Directions

• Gather all your ingredients
• Fill a bowl with room temperature water, place all your strawberries in to the bowl and give them a whirl with your hands, during this process dirt and other little particles will come off the strawberries. At this point you can also remove the stems and leaves if you don’t want them. When washing the strawberries make sure to clean and wash the leaves and stems if you do decide to leave them on the strawberries.
• Melt the chocolate in a silicone or microwave safe glass bowl, I prefer using silicone bowls because they are easier to clean once the chocolate dries. Remember to add in 1 tablespoon of vegetable shortening for every 1 cup of chocolate you melt. Melt your chocolate for 30 seconds in the microwave, remove from the microwave and stir, return the bowl of chocolate into the microwave and melt the chocolate for 15 seconds, remove and stir. If needed repeat melting for 15 seconds. Try not to overheat your chocolate, this may cause the chocolate to burn or cease. Only heat your chocolate in 15 seconds intervals at a time to prevent burning.
• If you are coloring your chocolate, this is the point where we add in the coloring. I prefer to use powdered food coloring from The Sugar Art from the Elite line. If you are using their colors, start by adding in 1/8 tsp of powdered color to 1 cup of chocolate, make sure to mix very well and allow the color to develop before adding in more color.
• Stir your chocolate to make sure it is still melty and workable. Take your strawberry and grab it by the leaves or stem if they are still attached. If you removed the leaved and stem use a toothpick inserted in the middle to help you dip the strawberries. Submerge the strawberry all the way near to the leaves or at least half way of the strawberry. Remove the strawberry from the dipping cup and shake the excess chocolate lightly from the strawberry by shaking your wrist slowly.
• Place the strawberry on parchment paper or a non-stick silicone mat to dry. If you are adding toppings, now is the time to add them. While the chocolate is still wet sprinkle the top of the strawberry with sprinkles or any topping of your choice. Allow to dry a few minutes.
• To add lines to your strawberries, allow the dipped strawberry to dry. While it is drying, add some melted chocolate to a piping bag or sandwich bag and cut a very tiny hole.
• If you want to add glitter to your strawberries allow them to dry completely, take The Sugar Art Diamond Dust in the color desired and spray your strawberries, the fat from the chocolate will help the Diamond Dust to adhere to the strawberries.