Homemade Valentine's Day Gift Idea

I did this last year and it turned out really great!  If you want to do something special for your loved one instead of buy candy, or even if you want to do both, it's a great way to show someone you care and took the time to MAKE them something this year!

Recipe For Homemade Chocolate Covered Strawberries, Pretzels and Rice Krispies Squares

The base for each of these things is all the same.  Whatever you want to add to make decorate it your own special way is up to you!

What you will need for the coating:

1 Package of milk or dark chocolate candy coating (or both!)
1 Package of white chocolate candy coating

NOTE: I got both of these in the baking section at walmart, they are also called chocolate bark or white chocolate bark.  I used the off brand kind, and it is microwavable.  You can use the name brand as well, just make sure you check if it is microwaveable or if you have to use a double boiler method to melt it.

What is the double boiler method?  This means you will need a medium sized pot, and a medium sized metal bowl big enough to fit your chocolate into.  You need to put water into the pot, and set the bowl on top of it, placing it on the stove.  You now have a double boiler!  Make sure that the water in the pot is not touching the bottom ove the bowl.  Turn the heat to high until the water begins to boil.  Place your chocolate inside the metal bowl and turn the heat to medium.  Stir the chocolate frequently with a rubber spatula as it melts until it is all melted.  Turn the heat down a little more and you are good to dip away!  You need one double boiler for each flavor of chocolate you are using.

The benefit of the double boiler method?  You can use the "better" chocolate, which sometimes cannot be microwaved.  Also, you do not have to keep re-heating your chocolate in the microwave, as you do with the off brand chocolate "coating" or "bark."

Items to chocolate coat and other tools:

1-2 packages  Strawberries, depending on how many you want.
1 King Size Rice Krispies Treat Bar
1 Bag of Pretzel Rods
Parchment Paper
Toothpicks
2-3 Metal spoons, 1 for each flavor of chocolate you are using

Anything else you want to sprinkle on the outside of the chocolate coating, if anything.  (Crushed up toffee, pecans, almonds, peppermints, or heart sprinkles, etc, be creative!)

Any other candies or sweets you want to cover! 

NOTE:  If you are considering candies that are small, like gummy bears, they turn out really good but it's gonna take awhile if you want them individually coated and they are a little more tricky to dip!

The Process:

 STEP 1:  First you need to prepare the foods you are coating before melting the chocolate.  I leave the stems on my strawberries because this is what I use to dip them in the chocolate.  For the rice krispies bar, i cut it into bite sized cubes.  The pretzels require no extra work!  Also, lay out a large piece of the parchment paper so you can immediately start dipping into the chocolate when it is melted.  If you don't have a lot of room then just get one big piece laid out.  If you have more counter space I would get a couple large pieces ready.   If the corners roll up just use something heavy like a soup can to hold the edges down.

STEP 2:  Now you need to melt the chocolate. 

Use the microwave- you need a bowl for each flavor of chocolate you have.  Break up half of each bar and place in its own bowl.  If you need to melt more you can always go back and break up more and put it in the bowl.  Heat up for about 30 second intervals, after each 30 seconds take out and stir with a spoon.  Continue to do this until it is all the way melted.

If you choose to use the double boiler method- or need to use this method, read above *what is the double boiler method*. 


STEP 3:  Now you are ready to begin!  Just dip the items into the chocolate and place on the wax paper to let the chocolate harden, easy as that!

Tips and Decoration Ideas

1.  For the rice krispies- use the toothpicks to dip these into the chocolate.

2.  For the pretzels and strawberries- 

 I dipped the pretzels halfway, that way they aren't so messy to eat. 

For both of these items, you can do the ribbon decoration method, as seen below in my pictures.  Do this after you have coated the strawberries and/or pretzels in the chocolate of your choosing and it has hardened.   Grab a spoon, and dip it into the a flavor/color of chocolate other than what the item is already coated in *I. E.  if it is coated in milk chocolate, use a white chocolate drizzle*.  The chocolate has to be runny enough to drizzle off the spoon, so make sure it stays heated/liquid.  Drizzle the chocolate back and forth across the strawberries and/or pretzels one at a time, the higher you hold the spoon the thinner and prettier the drizzle will be. 

Refrigerate strawberries.  Pretzels and rice krispies can be left out at room temperature.

ONE OTHER IDEA:

If you want to do this with your valentine, it's pretty fun!  And you can also do this fondue style, all you need is a fondue kit, which you can pick up at walmart as well!  It's another romantic idea! 

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!