It’s been a great strawberry season this year – lots of great quality fruit around for a good price. Strawberries are best served as naturally as possible, with cream, ice cream, or dipped in a healthy light chocolate coating as per below recipe.
I love this recipe because:
1. It’s great for entertaining – it can be prepared before your guests arrived and kept in the fridge until you’re ready to serve
2. It’s a delicious after-dinner treat if guests are mingling and you don’t want to do a sit-down dessert, or if you want something light and refreshing to finish.
Strawberries and chocolate – a classic flavor combination
Preparation: 10 minutes + Setting Time
Ingredients:
Makes: 8 – 10
- 8 -10 large fresh Strawberries, washed and dried
- 3 tablespoons Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
- 2 tablespoons Raw Cacao Powder
- 1 tablespoon 100% Maple Syrup or 8 drops Liquid Stevia or to taste (optional)
Method:
1. Pre-line a flat tray that you will use to place your strawberries on to and keep in the fridge to cool whilst preparing the chocolate sauce. Pre-chilling the tray helps chocolate coating to set quickly.
2. In a small mixing bowl, mix coconut oil over boiling water to melt. (Use a small saucepan of boiling water and sit bowl over the top. The heat from underneath will melt the coconut oil in the mixing bowl).
3. Add cacao powder and optional maple syrup or liquid stevia and mix well.
4. Holding the strawberry at the leafy end, dip each strawberry into the chocolate sauce and coat well. Use a spoon to help if needed.
5. Place onto pre-chilled and lined tray.
6. Once all strawberries are coated, place in fridge until chocolate coating is set. Keep in refrigerator until ready to eat.
Variations:
• You can also use carob powder instead of cacao powder.
• Add desiccated coconut to your chocolate dipping sauce or sprinkle coconut over wet chocolate dipped strawberries before setting.
• Add 1 tablespoon nut butter such as almond butter to dipping sauce for a nut fudge coating.
• Make chocolate sauce to serve as a fondue at dinner parties and let guests dip their own strawberries.
Recipe Tips:
• Make sure your washed strawberries are patted dry before dipping into chocolate sauce otherwise the coating won’t stick as well.
• For an extra thick coating of chocolate after first coat is set on strawberries repeat process for a second coating.
• Pre-chilling your lined setting tray in freezer will help the coating to set quickly.
• Pre-chill your washed strawberries in the refrigerator prior to dipping to also help the chocolate to set quickly.
• If your chocolate dipping sauce is too runny it wont stick to the strawberries well. If it is too runny place your dipping sauce in the fridge for a few minutes or until it begins to thicken.
This recipe was kindly shared with us by Casey-Lee Lyons. Casey is a Queensland based Nutritionist and Naturopath and director of Live Love Nourish, an online health and wellness business. With over 10 years experience in the health, fitness and wellness industries, Casey-Lee specialises in nutritionally designed recipes, food sensitivities and programs that promote wellbeing. Learn more about what Casey does here: www.livelovenourish.com.au
