Chocolate-covered strawberries on a budget

I like strawberry and chocolate. Who doesn’t? But “gourmet” chocolate-covered strawberries are just too expensive. So here’s a poor man’s recipe for chocolate-covered strawberries that takes only 20 minutes to make and cost a fraction of what you’d pay at a chocolate store. And they taste just as great!

Here’s is my shopping list: (none of the items were on sale)

Ghiradelli Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips 12 oz – $2.99

Ghiradelli Classic White Chips 11oz – $2.99

2 pounds of strawberries (about 35-40 strawberries) – $5.78

TOTAL: $11.76

RESULT: several dozen scrumptious chocolate-covered strawberries for under $12 (under $10 if you don’t care for white chocolate)

Step 1: Items purchased (except the parchment paper). If you have parchment paper, it’s easier to get the strawberries off when the melted chocolate has hardened, but not essential).

Step 2: Rinse, then dry the strawberries (only 1 pound shown) with paper towel. Removing excess moisture helps chocolate stick to the strawberries.

Step 3: Melt the semi-sweet chocolate in the microwave. It’s important to melt it incrementally on 50% power, checking every 30 seconds by swirling it with a spoon. Be patient or it will burn.

Step 4: Completely melted semi-sweet chocolate.

Step 5: Dip the strawberries.

Step 6: Semi-sweet chocolate-covered strawberries. Chill in fridge for 10 minutes and serve. See page 2 for optional white chocolate swirls.

Step 7: Melt the white chocolate in the microwave very cautiously (top image). They tend to burn rather easily compared to the semi-sweet chocolate. I used 30% power, checking every 10 seconds. If you use too much power or don’t check frequently, you will end up with dry, chalky inedible mess (lower image).

Step 8 (extra): Perfectly melted white chocolate ready for decorating. I used a chopstick to drip chocolate over the strawberries. Chill in fridge for 10 minutes and serve.

Step 9: Wow! They’re so yummy!