Mexican Chocolate Dipped Strawberries are a decadent way to end any meal and always a favorite with all my guests. The secret is they are incredibly easy to make ahead, giving me more time to spend with my friends and family.
From my earliest memories, seeing a tray of chocolate dipped strawberries meant a special occasion. We never had these at home, I only saw them at parties or restaurants. Inevitably it was someone’s birthday, anniversary, or Valentine’s Day. There is something very romantic about dipped strawberries – maybe because they often appear to have a heart shape.
With the heat of summer coming on strong this week, we picked up some beautiful strawberries at the farmer’s market – sweet with just the right amount of tartness to stand up to the chocolate coating. With the thermometer moving steadily toward 90+ degrees, we looked forward to a refreshing dessert after dinner.
Even with temps soaring, this is an easy recipe to make. You won’t heat up the whole kitchen – you just need enough heat under the chocolate to melt it. I had the berries washed, dried, and the chocolate melted in no time. Dipping only takes a few minutes, then into the fridge to cool. They are great to make ahead – a sweet luxury any time fresh strawberries are in season!
For today’s rendition, I chose to go with a Mexican hot chocolate flavor profile. This drink is typically made with semisweet chocolate, cinnamon, and a touch of heat from cayenne pepper. I took those same ingredients and turned them into a dip for fresh fruit. Oh yeah!
Dipping is easy – use a narrower bowl to make it easy to coat even large berries
To make the chocolate flow more easily, I used a trick I learned from chef and cookbook author Pam Anderson – coconut oil! Yep, just a little added to the chocolate as it melts makes the chocolate smooth as silk. And because there is no liquid involved, there is no chance for your chocolate to seize on you! Plus, coconut oil is a dairy-free ingredient, so as long as you use dairy-free chocolate this is safe for anyone with lactose or dairy issues.
Aren’t these beauties the perfect ending to any meal? I think they extra fun at a casual barbecue because people aren’t expecting anything fancy and they will oooh and ahhh when they spy these treats. Plus fresh from the fridge, they are refreshingly cool, perfect for hot summer nights.
Chilled berries lift right off the parchment and are less shiny
I hope you have a wonderful week ~ I’ll see you again on Friday for another fun and delicious recipe!
Did you enjoy this recipe? Let me know in the comments, I love hearing from you!
Key Ingredients for Mexican Chocolate Dipped Strawberries:
- Fresh strawberries
- Chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
- Coconut oil
- Cinnamon
- Cayenne pepper, optional
Do I have to use strawberries for dipping?
You can use the same chocolate mixture to dip any fruit you like. I think pineapple (patted dry) would be a phenomenal combination. What else would you serve it with?
PRO Tip:
If you want plain chocolate for dipping, leave out the cinnamon and cayenne – probably the best choice if you will be serving children.
How to make Mexican Chocolate Dipped Strawberries:
- Clean and dry the strawberries; set them on parchment-covered baking sheets, leaving a little room between each one
- Melt the chocolate and coconut oil together over a pan of heated water, sprinkle with the cinnamon and cayenne and stir until smooth, silky, and fully melted
- Dip the berries in the chocolate, covering nearly all of the surface; set on the prepared baking sheets, leaving enough room between them for the chocolate to pool slightly around the bottom edge
- Let the chocolate set then cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate if made early; return to room temperature before serving
PRO Tip:
If you want to be super indulgent, you can double dip the berries. Dip them, let them set up, reheat the chocolate and dip them again. Oh, what a fabulous treat!
PRO Tip:
Be sure to make extra berries so you have a couple to use for taste testing to be sure the balance of cinnamon and cayenne are just right.
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Gluten-Free Tips:
Be sure the chocolate chips and spices are gluten-free before using. If you have any questions, contact the manufacturer. If you need dairy-free too, look for dairy-free chocolate chips, such as Enjoy Life brand, which are gluten, dairy, nut, soy, and GMO free.
Mexican Chocolate Dipped Strawberries (Gluten/Dairy Free options)
Fresh, ripe strawberries dipped in melted spiced chocolate are real treats on hot summer nights. They are the perfect blend of fresh berries, creamy chocolate, with a hint of cinnamon and just a touch of heat from the cayenne. Absolutely delicious!
Ingredients
- Fresh whole strawberries, preferably with stems and leaves intact
- Semisweet chocolate chips (dairy free if needed)
- Coconut oil (use 1 tsp per cup of chocolate chips)
- Ground cinnamon (use 1/2 tsp per cup of chocolate chips)
- Ground cayenne pepper (use about 1/4 tsp per cup of chocolate chips), optional
Instructions
- Clean the strawberries and pat completely dry with towels. If they are damp the chocolate will not stick to them. You can do this a day in advance and set them on baking sheets to fully dry.
- When you are ready to dip the strawberries, line baking sheets with parchment paper. Set the baking sheets with the fruit on it beside the stove.
- Place the chocolate and coconut oil in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Sprinkle with the cinnamon and cayenne (if using). Once the chocolate has begun to melt, stir the mixture often, moving the whole chocolate chips and oil to the bottom of the bowl, being careful to watch for any scorching.
- When the chocolate is nearly completely melted, remove the pan from the heat but leave the bowl sitting over the water. You need the chocolate to remain quite warm while you are dipping the berries. Stir until all the chocolate is completely dissolved and the coconut oil is blended into the chocolate. Lift the spoon and judge the thickness of the chocolate - if needed, you can add more chocolate or coconut oil to get it perfect. Carefully taste the chocolate and add more of the cinnamon and cayenne if desired.
- Dip each strawberry into the melted chocolate mixture. If your berries are large, tip them sideways so that the chocolate reaches almost to the top. Leave some of the red showing, making a more beautiful presentation and giving people something to hold while eating them.
- Once the berry is coated, lift it out of the chocolate, allowing the excess to drip back into the bowl. Transfer to the parchment-covered baking sheets. Set the berries slightly apart from each other to allow room for the chocolate to pool around them and the air to circulate, which will help them dry. Continue dipping until all the berries are done. If the chocolate starts to get too thick, return the pan to the heat, stirring until it is loosened up again, then continue dipping.
- Set the baking sheets aside, uncovered, until the chocolate is set. This can take several hours depending on the thickness of the chocolate coating, the humidity, and the temperature in your home. Once the chocolate is set, cover lightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate. This will help them release from the parchment.
- When ready to serve, set out at room temperature to warm up, about 1 hour before serving. These hold up beautifully on buffets - you can put them out before the party begins and they will still be perfect by the time your guests are ready for dessert.
- Store any leftovers, covered, in the refrigerator.
Notes
To dip about 100 strawberries for a large party, I used a large bag of chocolate chips from a warehouse store, about 4-1/2 pounds and 1/3 to 1/2 jar of coconut oil. Use your best judgment on the amount of melted chocolate you need, erring
on the side of too much so that the melted chocolate will be deep enough to easily coat all the berries you have. Add cayenne to taste; for mild try 2 to 3 teaspoons, adding more as desired; feel free to leave this out if you prefer.
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Welcome! The suggestions here are not intended as dietary advice or as a substitute for consulting a dietician, physician, or other medical professional. Please see the Disclaimers/Privacy Policy page for additional details. Unauthorized use, distribution, and/or duplication of proprietary material from The Heritage Cook without prior approval is prohibited. If you have any questions or would like permission, please contact me. We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. This page may contain affiliate links. This post was first shared in June 2016. The article was updated in 2021.
