Low-Cal Coconut & Chocolate Covered Strawberries
No Valentine’s Day is complete without chocolate-covered strawberries, at least not in my book.
There’s just something so luxurious and sexy about them. No amount of roses and bon bons can compare.
Eating chocolate-covered strawberries makes me feel like I’m on an episode of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, cruising through the Mediterranean on P. Diddy’s yacht, sipping Cristal.
OK, so that might be a stretch. But they make you feel pretty darn fabulous.
I don’t care if you’re single or you’ve been married forever, this is one Valentine’s Day tradition everyone can enjoy.
What doesn’t make you feel fabulous though: the crash from a sugar binge.
One large chocolate-covered strawberry from Edible Arrangements has 60 calories, 4 grams of fat, and 6 grams of sugar. Wow.
Sure, the 12 grams of sugar from two chocolate-covered strawberries isn’t going to kill you… but who wants to stop at two strawberries?!
So this Valentine’s Day, I created the most delicious, decadent and healthy Chocolate & Coconut Covered Strawberries that you’ve ever laid eyes on.
They only take five minutes to make, and have no added sugar besides the natural God-given sweetener in the berries.
They’re a great way to kick off a romantic evening, or the perfect passed app for your “Gal-entine’s” bash (thanks for the reference Julie)!
And, if you decide to spend the evening solo, these are also an amazing way to #TreatYoSelf!
Chocolate & Coconut Covered Strawberries
Ingredients:
15-20 Large Strawberries
1 T. Unrefined Virgin Coconut Oil
1/2 T. Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
Stevia (to taste)
1 T. Unsweetened Coconut Shreds
1 T. Cacao Nibs (optional)
Directions:
1. Wash and dry your big, beautiful berries.
2. Combine coconut oil (which is hard at room temperature) and cocoa powder in a small dish and microwave for 15 seconds. *Anti-microwave? You could warm it on the stove instead.
3. Spray a serving tray with cooking spray (to prevent sticking) and line up your berries. Drizzle the chocolate on top.
4. Quickly, before the coconut oil dries and hardens, sprinkle with the coconut shreds.
5. The “chocolate sauce” will dry pretty quickly, so there’s no need to refrigerate unless you’re saving for later. Garnish with cacao nibs, pop some champs, and feed to your lover, your friend, or yourself!
Total Calories: about 10-15
Calories will vary depending on the size of the berry and how much chocolate actually lands on them — do you have good aim? You can also actually dip the berries in the chocolate if sauce if you like to fully coat them like a traditional chocolate-covered strawberry.
As you can see in the pictures, this sauce isn’t as thick as pure chocolate and comes out as more of a glaze. However, a little goes a long way!
Wishing all of my sexy friends, family, and readers who are like family, an absolutely fabulous V-Day! xoxo
*This post is linked to Strange But Good, Tasty Tuesdays, What I Ate Wednesday, Real Food Wednesday, and Waste Not Want Not.
Kristina @ Damn Ten Pounds says:
This is the part of Valentines Day that I do love. I’ve made them before (disaster) and I make sure we have some on hand every year. Have you ever tried Shari’s Berries? HOLY CRAP they are good. They are absolutely a 180 of your healthy little treats :)
Whitney English says:
Oh wow. Just looked up Sherri’s Berries. Those look phenomenal. Definitely a 180 though!!
Lee says:
Youuuuuu clever cat! Never woulda thunk to do that :D I should see if Blake would eat one of those…He’d prolly spit it out. Me- not so much. GIMME GIMME GIMME MORE!
Whitney English says:
I ate about ten while making them!! They’re really good :) And then I scraped the sauce that didn’t make it on the strawberries off the plate and into my mouth….yeah.
Presley @ Run Pretty says:
Smart!
And random thing to think about, but I hate how the chocolate shell always falls off of the strawberry after the first bite. This fixes that problem. haha so yeah…
Whitney English says:
Haha, that is a very important point that I neglected to mention! The chocolate DOES NOT break off of these :) It’s also really easy to clean off of plates unlike pure chocolate which I’ve found to be a bit harder.
Natalie @ lovenataliemarie says:
I have always loved chocolate dipped strawberries! They’re so delicious and festive for Valentines day. Throw in some coconut to the mix> Sounds absolutely divine. :)
Whitney English says:
Thank you! Hope you have a great V-day!!
Davida @ The Healthy Maven says:
These do. I would do a lot of things for p. diddy if you could shove these in my face pretty please!
Whitney English says:
Haha, that’s the spirit!
Julie says:
Thanks for referencing me! Haha. So I went to the store for strawberries and they were fresh out. I’ll have to try again because I want to make these so badly now.
Whitney English says:
You’re welcome, it’s so cute and creative!
Man, you’re running out of everything lately, huh?! I can’t believe the stores were out; they’ve been everywhere lately. I’m going to chalk it up to my recipes this week :)
Erin @ The Almond Eater says:
Ahh you’re so right–chocolate covered strawberries DO make me feel like I should be on a boat or on a TV show or SOMETHING better than in my own kitchen. Either way, they are delicious and these in particular look extra delicious. No sugar added? I’ll take it!
Whitney English says:
Yeah, my kitchen is a far cry from anything luxurious, but it’s fun to pretend I’m all fancy every so often!
Karen @ Kama Fitness says:
How creative! It truly is the perfect way to eliminate nasty sugar calories.Your post totally reminded me of one time when I mixed melted cocoa chips with balsamic, it too was delish! ;) Great idea!
Whitney English says:
Yum, that sounds amazing!! What did you put in on?
Karen @ Kama Fitness says:
I used it for pancakes topped blackberries & peaches. YUM! ;)
Camille @ Challenge Mantra says:
Delicious! One question: why use two different types of coconut oil? What’s the difference?
Whitney English says:
Wow, major mistake! I meant to write “cocoa powder” the second time. Thanks for catching that!!!
Claudia Rosenbaum says:
Those look delish!
Whitney English says:
It’s all about the presentation ;)
Jody - Fit at 56 says:
Pass some this way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bethann Wagner says:
Chocolate covered strawberries are my absolute favorite! I used to go to Godiva with my mom and have one as a treat – I think there was one in Park Place mall, but I can’t remember now. Maybe it was Tucson mall? Regardless, I love them and these look phenomenal!
Whitney English says:
Yes, I remember! I think it was Park Place. I always liked to linger around there and sample stuff!
Sam Brown says:
Yes! I’m going to be making these (I never stop at two strawberries haha)
Last time I made chocolate coated strawberries I was having a dinner party and I put them in the freezer so the chocolate would set quickly. As with most things that get put in the freezer, I forgot about them and when we went to eat them they were completely stuck to the plate and we had to put a bowl of hot water under the plate so we could eat them. Fail!
Sam xx
Whitney English says:
Ugh that’s the worst! I actually spaced out when making these the first time and did the same thing. Then I left them out on the counter to defrost and a few hours later they were a pile of mush. Never put chocolate covered strawberries in the freezer, EVER! Lesson learned.
Kierston says:
This looks great! Love the use of coconut.
Whitney English says:
Thanks girl!
Cathy says:
Thank you for linking up at Tasty Tuesdays! Your post has been pinned to my Recipes from Tasty Tuesday board. I can’t wait to see what you link up next week!
Have a terrific weekend!
Cathy
APeekIntoMyParadise.com
#TastyTuesdays
Whitney English says:
Thanks for sharing!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says:
I’ll take a dozen! I’m all about #treatyoself. ;)
Whitney English says:
Haha, if these shipped well I’d send you some :)
Ali says:
I made some very similar but with coconut butter. Just melted it in the microwave and added dark chocolate sugar free cocoa et viola! I had some delicious chocolate covered straw-berries… amazing what a little coconut + cocoa will do for the ol’ sweet tooth. ;)
Whitney English says:
I know! So simple and delish :)
Sanch Mark says:
Oh heck yes, this recipe is so good, I really hope you make it this week- and if you do, please, please let me know your thought!
Tonya says:
Wow! I love this!!! I know you posted this back in February, but I am definitely going to make these soon- they sound absolutely delicious!
Tonya
Whitney English says:
Don’t worry, they’re good all year round :)