Spooky Strawberries
Spooky Strawberries- Candy dipped strawberries transform into spooky characters making the perfect treat for any Halloween table.
October 24, 2022 by Nicole Collins
Guys…
Where the bleep has the time gone?
I have been SERIOUSLY slacking. But also, extremely busy at the same time.
How has it been almost a whole month since we chatted here?
I gotta be honest with you. I know what happened.
Between the seasons changing, my birthday, and Tiktok; I’ve been way too active to sit down and do the “admin” part of blogging.
Which is kind of ironic considering the writing part is the real reason I started this blog in the first place.
I hope you guys bear with me while I keep working on finding some balance in my life. I’m a Libra…I should be good at balance! But lately, I’m just not.
To make it up to you, how about I load you up with sugary treats this week. Does that sound fair?
First up…a creepy treat perfect for any spooktacular celebration.
Today, we’re making Spooky Strawberries!
These candy dipped strawberries are so freaking cute. And honestly, they don’t take nearly as much artistic talent as you may think. It’s as simple as dunk, decorate, enjoy!
So, let’s get to it.
We’re going to start with some colored candy melts. I wanted to make a couple different varieties, so I bought all the colors. But, I only used about a third of the bag of each color to dip a pint of strawberries. If you want to save a couple bucks, feel free to buy less colors. Or if you have more guests to entertain, buy more strawberries. If you get all of the same colors that I did, you’ll have PLENTY leftover to make a couple of batches.
I like to pour and heat the candy melts in the microwave in a small but deep glass ramekin. Since we’re not using that many candy melts at a time, using a small deep vessel helps create a small pool of candy that we can dunk our strawberries into with ease.
Now here’s one more note about the candy melts. If they’re not fresh, they will not melt to a smooth and pourable consistency. But, you’re not out of luck if that happens. Melt in some refined coconut oil a quarter teaspoon at a time, and the oil will help loosen up the candy to a dippable state.
Before we dip our strawberries, of course we want to wash them. But, we also need to dry them really really really well. If they are not completely dry, that candy coating will slip right off. So, dab them with a couple rounds of paper towels to make sure they’re as dry as possible.
I like to melt and work on one color at a time when it comes to dipping the strawberries. Insert a skewer into the top of the strawberry so you have something to hold on to while you dip. Dip the strawberry to completely coat it in the candy. Tap the skewer on the edge of the bowl to let the excess candy drip off. Then, place the dipped berries on a wax paper lined baking sheet to dry. If you’re making a creature that has eyes, attach your candy eyes while the candy melts are still wet. If not, wait until they’re dry to paint on the face.
The options are endless with the characters you can create with these. I made jack-o-lanterns out of my orange strawberries. I made ghosts and mummies out of my white strawberries. I made goblins and witches out of my light green berries. I made Frankenstein out of my dark green berries. And, I used black berries to make that iconic scream face. Now don’t get nervous about drawing faces onto these berries. I don’t have a steady hand at all, and I was able to do it! I did make a video showing how I drew each character, and you can check that out on my Tiktok or Instagram if you’re a visual learner.
Ok, everyone. I think you’ve got everything you need to make the Halloween showstopper this year! If you recreate them, make sure you tag me on social media so I can see too!
I hope you guys love these as much as I do. So, let’s eat!
Spooky Strawberries
Serves: 24-28 berries Print
Ingredients:
1 pint strawberries, washed and dried really well
24 oz candy melts in assorted colors (I used orange, white, black, light green, and dark green)
Candy eyes
Directions:
Line a large baking sheet with wax paper. Set aside.
Working one color at a time, add 3-4 oz of one color of candy melts to a small, deep ramekin. Melt in the microwave in 15 second intervals, stirring in between each interval, until the candy is a melted and pourable consistency. (This should take anywhere from 45-60 seconds.)
Insert a wooden skewer into the top of the strawberry, and dip the berry in the melted candy to coat the entire berry except for the hull (the leaves). Gently tap the skewer on the edge of the ramekin to allow the excess candy to drip off. Place on prepared baking sheet. If making a character that has eyes, attach candy eyes while the berries are still wet. Repeat with remaining berries. 3-4oz of candy melts will coat about 6-8 berries. Repeat with remaining colors, as desired.
Transfer some melted black candy melts to a piping bag. Snip off the tip, and use the piping bag to draw faces or designs onto the berries. For mummies, add melted white candy melts to a clean piping bag, snip off the dip, and drape lines in random directions over the berries. (I made jack-o-lantern faces on the orange berries, ghosts and mummies with the white berries, goblins and witches with the light green berries, Frankenstein with the dark green berries, and the Scream face with the black berries.)
Allow berries to set and dry for at least 30 minutes before serving. Serve immediately!
Recipe notes:
*These are best served fresh. If refrigerated, they will develop condensation which ruins the vibe. If you have leftovers, you will have to refrigerate them; so line a glass container with paper towels, arrange berries in a single layer, and top with another layer of paper towels before closing the lid. The paper towels will help absorb some of the moisture.
*You can choose to use less colors/make fewer characters to save a couple dollars. We need a total of about 2 full bags of candy melts to dip and decorate a pint of strawberries. If you buy all the colors, you’ll have melts left over. Save them for another project OR use them to dip more berries.
*You can buy colored candy melts at the craft store.
*If your candy melts are not fresh, they will not be smooth and dippable when you melt them. To correct that, melt in refined coconut oil, ¼ tsp at a time, until the candy melts thin out.
*If you’re a visual learner, you can see a video of how I decorated these on both my Tiktok and Instagram.
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