How to Make Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Have you ever made yummy Chocolate Covered Strawberries? I've shared these before but they are so good they are worth looking at again! 

In less that a half an hour I was able to make more than a dozen of these beauties.  These are super simple and taste oh so amazing!!!  

Here is a quick tutorial on how to make them:

Ingredients: Strawberries, Chocolate Chips, Vegetable Shortening and Sprinkles (sprinkles are optional)

A double boiler method is the best way to melt chocolate.  It keeps the chocolate from burning.  I don't own an actual double boiler so I just use two sauce pans (a smaller pan inside a larger one).  Put an inch of water in the bottom pan and put the burner on low.  The hot water and steam from underneath is what melts the chocolate in the top pan... (Pictured below).  

Put one bag (2 cups) of chocolate chips into the pan, then add two tablespoons of vegetable shortening.  The shortening is what makes the chocolate thin enough for dipping.  (NOTE: Never use water to thin chocolate!  It does not work and water would ruin the chocolate!!!) 

Once the chocolate begins to melt, stir occasionally until mixture is fully melted.  Keep stove burner on low.  Once fully melted you may turn the burner off.  The hot water underneath is enough to keep the chocolate workable.

I use the green stem of the strawberry to hold as I dip the strawberry.  You can also use a spoon to spoon the chocolate on from the top.  Cover one side and then turn the berry around to cover the other side.

Place the chocolate covered berries on a plate covered in wax paper (once the chocolate cools/dries these will remove from the wax paper easily).  Apply the sprinkles while the chocolate is wet (so the sprinkles will stick easily).

Rather than cramming too many on one plate, I use multiple plates.  I guess a cookie sheet covered in wax paper would probably work well too (that is, if your refrigerator has room, since the next step is to put them in the fridge).

Once you are done applying the sprinkles.  Put the plate into the refrigerator, this is how the chocolate will harden.

Let them cool in the fridge for about an hour.  Then remove them from the wax paper and they are ready to serve.  Strawberries are best if eaten within two days of making them (Three days max). They should be kept in the refrigerator (cold) until you are ready to serve them.

You can use just about any berry or fruit and dip it in chocolate.  I have tried bananas, raspberries, maraschino cherries, and marshmallows (okay, so marshmallows aren't a fruit or berry, but they taste amazing when they are covered in chocolate.  So so yummy!  

These make a wonderful Valentines Day gift and are so special because you've made them with love!