Just in the nick of time, I ended up thinking of a few things to make for my get together on Saturday. I worked hard all afternoon and of course made a complete disaster of the place. Is it ever possible not to make a disaster just before hosting a party? Don’t think so. Not to mention the mirror backsplash in this kitchen seems to double the mess. I need a kitchen sign that reads: Objects in mirror are less messy than they appear…I swear!
Sadly, the incredible one-bite pizzas weren’t one of my ideas on Saturday, but they will be making a comeback for future get togethers, this I know.
I’ve been dying to make chocolate covered strawberries from scratch for a while now. I made traditional ones on our second wedding anniversary in 2010 using melted chocolate chips and a touch of coconut oil, but this time I made them without chocolate chips. You can check out this anniversary post for a wedding recap and a couple recipes – “love butter” strawberry muffins and the original chocolate covered strawberries!
Lately, I’ve been experimenting with homemade chocolate. I’ve made recipes using cocoa butter, coconut oil, cocoa powder, raw cacao powder, vanilla, natural sugars, and nut butter, using all kinds of variations and methods. I have this habit of testing out a million and one variations before I am happy with these types of recipes. I annoy myself so much, but the outcome is usually worth it!
When the chocolate ingredients are heated together, it creates a rich chocolate sauce that you can pour on just about anything. Or you can dip strawberries into it which is what I’ve done here. Instantly, you have yourself a classy party food, with barely any effort at all.
It gets better! When the chocolate sauce is chilled in the fridge it firms up, but not too firm. The chocolate doesn’t get super hard and break off the strawberry like with regular chocolate covered strawberries; it remains bendy and easy to bite into! Always an unexpected bonus. My friends commented that these were the best chocolate covered strawberries they’ve had and loved that the chocolate wasn’t really hard. I like to call it “bendy chocolate”. :) You could also use this on sliced bananas too.
Chocolate Covered Strawberries From Scratch
Yield
24-28
Prep time
Cook time
0 minutes
Total time
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder or raw cacao powder, sifted
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup (or agave)
- 1/4 cup coconut oil (no subs)
- 1 tbsp all-natural nut butter (I used cashew butter)*
- 1/4 scant tsp fine grain sea salt, or to taste
- Unsweetened shredded coconut, to garnish
- Optional pink glaze: 1/2 cup icing (confectioner’s) sugar, 1 large strawberry, 1/2-1 tbsp strawberry jam, processed in a mini blender (makes enough to glaze about 8-10)
Directions
- Wash and pat the strawberries dry. Set aside.
- In a small pot, whisk together the maple syrup, coconut oil, nut butter, and cocoa powder over low to medium heat. Whisk for a couple minutes until all the coconut oil is melted and remove from heat.
- Dip strawberries into the chocolate mixture, coating most of the strawberry. Place onto a plate lined with parchment paper or on a wire rack. Repeat for the rest and sprinkle with coconut. Chill in the fridge to set.
- If making the pink frosting: with a mini food processor, combine the icing sugar, strawberry, and jam until smooth. You may need to add a bit more icing sugar depending on the consistency of your jam. If you don’t have a mini processor I suggest not using the whole strawberry and just mixing in a bit more jam into the icing sugar until the right consistency is achieved.
- Spoon the frosting into a baggie and snip off the end. Pipe frosting onto the strawberries and place back in the fridge until firm.
Nutrition Information
(click to expand)Here I am guarding my strawberries with my life!
In other news, today is my 29th birthday! Well, tomorrow if you are reading this Tuesday night. As my family jokingly tells me – it’s my first of very many 29th birthdays. hah. Time goes by faster every year I tell you..it’s a bit scary. I feel so blessed to be alive and healthy, even if it’s something I sometimes take for granted in the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
It’s hard to believe that 29 years ago, I was just a wee baby with no idea of what my life would hold!
Word to my loving mama and big sis.
Well, my partner in crime is treating me to a fun-filled birthday, so I’ll be back with the recap soon!
Happy birthday! I bet raspberry jam would be good too for the pink glaze! now i have a new craving for the evening.
Happy Birthday! Those look amazing! Pinning. :)
Thanks for the Pin Shana :)
Happy Birthday to you,,,hope it’s an awesome year for you! And what a great recipe,,,But those pictures,,,are absolutely gorgeous!!
Oh yeah,,,and I love your new header too…
Thanks Robyn!
Happy birthday Angela! You and your recipes just get better and better! :D
Happy birthday, Angela! It’s my mom’s birthday, too :) Enjoy your day! (By the way I’m a HUGE fan of your blog – I love all your recipes!)
Thank you :) Happy bday to your mom!
Happy birthday fabulous lady!
These look delish! Along with everything else you make! *Drool*
Are you originally from Moncton NB? That’s where I live!
Actually…I don’t even know where you live now to be honest lol.
hah yea I was born there and lived there for a good part of my life (Riverview actually!). I’m in Oakville Ontario now.
Happy 29th Birthday!! You are so young and look like it too. I’m sure people say this all the time, but you really do “glow” … I guess I should drink more green monsters too ;)
Hope you had a good bday!
-Jess
Happy birthday, Angela!
I discovered your blog a few days ago and have already made about half a dozen of your recipes. They all turned out delicious and I wanted to thank you for sharing them (I think my favorite so far is the crazy woman chocolate blender pudding. A hit! And the VOO with banana soft serve… mmm there are no words).
I’m from France and being a vegan with a sweet tooth there is hard, with delicious pastries loaded with butter available at every corner! Your recipes are a huge help and inspiration for me, thanks so much!
Its a pleasure to meet you Mélanie!
We share the same birthday! Happy birthday, Angela! Thank you for being such an inspiration and for sharing all your delicious creations with us.
Happy Birthday Leah!
Happy birthday Angela!!! Heehee, bendy chocolate. Sounds yummy!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
May you enjoy all the bendy chocolate in the world ;)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANGELA! I’ve been mad about your blog ever since Canadian Living put me on to you in their list of best canadian blogs. Keep up the good work! Your joie de vivre, positive attitude, and honesty are inspiring. Can’t wait for the book!
Happy Birthday! I turn 29 in another few weeks myself! Plus, your Mom looks great in that photo, most women don’t look that good post-labour :)
Happiest of Birthdays beautiful girl!
Happy birthday Angela! :) wishing you all the best, always! xx
BIRTHDAY TWINS!! May 16th is seriously the best birthday day ever ;) Hope you have a fantastic one!!! I’m, unfortunately, up early to head to campus for my birthday – who seriously schedules a summer course at 8:30 in the morning?!
Have a great day, Angela!!!
Happy Birthday hun!!! I was up way too early too.
HaPpY BiRtHdAy!!!!! I hope it’s filled with your most favorite things! :)
Happy birthday
Jim loves chocolate covered well anything but particularly strawberry one year I made him a dozen to look like roses for valentines day
Happy Birthday Angela! My bf’s brithday is in the beginning of June and since he can’t have dairy, this would be a perfect recipe to make for him. Infact, I may just make everything from your website!
Enjoy your full-filled day, can’t wait to read about it!
Happy Birthday, Angela! Have a wonderful day!
Love chocolate covered anything, they look delish! Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday! Those look delicious! And you don’t look anywhere near 29, which MUST be because of how you eat!
Happy birthday, Angela! Enjoy this refreshing morning rain. :)
Happy Birthday love! Have a wonderful day and enjoy some birthday fun!
Happy birthday! I hope you have a fantastic day!
And these strawberries look fantastic! I can’t wait to bust them out for a BBQ and impress all my friends. ;)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Ange!!!! I hope you have an absolutely wonderful day, full of bendy chocolate-covered strawberries and lots of love! <3
Happy Birthday! I made a similar chocolate icing for cookies over the weekend and it worked really well. There was some leftover and I enjoyed it this morning on cinnamon raisin toast!
loooove chocolate covered strawberries!! yum!
Happy Birthday! Looking forward to today!
xoxo
Happy Birthday!! Today is my birthday too! Thanks for the gift of chocolate-covered strawberries :)
Happy birthday Jenna!
Happy birthday!
Love the strawberries and HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Have a great day! xo
Happy Birthday, Angela!!! I hope you have a great day.
Happy birthday, Ange! Those are some fine-looking chocolate strawberries.. can’t wait for local berries to become available. :)
Happy Birthday!!!
I definitely MUST try these. Thanks!
I am glad to see you enjoying an Australian wine too.
Oh, and Happy Birthday!! Don’t worry, being in your 30’s is GREAT (40’s aren’t bad either) LOL
:)
love my Australian wine! Thanks for the bday wishes!
OMG your kitchen is like a tornado LOL :) but the strawberries look amazing, I am going to recreate this recipe when I get some juicy strawberries from our farmer’s market!
Happy Birthday! I’m from NB as well, outside of Saint John :) Ya Maritimers!
whoot! Holla :)
La Multi Ani! (Happy birthday in Romanian :) ) oooh bendy chocolate. I think these are just the kind of chocolate covered strawberries I would want because I don’t like the ones that you bite into and the whole chocolate shell falls off. Have a great day!
happy happy birthday!!
yummm i love bendy chocolate on strawberries! haha so weird saying that! have a amazing birthday, or in your time hope you had an amazing birthday lol
Happiest Birthday…enjoy a wonderfully happy celebration beautiful!
Happy Birthday! I can’t believe you’re my age XD
….Happy Birthday to you ♪♫•*¨*•.¸ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Happy Birthday to you!!! ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪…Have a great birthday!
Happy birthday!
Happy Birthday!!!!!
I also just wanted to say, a mirror back splash has to be the dumbest idea ever. Clearly thought up by someone who didn’t actually use a kitchen!
LOL, definitely not thought of by a baker!
Happy Birthday!!
Angela you’re just too pretty! :) I looooove chocolate covered strawberries i went to a dance the other night and there was a plate of them and they were a-mazing! :D