How to Make Perfect Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to make your own chocolate-covered strawberries at home for a fraction of the cost of store-bought ones. Want to impress without spending much? Here’s a simple, step-by-step guide to creating these indulgent treats for a special occasion like Valentine’s Day or just because.

Choosing the Right Ingredients

The quality of your chocolate-covered strawberries depends on the ingredients you select, so always opt for the best you can find:

• Bigger berries don't always taste better, especially if they're not in season. If you can, taste one before you buy. Choose berries that are fringed with fresh green leaves and that have no soft spots on the fruit itself. Bonus points if the strawberries come with a stem attached. Stems make an attractive presentation and they're handy for dipping — just trim them to a uniform length. No stems? No problem — we'll deal with that later.
• Same goes for the chocolate. Whether you use dark, milk, or white chocolate, choose something you've tasted and liked. Better quality chocolate contains more cocoa butter, and will be smoother and glossier when it melts.
• To keep berries fresh, plan on dipping them within two days of buying them.

More: Learn how to pick the perfect chocolate for your recipe.

How to Make Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

Get the recipe for Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

Ingredients

• 1 pound fresh strawberries with leaves intact
• 16 ounces chocolate chips or bar (chopped into small pieces)
• 2 tablespoon shortening (optional for added smoothness and sheen)
• 8 ounces white chocolate for drizzling (optional)
• Sprinkles, coarse sugar, or finely chopped nuts for decorating (optional)

Essential Equipment

• Paper towels
• Baking sheet
• Parchment or waxed paper
• Saucepan (optional)
• Heatproof/microwave-safe bowl
• Heatproof silicone spatula (wood can retain water)
• Skewer or toothpick (optional)
• Spoons (optional)

Instructions

1. Rinse the strawberries under cold water and pat them dry, including the leaves. Important: It’s crucial that no water comes into contact with the melted chocolate, as even the tiniest drop can turn it from smooth and glossy to thick and grainy. After washing and drying the berries, place them on a dry towel and let them reach room temperature while you prepare the baking sheet and chocolate.

2. Line a baking sheet with either parchment or wax paper. Make sure the pan is large enough to give the strawberries space, ideally an inch or two apart.

If you plan to decorate the dipped strawberries with chopped nuts, sprinkles, coconut flakes, crushed candy, or any other toppings, prepare those ingredients now and place them in separate bowls.

3. Melt the chocolate. This video demonstrates two simple methods for melting chocolate: using a bowl set over simmering water or melting it in the microwave. The secret is to melt it slowly over low heat for the smoothest texture. And remember: never let water touch the chocolate. While some people add shortening to the chocolate for extra smoothness, it’s not necessary if you're using high-quality chocolate with a good cocoa butter content.

Video: How to Melt Chocolate

4. Dip the strawberries. The chocolate should be warm, not hot. For each strawberry, hold it by the stem, or insert a skewer or toothpick into the top. Dip it into the chocolate, bottom-first, until it’s about three-quarters coated. Gently twist the strawberry as you lift it from the chocolate, allowing the excess to drip back into the bowl and the final drop to settle on the berry.

Optional: After dipping the strawberry, roll it in the prepared nuts, sprinkles, or other toppings. Instead of rolling, you can also use a small spoon to sprinkle the toppings over the wet chocolate.

Place the dipped strawberry onto the lined baking sheet. Continue dipping the remaining strawberries until all are coated.

How to Make Marbled Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

For a pastel twist on chocolate-dipped strawberries, dip your washed and dried strawberries into a bowl of microwaved candy melts. Follow the recipe for step-by-step instructions.

How to Store Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

Chocolate-covered strawberries are so simple to make, but they don't last long. The best way to store them is in an airtight container in a cool place for up to one or two days. Avoid refrigerating them, as the cold tends to make them "sweat."

How to Decorate Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

A simple way to decorate chocolate-dipped strawberries is by drizzling them with contrasting white chocolate. Let the dark chocolate set and harden around the berries before melting the white chocolate. If you need to speed up the process, chill the baking sheet in the refrigerator for a few minutes.

Melt the white chocolate using either the stovetop or microwave method, then allow it to cool slightly before transferring it into a pastry bag with a small writing tip. Alternatively, use a resealable plastic bag, cutting a tiny corner after filling it. Drizzle a fine line of melted chocolate over the strawberries.

Allow the white chocolate drizzle to cool and set before serving the decorated strawberries.

Simple Decoration Ideas for Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

From left to right:

• Drizzle: Dip ¾ in dark chocolate, let it harden before drizzling with white chocolate.
• Double-Dip: Dip ¾ in white chocolate, let it harden before dipping ½ in dark chocolate.
• Tuxedo: Dip ¾ in white chocolate, let it harden before dipping at a 45 degree angle from side to side in dark chocolate. Pipe on dark chocolate bow tie and buttons.

From left to right:

• Pretty in Pink: Dip ¾ in white chocolate, dip in bowl of pink sugar before white chocolate hardens.
• Red, White & Blue: Dipping ½ in white chocolate, dip bottom in blue sugar before white chocolate hardens.
• Berry Happy Birthday: Dip ¾ in dark or white chocolate, let harden before piping letters on in contrasting chocolate.

Top Tips and Recipes for Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

Chocolate Strawberries

"When melting chocolate in the microwave, be cautious not to overcook it. Once the chocolate chips turn glossy, stir them and continue microwaving in short intervals until smooth." —garden variety elf

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

"When melting chocolate over a double boiler, ensure the water doesn't touch the bottom of the upper pan. Heat until about half of the chocolate has melted, then remove from heat and stir gently until fully melted. The chocolate should feel cool or lukewarm, not hot, to avoid it seizing up and thickening." —carrie

Simple Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

Combining semisweet and milk chocolate chips creates a richer flavor for these simple yet delicious chocolate-dipped strawberries. Home cook Christina from Dinogo shares, "What's not to love?! These are one of our family's go-to desserts. My son wanted to add more chocolate after they had set, so he gave it a try, and for his first attempt, he did a pretty great job."

Discover more by browsing our full selection of Valentine's Day recipes.