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Sensational Strawberries




There is something about strawberries that says Christmas in New Zealand. The bright red, sweet summertime berry is in full season mid-December and there are plenty to go around. In some places you can even pick your own. They are beautiful just as they are, with whipped cream or dipped in Chocolate or try some of the below recipes to mix things up a bit this Christmas. They are easy enough to even get the kids involved!


Christmas Tree Strawberries

Ingredients • OREO cookies
• Strawberries
• White chocolate
• Coconut oil
• Green gel food coloring (optional) • Star and assorted Christmas sprinkles

Instructions 1. Start by cutting off the tops of each strawberry. This will form the tree base.

  1. Once done, begin melting the white chocolate with just a dab of coconut oil. Not too much else the chocolate will start to taste coconutty!

  2. Add a small drop of green food gel coloring to the melted chocolate. I added just a dot as I wanted my trees to be a light green color. You can also leave some white, to make snow-covered trees!

  3. Now dip the strawberries in the melted chocolate mixture and lay this quickly onto a tray lined with wax paper.

  4. Add a star sprinkle to the strawberry tip and decorate “your tree” with sprinkles if so desired. Before the Chocolate sets.

  5. Place the tray in the refrigerator to set.

  6. Once your trees are set, take each tree, dab a small bit of melted chocolate in the center of an OREO cookie, and carefully the strawberry tree on top of the cookie.

Christmas Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Christmas Chocolate Covered Strawberries are so fun for the holiday season! Have fun decorating strawberries for Christmas with sprinkles and candy melts.

Ingredients fresh strawberries stems attached 250grams semi-sweet chocolate chips 250grams white chocolate chips 2 tsp vegetable oil or shortening divided 2 tbsp holiday sprinkles 120grams green candy melts or green frosting 120grams candy melts or red frosting

Instructions 1. Line a baking sheet with wax paper or parchment paper. Set aside. Wash your strawberries and dry completely on a plate lined with paper towels.

  1. Place the semi-sweet chocolate chips and white chocolate chips into two separate heat-proof bowls. Add 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil to each of the bowls and toss to combine.

  2. Microwave each bowl in 30-second increments, stirring in between, until the chocolates are melted. This should take about 60-90 seconds total.

  3. Insert a wood skewer into the stemmed end of the strawberry. Dip each strawberry into one of the melted chocolates until completely covered. Tap off any excess chocolate.

  4. Place the strawberries onto the prepared baking sheet. If covering with sprinkles, add those immediately. Otherwise, let the chocolate dry.

  5. Add the red and green candy melts to separate heat safe bowls. Melt in 30-second increments, stirring in between, until melted and smooth. Place into pastry bags or ziploc bags with the tip cut off. Or, you can use a fork to drizzle to candy melts over the strawberries.

  6. Decorate as desired. Top with more sprinkles if you’d like.

  7. Let the strawberries set completely before serving. Keep refrigerated if not serving right away. Best served within 24 hours.

Strawberry Santas

Ingredients 20 medium-large strawberries, hulled for a flat base 100g cream cheese 4–6 teaspoons icing sugar, to taste. (you can leave it out if you prefer) 40 mini dark-choc bits or chocolate chips

Instructions

1 Cut the top third off each berry and reserve. Stand berry bases on a serving platter.

2 Mix cream cheese and icing sugar until smooth and creamy. (Just beat the cream cheese if you don’t want it to be sweet)

3 Pipe or spoon 1 teaspoon cream onto flat berry tops. Place reserved berry tops on top. Use the smallest piping nozzle to pipe mixture onto the tip of each strawberry ‘hat’ (pompom) and onto ‘chest’ (button). You choose how many buttons you want.

4 Use tweezers to place 2 chocolate pieces onto each cream ‘face’ (eyes). Refrigerate until ready to serve. This recipe can also be made using whipped cream.


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elocal Digital Edition – December 2022 (#260)

elocal Digital Edition
December 2022 (#260)


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