Ghost Strawberries

These chocolate covered strawberries are a sweet and 'spooky' (to be honest I think they are too cute to be scary). They are perfect for a healthier sweet snack for Halloween.

I really love chocolate covered strawberries and I find that kids love them too! I find it hard to get kids I know to eat fruit and when they are smothered in chocolate how could they say no! They are a great alternative to some of the more sugary Halloween treats and they are so much fun to make and eat!

I hope that you love them and enjoy making them.

- 1 Punnet Strawberries. approx 8 large (I use the Berrysweet brand)

- white chocolate chips

- milk chocolate chips

- canola oil

- Large plate (able to go into the fridge)

- Baking paper

- 2 Small spoons

- Paper towels

- Small bowl for white chocolate chips (microwaveable)

- Tiny bowl for milk chocolate chips (microwaveable)

- Small zip-lock bag

-

- Microwave

First get a large plate and cover it with paper towels this will drain the strawberries. Then under cold running water wash all of the strawberries and make sure they all look delicious and bug and dirt free (If there is a malformed strawberry at this stage you may choose to sacrifice it and eat it to make sure that they taste delicious. I may have done this to please the ghost Gods)

Then pat your 'chosen' strawberries with the baking paper and make sure they are all dry otherwise the chocolate might not stick well to them.

White Chocolate Chips

I'm doing the quick way of melting chocolate which is in the microwave. You can melt the chocolate over a pot of simmering water but this was is fast and always works better for me. Pour 1 teaspoon of canola oil over the white chocolate chips then place in the microwave for 30 seconds on about 80% max power.

Take the chocolate chips out of the microwave and stir them to makes sure that the heat is being evenly distributed though out the chocolate (They will not be melted at this point but you do not want to burn the chocolate so you have to do it in steps). Return it to the microwave for 10 more second, the take the chocolate out and stir. Repeat these 10 seconds of heating until the chocolate has melted. Then put the white chocolate aside (resist the urge to dip your fingers in it but no one will judge you if you do!)

Milk Chocolate Chips

This is exactly the same as for the white chocolate chips described as above except the heating times will be less because there are less of these chips to melt (meaning they may burn easier). Place 1/4 teaspoon of canola oil over the milk chocolate chips and place in the microwave for 20 seconds. Then take out the chocolate and stir. Repeat with 10 second bursts of heat until these are yummy and melted too. the put aside.

Now the delicious and fun part! Coating the strawberries!!!!

Take the paper towel off the large plate and replace it with baking paper. Then take the washed strawberries and dip them into the white chocolate and coat them evenly. don't worry if they are not perfect they are ghosts and ghosts come in all shapes and sizes!

Then place the coated strawberries on the baking paper with a long 'tail' coming off the tip of strawberry to make it look like a ghost tail (The size may vary depending on the type of ghosts you have seen).

You will find that the strawberries will start to harden before going into the fridge. The canola oil helps harden the chocolate (fake tempering) and give it a hard shiny coating. Making for a strong and delicious ghost!

WARNING!!! Left over chocolate should be consumed straight away because it is delicious and throwing away chocolate is a crime under the Willy Wonka act of 1978. (I think, just lick the bowl X)

Now the creative part take the melted milk chocolate and place it in the corner of a small zip-lock bag. Cut the corner of the zip-lock bag to allow the chocolate to come out like a 'piping' bag (you can use a piping bag if you wish but these work really well and no clean up!

Now draw faces or any decoration on the coated strawberries, place into the fridge until ready to serve.

Now these are very special ghosts so make sure to take the strawberries out of the fridge and eat them with people you love!

If you want to give them as a gift you could wrap them up in clear cellophane, tie with a bow and they are done!

I hope you like these little ghosts I really love making them and I hope my sense of humor did not make you cringe but if it did just try making these and you will see why I get so intensely happy when I write about them!