Chocolate Covered Strawberries are the perfect dessert to make for weddings, baby showers, cocktail parties, New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day or at a party with friends or family! Fresh strawberries dipped in luscious, smooth, melted chocolate- what could be better?
This is my favorite easy chocolate covered strawberries recipe because it’s simple, reliable, and gives you that glossy, pretty chocolate coating without stress. All you need are fresh strawberries, good milk chocolate, and a little shortening to help the chocolate melt smoothly and set with that classic, firm “bite.”
I worked for a caterer when I was in college, and we made dozens and dozens of these for almost every party we catered. So I think I can pretty much call myself an expert in the chocolate dipped strawberry department! Also consider making chocolate dipped brownies and chocolate dipped cookies!
Why You’ll Love These Chocolate Covered Strawberries
- They are made with just a few ingredients.
- It’s a quick and easy project (20 minutes total!)
- There is no baking required.
- It’s perfect for holidays, parties, and gifting.
- They’re always an impressive dessert display!
- It’s fun to decorate with drizzles and toppings.
Ingredients Needed:
- Milk chocolate – It’s totally okay to use chocolate chips. If you want to get fancy with your chocolate, you can certainly use a chocolate that is more upscale and chop it up instead.
- Shortening – It helps the chocolate melt silky smooth and coat the berries evenly.
- Fresh strawberries – Choose firm, ripe strawberries with green tops.
- Wax paper – This is used for setting the dipped strawberries without sticking.
How to Make Chocolate Covered Strawberries
- Melt the chocolate and shortening until smooth using a double boiler or a heat-heat-proof bowl over simmering water, or use the microwave in short bursts (stirring between each).
- Dip the strawberries: Hold each strawberry by the leafy top and dip it into the melted chocolate. Let the excess drip off.
- Set on wax paper: Place dipped strawberries on wax paper and repeat with the remaining berries.
Recipe Tips
- Be on the lookout for the best-looking strawberries. You want bright red strawberries with nice and fresh green tops. If they are mostly uniform in size, that’s even better. Use firm strawberries that aren’t overly ripe or soft.
- Dry your strawberries completely. Any water droplets can cause the chocolate to seize or slide off.
- The shortening is what makes the chocolate nice and smooth when melted, and it will also give the dipped strawberries a shiny sheen. Alternately, you can use coconut oil in place of shortening.
- The chocolate you use for these chocolate dipped strawberries is entirely a matter of your preference. Use chopped chocolate or chocolate chips.
- For the prettiest finish, gently twist the strawberry as you lift it out of the chocolate.
- If your chocolate starts thickening while dipping, warm it gently again.
- If you don’t want a “foot” on the bottom of your dipped strawberry, be sure to scrape the dipped strawberry against the side of the dipping bowl to get rid of excess chocolate that will pool underneath the strawberry.
Easy Decorating Ideas
Want to make them look extra fancy?
- Drizzle with white chocolate
- Add sprinkles, chopped nuts, or crushed cookies
- Dip in sanding sugar for a sparkly look
- Add a second drizzle of dark chocolate (check out my chocolate chip cookie dough truffles for inspiration).
- Use a piping bag (or zip-top bag with the corner snipped) for neat lines
Quick Tip: Melt white chocolate + shortening separately and drizzle on top for a bakery-style finish.
How to Store Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Store chocolate covered strawberries at room temperature for up to 10 hours in a cool, dry place. If it’s going to be longer than that, place them in a covered container lined with wax paper for up to 48 hours in the refrigerator. They will be best if served within 24 hours for the prettiest look and best texture.
If you’re using these for a “heart” themed celebration (like Valentine’s Day), consider making chicken pot pie soup with heart croutons and some iced heart cookies too!
Chocolate covered strawberries are one of those desserts that never goes out of style (just like chocolate mousse and chocolate truffles)—simple, beautiful, and always a hit. Whether you’re making them for Valentine’s Day, a party platter, or just a fun little treat at home, they’re guaranteed to disappear fast. And once you see how easy they are to make, you may never go back to buying them again!
Easy Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Equipment
- Double Boiler (for melting the chocolate)
Ingredients
- 16 ounces milk chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons shortening
- 16 ounces fresh strawberries
- wax paper
Instructions
- In a double boiler, melt the chocolate and shortening, stirring until all is melted and smooth. If you do not have a double boiler, it's okay to do this in a heat-proof bowl set over a pot of simmering water. Alternately, you can use the microwave to melt the chocolate in short bursts, stirring after each burst.
- Hold a strawberry by the leafy part and dip into the chocolate. Let the excess chocolate drip away and set on wax paper. Repeat with the remaining strawberries.
Notes
- Be sure to dry strawberries completely before dipping—water can prevent the chocolate from sticking.
- Shortening helps the chocolate melt smoothly and coat evenly.
- Chocolate covered strawberries are best enjoyed the same day, but can be refrigerated for up to 48 hours.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
