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.
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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.
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!!
And I can’t wait to try this recipe.
I love your blog, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
I just had to let you know I made these strawberries last night, with no idea about your post. My recipe was nearly identical (minus the nut butter) They were fantastic and its great to know you can have these in a healthy way. A new love for sure!
haha great minds think alike…im sure there are many others with the same recipe! I find an equal ratio of coconut oil, cocoa, and maple syrup works great. The nut butter thickens it up slightly, you should try that out!
Happy Birthday! I can’t wait for the next special occasion in our house so I can make those chocolate covered strawberries, they look so good!
Those look amazing! And just in time for my party on Saturday. :)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No working on your birthday…
Happy Happy Birthday Ang! I hope you take the day off. :)
Chocolate Covered Strawberries are one of my fav and very meaningful to me too. (Wedding memories for sure!)
GRRRRReat Recipe~ THANKS! Will try it out for certain.
I love the pic of you, so classy as always. ;)
YES, Time flies, enjoy today!
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday! Don’t stop at 29, at least go into your 30s! I found it so cathartic to move into my 30s. I am just barely into my 30s and my entire mind has shifted, it is profound! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
thats great to hear! It only gets better…
Happy birthday Angela! Those strawberries look delicious. I use almost the exact same chocolate recipe (but with almond or peanut butter instead of cashew). I sometimes use it as a sauce, but often mix in raisins, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, + other goodies to make chocolate bars. They keep well in the fridge and totally satisfy the chocolate cravings.
This post makes me want to come to a party at your house! It looks like it would be really fun :) How long do you think it’d take me to get there from Florida? ;)
Happy Birthday!!!
m sure if you leave now you could arrive just in time for the long weekend! hah
Happy Birthday Angela! Thanks for writing such a wonderful blog!
I am SO making this chocolate! YAY for bendy chocolate!!! I hope that your birthday is filled with the things you love most, surrounded by the people who love you most. CHEERS! Speaking from experience, the best is yet to come…
Happy Birthday, dear Angela!!!!!
Happy birthday! In celebration, I made your neopolitan VOO parfait for breakfast & cheezy hummus for a snack. Lol But seriously, thanks for all you do! Have fun today.
Happy Birthday!
Those look so pretty and amazing, and I don’t even like chocolate! I’m tempted to email my friend and say: “hey…. your birthday is coming up. Want these?!?” just so I can try making them!
Happy Birthday, Angela! I celebrated mine yesterday (May 15th) ~~ 40 and FABULOUS!!! My husband and I took the day off work to enjoy the sunshine in Chicago! It was glorious! As I hope your day is, too! Wishing you an amazing year, as you finish up an incredible decade of your life and prepare to embark on the next!!!
Happy Birthday Angela!! Thanks for writing such an AMAZING blog, you really have discovered a lot in your 20s. Can’t wait to see what this year brings!
Also, the strawberries look amazing!! These would be perfect for Valentine’s day too
Happy Birthday!!! We’re both 1983 babies. Here’s to years of turning 29 over and over again.
Beautiful strawberries…. yuuuuuuuummmmmmmmm!
Happy 29th Birthday! My food life would be so boring without your fabulous recipes!
Happy Birthday! I actually turned 29 on the 12th. Hello fellow Taurus! I love the term “bendy chocolate,” and these look delicious!
Happy belated birthday! Thanks for such a great post :)