Ah, chocolate covered strawberries - a Valentine's Day classic. The perfect time of year for stores to charge you an arm and a leg for the most romantic dessert. Not to mention the conventional options often come loaded with dairy and refined sugars, hardly the ideal nourishment for our bodies. But I have good news! After indulging in this homemade recipe, not only will your taste buds celebrate, but so will your gut and your wallet!
For a truly gut-friendly dessert, purchase organic strawberries. While strawberries offer excellent nutritional benefits for our guts, they consistently top the notorious 'dirty dozen' list. This annual ranking by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) identifies produce with the highest pesticide residues, drawing from the latest USDA data.
Several studies have linked pesticide exposure to a range of health concerns, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, dysregulation of the immune system, neurotoxicity, endocrine alterations, reproductive disorders, and tumor development. Buying organic ensures that your produce is pesticide-free, promoting better health outcomes. While organic options may come with a higher price tag, prioritizing organic purchases when possible is an investment in your well-being. Alternatively, thorough washing of non-organic produce can help minimize pesticide residues.
Now, let's get to the good part.
Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberries Recipe
Ingredients
1 pint of organic strawberries
1 dark chocolate bar (75% cacao or higher is ideal)
1 tbsp coconut oil
Step 1: Wash the Strawberries
If using organic strawberries, simply rinse them under cool water to remove any dirt or debris. Pat them dry with a clean tea towel afterward.
For non-organic strawberries, it's important to remove pesticide residues. Start by soaking the berries in a bowl filled with a solution of 4 parts water to 1 part vinegar for about 20 minutes. This helps to loosen any pesticides. After soaking, give the strawberries a final rinse under cool water to ensure they are clean. Pat them dry with a clean tea towel to remove excess moisture.
Following this step ensures that your strawberries are clean and ready to be coated in delicious dark chocolate!
Step 2: Melt the Dark Chocolate
In a microwave-safe bowl, place the dark chocolate bar pieces along with the coconut oil.
Microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring in between each interval until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth. Be cautious not to overheat the chocolate, as it can burn easily.
Melting the chocolate with coconut oil adds a subtle coconut flavour and helps achieve a smooth and glossy consistency for coating the strawberries. Once melted, your chocolate mixture is ready for dipping!
Step 3: Coat the Strawberries
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent the chocolate-covered strawberries from sticking.
Holding each strawberry by the stem, dip it into the melted chocolate mixture until it is thoroughly coated. You can swirl the strawberry around in the chocolate to ensure even coverage.
Place the chocolate-coated strawberry onto the parchment-lined baking sheet.
Repeat the dipping process with the remaining strawberries until all are coated and arranged on the baking sheet.
Once all the strawberries are coated, transfer the baking sheet to the refrigerator. Allow the chocolate to harden by chilling the strawberries for about 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Chilling the strawberries in the refrigerator helps the chocolate coating to set and provides a satisfying crunch. Once hardened, your dark chocolate-covered strawberries are ready to eat!
Chocolate Covered Strawberries for Any Occasion
Now that you know the secret to making better-for-you chocolate-covered strawberries without breaking the bank, there's no need to limit this tasty treat to once a year. Who could blame you for craving them more often? The beauty of this recipe is its versatility – you don't need a special occasion to enjoy chocolate-covered strawberries; you can whip up a batch whenever you want!
For an added bonus, consider making this chocolatey dessert during strawberry season. Not only will organic strawberries be more affordable, but their freshness will make each bite extra juicy.
So, whether it's Valentine's Day, a birthday, or just a regular Tuesday night, these homemade chocolate-covered strawberries are sure to satisfy your cravings. Enjoy the sweetness of each bite, guilt-free!
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