covered strawberries you need:
- Semi-sweet chocolate – chocolate chips or bars chopped into small pieces
- Strawberries – pick large strawberries with vibrant stems. Rinse and thoroughly pat dry since water will keep chocolate from sticking to the strawberries. Strawberries should be at room temperature.
The Best Chocolate for Dipping Strawberries
You will need real semisweet or dark chocolate for tempering. For the tempering to work, the chocolate must have cocoa butter in the ingredients. These are great options:
- Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate bars
- Ghirardelli baking bars
- Trader Joe’s Pound Plus Chocolate from Belgium
- Guittard chocolate wafers
Can I use Candy Melts?
Candy melts are compound chocolate and contain other ingredients besides cocoa butter. You can use them, just melt them according to package instructions.
Why Should Chocolate be Tempered?
Tempering is a method of heating and cooling chocolate to stabilize it so you end up with chocolate that has a nice shine and snap to it and won’t be sticky to the touch.
How to Set up a Double Boiler (Bain Marie)
A double boiler or “Bain-marie” is a simple way to heat chocolate gently over steam.
The setup: Fill a saucepan with 1 inch of water brought to a simmer over medium/low heat. Add chocolate to a rimmed heat-safe glass bowl or a metal bowl. Set the bowl over the pot to trap the steam and stir until the chocolate is melted then remove the bowl carefully with oven mitts.
How to Make Chocolate Covered Strawberries
- Prepare strawberries – rinse and pat dry with paper towels. Bring to room temperature.
- Melt chocolate – Set up your double boiler (see above). Put 2/3 of your chopped chocolate into a rimmed bowl and set over your double boiler. Stir with a spatula for about 2 minutes until mostly melted and 110˚F on a thermometer then immediately remove from heat and set on a towel.
- Add remaining chocolate to temper the chocolate: Stir in the remaining 1/3 chocolate and stir continuously until the chocolate cools to 90˚F. Tempering is a method of heating and cooling chocolate to stabilize it so you end up with chocolate that has a nice shine and snap to it and won’t be sticky to the touch.
- Dip strawberries: pull back the leaves to use as a handle. Dip and roll strawberries in the chocolate until fully coated, lightly scraping one side against the bowl for excess to drip back into the bowl. Place on parchment paper to set.
- Decorate strawberries using white chocolate, crushed nuts, and sprinkles. Watch the video tutorial for decorating ideas.
Can I melt chocolate in the microwave?
Yes, but microwaving has a higher risk of burning chocolate. Place chopped chocolate into a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds, stir then heat another 30 seconds, stir, and heat for one or two 15-second increments until chocolate is melted with stirring. Keep the chocolate temperature between 90˚-95˚F.
Tips for the Best Chocolate Covered Strawberries
- Dry strawberries – thoroughly pat dry with paper towels. Water will prevent chocolate from sticking and will make chocolate dull. Wet strawberries can get mushy in the refrigerator.
- Water is the enemy of melting chocolate. Avoid getting any water in the chocolate while tempering or it will cease the chocolate, make it lumpy, and dry. Use a rimmed bowl to keep steam out and make sure the bowl and spatula are dry.
- Use a thermometer to check the temperature of the chocolate and remove it from heat when it reaches 110˚F. It should never be hotter than 120˚F or you will burn the chocolate. Glass bowls retain heat so remove quickly and set over a kitchen towel to avoid overheating.
- Mix the chocolate continuously as it cools to the optimal dipping temperature of 90˚F.
- If the chocolate cools – Place the bowl of chocolate back over the double boiler and warm the chocolate back to 90˚F (not hotter), stirring continuously.
How to Store Chocolate Strawberries
These are best enjoyed within 1 to 2 days of making them as the chocolate will cause the strawberries to sweat. Store uncovered at room temperature for 1 day and refrigerate uncovered overnight if making ahead.
Pro Tip:
If you have leftover tempered chocolate, you can salvage it for another use. Spread the leftover melted chocolate onto a piece of parchment paper. Once it has hardened, peel it up from the parchment, transfer it to a zip-top bag, and store it in the refrigerator for another use.
I hope you’re inspired and excited to try Homemade Chocolate Covered Strawberries. Have fun, get creative, and tag me on social so I can see your beautiful strawberries.
More Strawbery Recipes
If you loved the Chocolate Strawberries, then you won’t want to miss these fresh strawberry recipes.
Easy Chocolate Covered Strawberries Recipe
The ultimate guide to making the BEST Chocolate Covered Strawberries – perfect for any special occasion. You can create beautiful, homemade chocolate strawberries with just 2 ingredients.
Servings: 25 large strawberries
For the Chocolate Covered Strawberries:
Optional Toppings:
Prep Strawberries:
How to Melt and Temper Chocolate:
-
Fill a medium saucepan with 1 inch of water and bring to a simmer over medium/low heat.
-
Put 2/3 of your chopped chocolate into a rimmed bowl and set over your double boiler. Stir constantly for about 2 minutes or until chocolate is mostly melted and reaches 110˚F on a thermometer (not hotter than 120˚F or chocolate will burn).
-
Immediately remove the bowl from heat with oven mitts and set it on a kitchen towel. To temper the chocolate, add the remaining 1/3 of your chocolate and stir constantly until cooled to 90˚F (the optimal dipping temperature is 90˚F.) If it starts to cool, return the bowl to the double boiler to warm it back to 90˚F.
How to Dip Strawberries:
-
Working with one strawberry at a time, pull back the leaves to use as a handle. Then dip and roll in chocolate until evenly coated. Lift up the strawberry and let excess chocolate drip off. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.**
To Decorate Strawberries:
-
Sprinkle on nuts, crumbs, or sprinkles while chocolate is moist so it adheres. Once semi-sweet chocolate is set, you can drizzle and decorate with melted white chocolate.
*Use real chocolate with cocoa butter listed as an ingredient, such as Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate baking bars, or Trader Joe’s Pound Plus Belgian chocolate.
**Once the chocolate has set, enjoy the strawberries or store uncovered in the refrigerator for 1-2 days.
90kcal Calories10g Carbs1g Protein5g Fat
Nutrition Facts
Easy Chocolate Covered Strawberries Recipe
Amount per Serving
% Daily Value*
Saturated Fat
Trans Fat
Polyunsaturated Fat
Monounsaturated Fat
Cholesterol
Potassium
Carbohydrates
Vitamin A
Vitamin C
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.