Tutorial: How to make dipped strawberries

Chocolate covered strawberries are my delight in life. My mother in law had some last weekend when I visited but I only got one before I thought they had all disappeared. Really I found the rest of them in the way back of the fridge before we left. So the sad news is that I only got one. The good news is that I know how to make more and now you will too.

First you need Almond Bark.  I know you can buy the little tubs now that you just microwave but this is pretty much the same thing and you get a huge hunk of it for the same price as the little tubs.

The most important thing that I can tell you is that when working with this stuff, moisture is your sworn enemy. The slightest drop of water or spoon with a drop of moisture on it and it will clump and your fun will be over. Make sure everything, including the strawberries are washed and thoroughly dried. I wash my berries, dry them, and then dry them again with a paper towel.

Follow the instructions to melt the almond bark. You can do it in the microwave but I find that sometimes you have to rush to get the berries dipped before it starts to harden. So I melt mine in the fanciest double broiler that I can fine. In other words, I just place a beat up old metal bowl on top of a pot of boiling water. perfect. That way I can set the water to a low simmer once I have the chocolate melted and it will stay at the same consistency for a long time, or until I accidentally get some water into it.  If you are going to be using it for dipping berries, pretzels, or oreos (my favorite) then you might want to add a teaspoon of shortening to thin it out some.

When your chocolate is melted, place the berry in the chocolate and slowly dip the edges in to cover it to the top with chocolate. Then scrape the bottom on the edge of the bowl to remove the excess chocolate and place it on wax paper to harden. Simple huh?

Now you can get all fancy and if it's close to the 4th of July, patriotic.

Next you can use gel food colors to tint the chocolate. Do not use liquid food colors as moisture is still you enemy, it must be gel.

You could do it the right way and use separate bowls for each of your colors or not.... Your choice

If you want a simple second color than just dip it in one of the other colors once your white chocolate has cooled and hardened. It's simple but cute. Red, white and blue, perfect for this upcoming holiday.

Or you could get fancier and paint on a design using a small food safe paintbrush. Any new paintbrush that has been well washed and dried ( no moisture remember) should work great. Don't pick an intricate design or go for ultimate perfection because this way is a little more difficult.

Finally sit and enjoy the fruits of your labor...

oh and a chocolate covered oreo...