Chocolate-Covered Fruit

The season of love is here! Each of us wants to express our affection and appreciation to our sweethearts (or ourselves!) with beautiful dinners and dazzling gifts. In a time where everything is so readily available, how can we put in more thought and effort this season to show our loved ones we care?

Our answer? Chocolate-covered fruit! This simple yet elegant and delicious dessert is easy enough to make for the beginner romantic to master, is versatile enough to enjoy all year round, can be easily customized, and is a better-for-you version of other typical Valentine’s Day desserts.

Here’s how you’ll make them (focusing on the chocolate-covered favorite, strawberries):

INGREDIENTS

• Strawberries  
• Chocolate of choice (use dark chocolate for a lower-calorie option) 
• Toppings like sprinkles, coconut, chopped nuts, etc. (optional) 

DIRECTIONS 

1. Wash and dry your strawberries. Make sure they are fully dry, any moisture on the berry can affect the chocolate coating.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. Put your chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and begin melting the chocolate in 20-30 second intervals in the microwave. Stir in between each interval to avoid burning the chocolate.
4. Hold the strawberry by the stem and dip it into the chocolate, ensuring you are fully coating the berry. Allow the excess chocolate to drip off the strawberry into the bowl before placing it on the parchment paper.
5. While the chocolate is still melted, sprinkle your desired toppings on the chocolate.
6. Once the process has been repeated for all the strawberries, place the baking sheet in the refrigerator to allow the chocolate to set. This should take no longer than 30 minutes.

If you don’t like strawberries or want to try something else out, no worries! The versatility of chocolate-dipped fruit is a huge perk. Your fruit, chocolate, and toppings are fully customizable. A simple way to show your loved ones you’re thinking of them is by considering what they would enjoy and customizing your chocolate-dipped fruits based on that. The steps with other fruits like bananas, pineapple, raspberries, and apples, would work just as well. Experiment with different kinds of chocolate and toppings to create something unique without being too overindulgent.

Chocolate-covered fruits have the advantage of maintaining a level of nutritional value while still being delicious. Of course, everything must be done in moderation, but when compared to other desserts such as a box of chocolates, cookies, or a slice of cake, chocolate-covered fruit can be a lower-calorie and reduced-sugar option for a treat.

As Valentine’s planning and shopping begins, consider making something sweet for your partner, or, if you’re spending this season with yourself, treating yourself to something special.