Need a little something sweet and seasonal for spring? Why not try your hand at chocolate dipped strawberries?! Chef Holly Peterson of Calistoga’s Flourish Chocolate, has graciously shared her recipe for “Strawberries Dressed in Chocolate.” It’s an easy and delicious way to enjoy the beautiful berries showing up in markets and grocery stores across the country.
STRAWBERRIES DRESSED IN CHOCOLATE
Makes about 20
1 pound strawberries
4 ounces dark chocolate
4 ounces milk chocolate
4 ounces white chocolate
Buy great chocolate, and the best strawberries you can find.
Chef Peterson’s Note: Make sure the strawberries are completely dry before you dip them. Water and chocolate are not friends. Even a drop of water will make chocolate seize up. Best to avoid trouble altogether, and use clean, dry strawberries. This is very simple and fun.
- Make a water bath by using a sauté pan with about ½-inch of simmering water in it. Place each of your chocolates in a ramequin or small bowl and set them in the water bath until gently melted. Don’t rush chocolate to melt, it is important to protect the lovely texture of the chocolate, because if chocolate gets too hot, or a little water in it, you have to start over with new chocolate. This will only take 10 minutes.
- Make little piping cones out of parchment paper for each chocolate that you would like to drizzle, and place about a tablespoon or two of chocolate in each. It is important to remove your piping chocolate before you start dipping the berries in your base chocolates.
- Now for the fun: dip, drizzle, create and have fun. Make sure you have some good sparkling wine nearby to sip while you dip-Castello di Amorosa and Schramsberg Vineyards have some great bubbly options-and enjoy!