Chocolate Covered Strawberries

While most people think about chocolate hearts as being the quintessential Valentine's Day treat, many others find chocolate covered strawberries to be the ultimate Valentine's Day dessert. Maybe it's because of the very nature of how one eats this sweet—and how it encourages you to feed one to your significant other—that makes these extra special strawberries a popular choice for February 14th.

Of course, the frugal way to make chocolate dipped strawberries for your sweetheart is to take the DIY route. It's easier than you might think. I've collected three very different DIY recipes for chocolate covered strawberries so that if you'd like to include them on your Valentine's Day menu, you'll have many choices.

Here is the recipe for chocolate dipped strawberries that Andrea Correale, president of Elegant Affairs Caterers in New York, uses when catering special events for such celebrity clientele as Donald Trump, Billy Joel, and Russell Simmons:

Elegant Affairs Caterers Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

Ingredients

16 ounces milk chocolate chips
2 tablespoons shortening
1 pound fresh strawberries with leaves

Directions

1. Insert toothpicks into the tops of the strawberries.
2. In a double boiler, melt the chocolate and shortening, stirring occasionally until smooth. Holding them by the toothpicks, dip the strawberries into the chocolate mixture.
3. Turn the strawberries upside down and insert the toothpick into Styrofoam for the chocolate to cool.

Hershey's, the chocolate people, have their own recipe for what they call double-dipped chocolate strawberries, which uses two kinds of chocolate—milk chocolate and dark chocolate. They shared that recipe with me:

Hershey's Double Dipped Chocolate Strawberries

Ingredients

2 3.5-ounce Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate Bars
1 4-ounce Cadbury Royal Dark Chocolate Bar
3 teaspoons shortening, divided
2 pints fresh strawberries with stems; rinsed and patted dry

Directions

1. Cover tray with wax paper. Remove wrappers from chocolate bars; break into pieces.
2. Place milk chocolate pieces and 2 teaspoons shortening in medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at medium or 50% for 1 minute; stir. If necessary, microwave at medium an additional 15 seconds at a time, stirring after each heating, until chocolate is melted and smooth when stirred.
3. Holding strawberry at top, dip bottom two-thirds of each berry into milk chocolate mixture; shake gently to remove excess. Place on prepared tray. Refrigerate about 30 minutes.
4. After 30 minutes, repeat microwave procedure with dark chocolate pieces, and remaining 1 teaspoon shortening in clean microwave-safe bowl.
5. Dip lower one third of each berry into dark chocolate mixture. Place on tray; refrigerate until firm.

If you like a little heat with your sweets, check out this recipe from Chef Stephen Butters, owner of Butter Cafe and Bakery located outside of Boston:

Chili Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Ingredients

1 pound fresh strawberries, with stem; washed and patted dry.
2 fresh jalapeño peppers
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
11 to 12 ounces of high grade dark or milk chocolate, chopped
microwave safe dish to melt your chocolate
wax paper and a baking tray
chili powder and powdered sugar for dusting

Directions

1. Chop peppers and sauté on medium heat until golden brown. When complete put through strainer and reserve oil  
2. Line baking tray with waxed paper
3. Melt chocolate pieces in microwave, on 50% power for 30 second intervals, stirring after every interval. Continue microwaving until the chocolate is melted and smooth.
4. Fold in your chili oil and mix well.
5. Immediately dip the strawberries, one at a time, in the melted chocolate oil mix, and transfer to the wax paper lined sheet.
6. Dust lightly with chili powder and powdered sugar
7. Chill and serve

Finally, for the lazy man—or woman—who wants chocolate-dipped strawberries but doesn't want to make too much of an effort, Philadelphia Cream Cheese has come out with a new dipping product, a chocolate cream cheese called Philadelphia Indulgence, which MSNBC called the American Nutella. It is available in white chocolate, milk chocolate, and dark chocolate.

Keep in mind that any of these recipes will likely work for dipping any kind of fruit in chocolate—pretzels, too!