Chocolate is one of my favorite things. M&M's and Chocolate Ice Cream top the list.
In recent years, Chocolate Fountains have become a common site at weddings and other parties. A variety of snacks such as strawberries, marshmellows, pretzels and other fruits are available to be doused in warm, flowing chocolate. Being that I love chocolate so much, these are always a highlight of the wedding to me, especially when the cake isnt good!
As our first anniversary approached, we made a trip to Jackson for a friend's wedding. Mom had the top of our cake in her freezer so we decided to take it home on the plane. It was several weeks before the wedding so started to worry about what this year old cake would taste like. When we go home I divided the cake as we were taking a delayed anniversary trip several weekends after our anniversary. I put both pieces back in the freezer. When our anniversary finally arrived, I was so scared it would be horrible, I decided I would make something else to have for dessert as backup. I was walking through the grocery and saw some great looking strawberries so I picked them up. Then on the baking aisle, I found these little tubs of Bakers Dark Chocolate for dipping. It looked really easy so I picked on up. It turned out to be very easy to dip the strawberries. They served as a delicious, but unnecessary addition to our first anniversary dinner that we had at home. The cake was just as good 1 year later as it was on the wedding day. (I wish I had some now.)
Okay, I know, that was what, over 6 months ago? Well, since that first attempt at "dipping" I have fallen in love with chocolate dipped treats. I mostly thought it was made for fruit, until I attended a bridal shower for my friend Ashley. Her mother-in-law and sister-in-law had done this fabulous dipped pretzels. I must have had 5 or 6 that day! They dipped in white and dark chocolate and added pink sprinkles. They were beautiful. I really got addicted so I had to try it myself.
It is really sooo easy to make chocolate dipped treats. There is no need for one of those cute yet hard to clean fountains you can by at Bed Bath and Beyond. Baker's makes the cute little tub, but using its chocolate squares is just is easy. This weekend I had a craving and was feeling "artsy" so I went to work.
Chocolate Covered Pretzels
Melt 4 chocolate squares in a small bowl in the microwave following package directions.
Dip pretzel sticks in chocolate.
If the bowl is not deep enough, use a spoon. Scoop chocolate up in spoon then roll pretzel across spoon.
Place pretzel on wax paper.
Melt 1 or 2 white chocolate squares
Dip spoon in white chocolate then drizzle over chocolate covered pretzels in a back and forth motion.
Place plate/tray in the refrigerator for 10 minutes to let the chocolate set. Pretzels will get soggy if left in the fridge too long.
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Follow same directions as with pretzels.
Leave covered strawberries in the refrigerator until 15-30 minutes before serving.
Or, just dip the pretzel/strawberry in the warm chocolate and eat immediately :)
Sarah!! These look SO delicious! I wish I was at the office to get some. You know you could always stop by Greenspoint and drop some off I will wait on 45 for you to throw some out the window =) What great pictures too!
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