Pearl & Crystal Strawberries

This simple, yet elegant dessert is perfect to satisfy any sweet tooth but not to excess.  The aesthetic of the strawberry decorations make this a suitable addition to special occasion dishes such as my Romantic Surf & Turf Dinner or a Mother's Day Brunch.  You can obviously use these instructions with milk chocolate or any other decorations as you please, but the white chocolate with the "pearl" and "crystal" decorations make a beautiful combination for this sweet treat and gives delightful texture to the creamy chocolate and juicy strawberries!

Ingredients:

Fresh whole strawberries

White chocolate chips (about 1 cup per 6-8 strawberries)

Cupcake/ cake decorations (pearl dragees and clear sprinkles)

1. Place a metal or glass bowl over a pot with about 1-2 cups of water to create a double boiler.

   

   Glass bowl in pot to make double broiler
   with melted white chocolate.

2. Pour white chocolate chips in metal or glass bowl and turn heat onto low-medium heat, to slowly melt chocolate.
3. Stir frequently to ensure the chocolate doesn't clump.
4. Lay a piece of wax paper on a baking sheet or cutting board or platter.
5. Once chocolate is completely melted and smooth, take a fresh strawberry by the leaves and dip it into the chocolate in swirling motion to coat all sides of the berry.
6. Slowly remove from chocolate bowl in circular motion to thin out the bottom tip, lay the berry on the wax paper on one side.
7. Decorate with pearl dragees and/ or clear sprinkles.  Repeat for desired number of strawberries.
8. Refrigerate the baking sheet with the completed decorated berries for about 15 minutes or until chocolate has solidified and decorations are firm and won't come off.
9. Move from baking sheet to serving dish...Enjoy!