My mother dropped by the other day with a plate of these. I mined the depths of my culinary discipline to take a photo before gobbling. Of all the simple pleasures, whole, fresh strawberries dipped in dark chocolate ranks right up there with the first crocus of spring, a summer breeze and line-dried sheets. There’s something sensual about the combination that goes beyond my passion for chocolate and my love of strawberries.
I adore how the chocolate snaps, making me bite the strawberry harder than I normally would. This seems to release the juices faster and I always end up wiping my chin. The bitterness of the chocolate intensifies the berry’s sweetness, elevating both items — if that’s possible. The experience requires both ingredients to come from opposite ends of the flavour spectrum, which is why I would rather eat plain strawberries than those dipped in sweet white chocolate. Or milk chocolate, for that matter.
Best of all, this sensual treat is simple to make.
Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries
Makes as many as you like
- Chop the dark chocolate roughly. (I use President’s Choice bittersweet chocolate bars.)
- Melt dark chocolate in a small bowl over hot water or in the microwave at 30%. Soften it until most has melted and then stir the last few stubborn pieces into submission.
- Meanwhile, wash strawberries and set them on a towel to dry. Do no hull them.
- Take the berry by the stem and dip 3/4 of the way into the melted chocolate.
- Set the dipped on a piece of waxed paper to harden.
- Share with friends. I’m available.
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Yum! This is one of my mom’s stand-bys for the summer, too.
Lovely. When I worked in a bakery, they showed me how to drizzle the dark-choc-covered strawberries with zigzags of white chocolate. I know coating a whole strawberry in just white chocolate isn’t too appealing, but from a purely visual standpoint the contrasting colors were really pretty.
True, Cheryl. I’ve also seen the white/dark chocolate done as “tuxedos” for fancy events. As far as taste goes, it’s dark chocolate all the way, although I’ll admit the two-tone approach is more visually impressive.
Great photo Charmian!
I prefer the dark chocolate to the milk as well. I tend to nibble off the chocolate leaving the berry till the end. yummy!
First of all, may I say your mother is a saint?
Second, I love your photos! Right now I’m learning my camera so that someday I can grow up to be like you.
Nice!
( Oh, and yumm.)
Carolyn, you are right. My mother is a saint — in more ways than one. Chocolate dipped strawberries are the least of her talents.
And you cannot grow up to be like me because I haven’t grown up. I’m still learning the tricks of my camera. Natural light and extreme close ups make a world of difference. Other than that? I just keep shooting until I find an angle that works. Good luck with your photo endeavours. Will you share your progress on your blog?