Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Cupcakes Food

CHOCOLATE-DIPPED STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• Gently rinse strawberries and dry on paper towels (berries must be completely dry). Line cookie sheet with waxed paper.
• In 1-quart saucepan, melt chocolate chips and shortening over low heat, stirring frequently. Remove from heat.
• Dip lower half of each strawberry into chocolate mixture; allow excess to drip back into saucepan. Place on waxed paper-lined cookie sheet.
• Refrigerate uncovered about 30 minutes or until chocolate is firm, or until ready to serve. Store covered in refrigerator so chocolate does not soften (if made with oil, chocolate will soften more quickly at room temperature).

CHOCOLATE-DIPPED STRAWBERRY CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 24 muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners.
• Beat cake mix, water, eggs, and oil in a bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until batter is blended. Divide batter into prepared muffin cups and sprinkle with strawberry pieces.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 19 to 22 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.
• Mix cocoa powder and melted butter in a bowl. Gradually beat confectioners' sugar, alternating with milk, into cocoa powder mixture with an electric mixer on medium speed. Add vanilla extract and continue beating until frosting is smooth. Spread frosting over cooled cupcakes.

CHOCOLATE-DIPPED STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• Wash strawberries and gently pat with paper towels until completely dry. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt semisweet chocolate and 1 tablespoon shortening at 50% power; stir until smooth. Dip each strawberry and place on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Freeze strawberries for 5 minutes., Meanwhile, microwave white chocolate and remaining shortening at 30% power until melted; stir until smooth. Stir in food coloring if desired. Drizzle over strawberries. Refrigerate until serving.

CHOCOLATE-STRAWBERRY CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Make the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with liners. Whisk the flour, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl. Combine the cocoa powder and espresso powder in a large bowl. Heat the milk in a small saucepan over medium heat until hot but not simmering; pour over the cocoa powder mixture and whisk until smooth. Let cool a few minutes, then add the granulated sugar and whisk until dissolved. Whisk in the vegetable oil, egg and vanilla, then whisk in the flour mixture until combined.
• Divide the batter among the prepared muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds of the way. Bake until the tops of the cupcakes spring back when gently pressed, about 20 minutes. Stir together the strawberry preserves and lemon juice and brush on the warm cupcakes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the chocolate-dipped strawberries: Microwave 4 ounces semisweet chocolate in a bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring, until melted. Dip the strawberries in the chocolate; place on a plate. Let set, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Make the frosting: Microwave the white chocolate and the remaining 2 ounces semisweet chocolate in separate bowls in 30-second intervals, stirring, until melted. Let cool. Beat 6 tablespoons butter and a pinch of salt in a bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth. Beat in the melted white chocolate. Add 1 cup confectioners¿ sugar; beat until fluffy, 3 minutes, then beat in 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1 tablespoon milk. Set the white chocolate frosting aside. Repeat this step with the melted semisweet chocolate to make a semisweet chocolate frosting.
• Spoon the white chocolate frosting onto one side of a piping bag fitted with a large round tip. Spoon the semisweet chocolate frosting next to the white chocolate frosting so the two flavors are side by side; pipe the swirled frosting onto the cupcakes. Top each with a chocolate-dipped strawberry.