Easy Valentine’s Day Chocolate-Covered Strawberries Recipe

Looking for an easy recipe that will wow your Valentine? Homemade chocolate-covered strawberries are the answer.

They are the perfect Valentine’s Day gift or party dessert. Chocolate-dipped strawberries are a crowd-pleaser.

And a sweetheart-pleaser! My husband has been spoiling me with chocolate-covered strawberries for years. When I was diagnosed with celiac disease, he simply swapped out the chocolate for a safe brand… gluten-free Nestle chocolate morsels.

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You will love how quick and easy these chocolate-dipped strawberries are to make in your microwave, with no special equipment.

Ingredients

You only really need two ingredients for this recipe: strawberries and chocolate chips. It doesn’t get any easier than that!

But I like to add 1 tbsp of coconut oil to the chocolates for the best-looking strawberries. Coconut oil adds a smooth sheen to the chocolate coating and helps it to harden quickly.

If you don’t have coconut oil, you can substitute 1 tbsp of shortening, or simply omit the coconut oil.

In-season, giant, straight-from-the-farm, fresh strawberries are the best, but I happily use grocery-store strawberries when strawberry season is over. They’re going to be covered in chocolate, after all!

Pick your favorite kind of chocolate from a selection of gluten-free Nestle chocolate morsels.

Nestle Chocolate Morsels are Gluten-Free

The following varieties of Nestle Chocolate Morsels (chocolate chips) are labeled gluten-free on the package:

• Nestle Milk Chocolate Morsels
• Nestle Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
• Nestle Dark Chocolate Morsels
• Nestle White Chocolate Morsels

Those last two are my personal favorites!

Allergen-Free Options!

Multiple food allergies and restrictions can be a challenge. If you need more than just gluten-free, Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips and are a hit with my kids and are free of 14 common allergens, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and nut-free.

Nestle also makes Allergen Free Chocolate Morsels. They plainly state “allergen free” on the front of the package.

Step-by-Step Instructions 

Rinse strawberries, and pat dry. Allow strawberries to dry completely at room temperature for 30 minutes. While this step requires a little patience, it’s worth it. The chocolate will not adhere to the strawberries if they are damp.

Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Wax paper will also work.

Place your of choice of dark, semi-sweet, milk chocolate, or white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Melt chocolate chips and (optional) coconut oil in a microwave-safe container for 30 seconds. Stir.

Continue melting the chocolate in additional 15-20 second increments. Stir well after each time you microwave the chocolate chips. The final chocolate chips will melt into the rest of the chocolate as you stir.

This step also requires patience. If heated too quickly, the chocolate will clump, and it cannot be saved.

(If making pink chocolate, now is the time to add 3-4 drops of red gel food coloring and stir.)

Using each strawberry’s leaves/stem as a handle, dip the dry strawberry into chocolate.

Allow excess chocolate to drip back into the bowl of melted chocolate.

(If adding Valentine’s sprinkles or toppings, immediately dip the strawberries in the topping or sprinkle on top, while the chocolate is still wet.)

Place each chocolate-covered strawberry on the lined baking sheet to harden.

(If adding a contrasting chocolate drizzle, melt 4 oz of a different color of chocolate with 1 tsp of coconut oil in the microwave for 30 seconds. Stir and continue melting in 15-20 second increments until the chocolate is melted. Use a spoon to drizzle the chocolate topping back and forth over the chocolate-dipped strawberries.)

Allow chocolate to harden for 30 minutes and then serve.

Valentine’s Chocolate-Covered Strawberries Ideas:

Pink, Red, & Heart Sprinkles.

Dip strawberries in your choice of chocolate and then dip in gluten-free red, pink, and heart-shaped Valentine’s Day Sprinkles.

Most Betty Crocker sprinkles are gluten-free. It’s my go-to brand for gluten-free sprinkles. Always check the label, as some are not gluten-free.

Dipping in sprinkles will give you more coverage. For a more understated look, simply “sprinkle” them on top.

Pink Chocolate-Covered Strawberries.

Add 4 drops of red gel food coloring to melted Nestle white chocolate, and dip your strawberries in pink chocolate for gorgeous Valentine’s Day Strawberries.

These pink strawberries are also adorable for baby showers and Mother’s Day!

Pink Chocolate Drizzle.

Make a pink drizzle to go over your chocolate-covered strawberries.

Melt 4 oz of Nestle white chocolate and 1 tsp of coconut oil. Mix 1-2 drops of red gel food coloring into the melted chocolate. Drizzle over your strawberries with a spoon.

A Box of Chocolate Dipped Strawberries.

Wrap your chocolate-covered strawberries in a beautiful box for a thoughtful Valentine’s Day gift. Chocolate strawberries are better than a box of chocolate.

For a more lovely presentation worthy of a Valentine’s Day gift, I highly recommend picking up your strawberries from a local farm or farm stand, where you can find fresh, juicy strawberries.

Make that gift box heart-shaped!

Black-and-White Strawberries.

For a simple and elegant look, drizzle white chocolate on top of dark chocolate-covered strawberries or vice versa.

For the drizzle, melt 4 oz of Nestle (dark or white) chocolate chips with 1 tsp coconut oil for 30 seconds in the microwave, and in 15-20 second intervals until melted, stirring thoroughly between each interval.

Use a spoon to drizzle the contrasting chocolate back and forth over your chocolate-covered strawberries.

Add Some Sparkle & Glam!

To give your Valentine a little sparkle, opt for white chocolate-covered strawberries dipped in Betty Crocker Gold Shimmer Sugar Sprinkles or dark chocolate dipped in Betty Crocker Pearl Sprinkles.

Add Delicious Toppings.

The following toppings are fabulous options if you are looking to add even more flavor to your chocolate strawberries:

• Crumbled gluten-free cookies
• Crumbled gluten-free graham crackers
• Crumbled gluten-free Oreos or the NEW gluten-free mint Oreos – Crush the Oreos in a blender or food processor, filling and all!
• Coconut flakes or shreds
• Crushed gluten-free nuts – Many brands of nuts are produced on the same lines as wheat products. Check labels. Nuts.com is a reliable source of gluten-free nuts.
• Freshly ground sea salt – Sprinkle just a little on each chocolate-dipped strawberry for a salty-sweet treat.

More Holidays!

Use white chocolate with food coloring to make strawberries for any color theme:

• Easter: pastels or vibrant colors (similar to Easter eggs)
• Baby Shower: blue or pink
• Mother’s Day: pastels
• Birthday Parties: match your party’s color scheme
• St. Patrick’s Day: green

Follow the recipe as written. In step three, use white chocolate and food coloring to match the holiday or party theme.

Storage

I prefer to keep these perfect chocolate-covered strawberries at room temperature and serve them the same day. This is absolutely the ideal way to enjoy them!

If you cannot make and serve the strawberries the same day, or if you have leftovers (unlikely!), they can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two days.

The chocolate may sweat a little bit when removed from the refrigerator. For best results, line an airtight container with paper towels before adding strawberries and storing them.

Happy Valentine’s Day! Read more about our first Valentine’s Day with celiac disease. We’ve come a long way!