Long-Stemmed Low-Carb ChocoPerfection Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

What a low-carb treat for your Valentine anytime!

Valentine's Day is coming on Thursday, so have I got a special idea for that low-carb man or woman in your life who deserves to enjoy the sweetness of life without the sugar. What better way to show them how much you love and adore their role in your life than to present some long-stemmed low-carb ChocoPerfection chocolate-covered strawberries as a perfect present? OOOO LA LA!!!

I have my friend and fellow low-carb author (CARB WARS: Sugar Is The New Fat) and blogger Judy Barnes Baker for planting this idea into my head after her recent appearance on Better TV. CLICK HERE to see Judy sharing her special recipe for making this delectably delicious sugar-free dessert with host Audra Lowe.

If you would like Judy's recipe as featured on Better TV, then she was kind enough to post it along with several variations here.

But I gotta tell you, if I'm gonna make chocolate-dipped strawberries, then it's gonna have to have ChocoPerfection in it! Even Judy wrote these glowing remarks about my blog sponsor ChocoPerfection because this chocolate is the real deal when it comes to sugar-free, low-carb goodness. That's why I had them make me my very own chocolate bar this year--the raspberry, dark chocolate "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Bar!" Life without chocolate is unimaginable! So DON'T DO IT! :D

With inspiration from Judy and a little homemade creativity in the kitchen today, I made my own recipe for chocolate-laden strawberries the livin' la vida low-carb way! ENJOY this recipe on Valentine's Day and any day you want to treat yourself to something that tastes divine and good for your waistline! Lemme know what you think!

CHOCOPERFECTION CHOCOLATE-COVERED STRAWBERRIES

2 dark chocolate ChocoPerfection bars
2 Tbs Nutiva Coconut Oil
1 Tbs Hershey's Dark Chocolate Cocoa Powder
5 packets of the sugar-free sweetener of your choice
12 plump long-stemmed strawberries

Break up the ChocoPerfection bars and place in a microwavable bowl. Add coconut oil on top and microwave for 60 seconds. Stir chocolate for 30 seconds breaking up the big chunks into smaller pieces and then microwave for another 30 seconds.

Stir chocolate for 30 seconds and add cocoa powder and sweetener (I used a new sweetener not yet available on the market yet, but you can use stevia, Splenda, or whatever you enjoy using as an alternative to sugar). Mix thoroughly until smooth (there may be some lingering chunks of chocolate that could require you to microwave a little longer, but be careful not to overcook it because the chocolate will burn).

Grab a larger bowl and fill it up with ice to serve as an ice bath for the bowl with your melted chocolate. Again, take your spoon and stir the soupy chocolate mixture as the ice cools it down until it begins to thicken up a bit. When it reaches a moderately thick consistency (usually after about two minutes), grab a strawberry and dip it in the chocolate and slowly twirl it around until it is completely covered except for the very top where the stem is. As Judy said in her recipe, turn it upside down right before placing it on your serving plate. Repeat with remaining strawberries.

I placed mine in the freezer for about five minutes to allow the chocolate to set and harden up. Then serve! Christine thought she had died and gone to heaven with this recipe and got a special early Valentine's present from her favorite bunny (that's me!). I KNOW you're gonna eat this up (LITERALLY!) too. ENJOY!!!

Low-Carb ChocoPerfection-Dipped Strawberries

Chocolate-covered strawberries made with ChocoPerfection bars

You don't need me to tell you how amazingly delicious the fiber-rich, sugar-free, low-carb ChocoPerfection bars are. I've been a big fan of them for over a year now and will use them in all kinds of unique recipes (like my Stuffed Low-Carb Chocolate French Toast recipe) that call for chocolate (shouldn't that be like EVERY recipe?! HA!).

After telling you about how great ChocoPerfection bars are poured over blueberries a few months back for some homemade low-carb Raisinets, did you also know that ChocoPerfection bars can also perfectly complement another low-carb fruit--STRAWBERRIES! Yep, you can enjoy the decadence of rich, mouth-watering chocolate as you dip this juicy and plump natural dessert into a pool of hot melted ChocoPerfection bars. Ooooo, mmmmm, holy cow! Oh my goodness, your mouth won't know what hit it!

Special THANKS to our friends at Low-Carb Connoisseur for providing this outstanding healthy and nutritious recipe to make for your significant other after a romantic dinner, for your co-workers to show them how much you appreciate them, or at your next party. This versatile recipe will hit their sweet spot and they'll never know they aren't eating sugar! Shhhh, it'll be our little secret! :D ENJOY!

CHOCOPERFECTION-DIPPED STRAWBERRIES

6 ChocoPerfection Milk or Dark Chocolate bars
24 large strawberries, rinsed and patted dry, with stems

1. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or waxed paper. Break ChocoPerfection bars into pieces; place in the top part of a double boiler or a metal bowl over (but not touching) a pot of simmering water. Stir one to two minutes, until chocolate is melted. Remove from heat.

OPTIONAL WAY TO MELT CHOCOLATE: ChocoPerfection bars may also be melted in the microwave. Place in a bowl; microwave on high for 1 to 2 minutes, checking every 30 seconds, making sure chocolate does not bubble at all.

2. Holding each strawberry by the stem, dip in chocolate, leaving a 1/4 inch border at the top. Gently shake off excess chocolate; place berry on foil. Repeat with remaining berries. Reheat chocolate if necessary.

3. Chill berries 40 minutes, until chocolate is set. May be prepared up to a day ahead.