Make Gourmet Chocolate-Covered Strawberries - Easily!

Make Gourmet Chocolate-Covered Strawberries - Easily!

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Who doesn't love chocolate covered strawberries? This commercial gourmet treat makes its appearance when strawberries are in season starting in January and continuing through June.  And that's perfect for holidays like Valentine's Day and Mother's Day.  But did you know you can make your own? ? You can make better chocolate cover strawberries than those that are made in a far off factory and shipped to you. Especially if you pick your own berries at a farm. And choose your own chocolate. So here's how to do it. And I assure you, it's incredibly easy.

Ingredients

• Hard chocolate - Left over Easter bunnies are perfect, but you can use any chocolate that is hard at room temperature, like Hershey's or Nestle.  Stay away from thos that have fillings, soft centers, nuts, etc. Aside from that, use any chocolate you like: while, dark, milk.  I like Lindt chocolate Easter bunnies!
• Fresh Strawberries - of course, the fresher, the better, and obviously, you can't use frozen berries (they are mushy!).

Equipment

• Microwaveable bowl
• Spoon
• Shallow pan that will fit in your fridge
• Plastic wrap or wax paper

Step 1  - Get your berries

Pretty obvious.  Wherever the come from, they need to be fresh, firm, ripe and without bruises.

Step 2 - Start the chocolate melting

Best method is microwave in a glass bowl using the "melt butter setting" You can use a double boiler, or any method that gently metls the chocolate at a low temperature.

You only want the chocolate to be barely liquid, NOT hot!

Step 3 - Get the berries ready

Wash the berries and allow them to drain.  Then keep them in the fridge until you are ready to dip them.

Since we are cooking the filling separately, we need to quick bake the pie crust. . Preheat the oven to 350 degrees  F. Line the pie crust with a circle of parchment paper and fill it with either pie weights, dried beans or rice to weigh down the dough. Bake the pie crust fro about for 15 minutes, then remove the parchment with the weights and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes or until it's a deep golden brown. Then remove from the oven and set aside to cool completely.

Step 4- Drain the berries

The chocolate adheres to the berries better if the surface of the berry is dry. I gently pick them up with a paper towel right before I dip them.

Step 5 - Line the pan

Line the pan or tray, which will fit in your fridge, with plastic wrap or wax paper.

Step 6 - Start dipping

Gently grasp the strawberries by the hull or stem, and dip it into the barely warm, just liquid chocolate

You can use a spoon to pour chocolate over any parts that don't get covered.

Step 7 - Set in the tray

Let the excess chocolate drain off for a couple of seconds, then set the berry on the plastic wrap in the tray.

Then stirring, reduce it until it starts to thicken.

Step 8 - Set the tray in the fridge

When the tray is full (berries shouldn't be touching each other) set it in the refrigerator.

Step 9 - Repeat until done

Step 10 - Allow the chocolate to harden

It only takes about an hour!

That's it, you're done!  Enjoy!