A Berry Easy Idea For Any Theme: Candy Coated Strawberries

These are always fun and a GREAT party food.  The best part is they are sooo easy to make, they just take a few simple steps.  Additionally, you can make a lot of chocolate covered strawberries for $10...FAR more than the dozen you can get on that commercial that comes out around valentines day! 

The ones in the picture are white and purple, but you can make any color combo you want. 

Step 1:  You want to start off with fresh berries.  Buy them the morning you plan to use them or the night before.  Strawberries can be fragile so you want to work with the freshest possible.

Step 2:  I use Wilton candy melts.  They are inexpensive, can be found at any craft store and walmart, and they come pre tinted in most colors.

Step 3:  You can microwave it but I find that a double boiler works best...well my version of a double boiler.  I use a Pyrex glass mixing bowl and place it over a small pot with very little water in it.  You do not want the water to touch to bowl, only the steam.  Put you candy melts in there until they start to melt and then mix them. Once they are melted you can turn the burner off.  You can always cut it back on if you need to. 

 If you are going to use more than one color you will need to repeat step 3 but use a different bowl and do not use your second color until your first color has cooled off and started to harden.

Step 4:  Dip your berries into the candy melt and then place it on wax paper. 

Step 5:  If you are doing more than one color wait until the candy hardens from the first dip and then repeat step 4 with your second color.

Step 6:  DO NOT PUT THEM IN YOUR FRIDGE until they are 100% hardened.  Your best bet is to make them the day you plan on using them and leave them out and put your leftovers in the fridge.  I have never had any issues with my berries by putting them in the fridge, but I have read enough blogs from people who have to know not do this until they are considered left overs. 

Some FUN color combo ideas: 

Red White and Blue for July 4th

White and Green for Christmas

Whatever your wedding colors are

pink and green for a baby shower

blue and yellow for a baby shower

the color of a flag for an international food themed event