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!
Oh my gosh!!!!! Just made this and it is out of control !! I wanted to eat it from the pot like chocolate soup!!
you arent the only one! heh
I just wanted to wish you a happy belated birthday! Your site was one of the first I ever came across upon exploring the world of food blogging, and I’ve loved it ever since! Thank you for all the great recipes…especially your cookie dough balls ;)!
So beautiful and so healthy! Can’t wait to try.
These look amazing :) I’m going to make them for my brother’s fiance’s bridal shower next weekend. Thanks!
Hey angela, these strawberry’s look delicious! I’m hoping you’ll be able to read this since you posted this recipe a while ago now! This may be a silly question but would I be able to use carob powder?
I made this last night and it was delicious! However I had trouble keeping the chocolate on the strawberry. It seemed to slide off… Any tips???
I just made these and they are perfect! You saved my life. Swapping to whole foods and not having processed sugar I kissed chocolate covered strawberries goodbye. I stumbled on this recipe googling chocolate covered strawberries with coconut oil and you popped up. Sure glad you did :) even my 7 year old nephew gave them 3 thumbs up lol. Forever a fan
So glad you enjoyed them Stephanie! Thanks for reading :)
Hello,
I was so excited when I saw this recipe! I tried making these and my chocolate mixture separated and it didn’t work. Any ideas what I might have done wrong?
Thanks,
Betsie
Hey Betsie, It’s hard for me to guess unless I was there making it with you. Sometimes coconut oil can act a bit funny – it’s important that it’s whisked very well with the other ingredients. Did you make any changes to the recipe?
I had this same problem. I whisked it for a long time but the oil never incorporated. I did sub in natural peanut butter. Could that have put to much oil in?
I just made this recipe using raw cacao powder… it is absolutely delicious! using coconut oil, pure maple syrup and raw cacao taste absolutely amazing together!! the touch of coconut with the cashew butter is absolutely excellent. like a little sweeter dark chocolate. thank-you so much for sharing your discovery!!! a beautiful vegan sweet!!!!!!!
Just tried your chocolate covered strawberry recipe. Thank you so much! I can’t wait to shared it with my SIL. She can’t eat soy, dairy or gluten.
Just made these and they were amazing!!! Just had to write in to let you know.
I followed the recipe exactly and am having trouble getting the chocolate to stick to the berry (and the berries are bone dry but cold from being in the fridge). Perhaps they need to be room temp.? I used baking cocoa and cashew butter as stated. (The taste is divine!)
Hi, I just wanted to say how much I love your recipes because they actually taste good. As someone who is trying to eat healthier after a lifetime of eating processed junk, when I go to the mindbodygreen websites, & they’re recipes taste so awful to me, it’s very discouraging. I made these strawberries & they were delicious. Totally curbed my chocolate craving, & I felt good about nourishing my body with fruit. Thanx! -Nicole
What is the purpose of the nut butter? I have roasted salted cashews that I could process, but I don’t want to taste them in the chocolate (not as subtle as raw cashews).
Hey Amber, the nut butter simply provides a bit of a thicker texture for dipping. Although I’m sure it would work without any too (although I have yet to try it out myself). Enjoy!
It worked just fine without it! Thanks.
Made this Today-Had four surprises for Wife (Roses, Chocolate Strawberries, Clean our car, and picnic)
I always try to make healthy deserts that she gives me the side eye for, but this one she said was a Ten
Thanks, I’m going to make them form y church next.
Going to try and blend dates in the vitamin and omit the maple syrup
Lucky lady! I’m so happy to hear you both enjoyed the treat.
Made these tonight for my wife for moms day tomorrow. After dunking 3-4 strawberries the mix separated and stopped sticking. I figured maybe it had to be warmed up again and it got worse. Not sure what happened but it didn’t seem to work. I melted some chocolate chips and finished the strawberry container. Anyone else have issues with it separating?
Does this chocolate harden?
It does slightly, but it still has a softer texture than regular chocolate. :)
This recipe is amazing but dont try to put them in the fridge for more than a day because the chocolate will just fall off. Awesome sauce. Thanks
Wondering if this chocolate will stay firm at room temperature or will it soften too much?
this is the WORST recipe ive followed in my life. dont waste your time with it.