Dairy Free Chocolate Strawberry Reindeer

I posted a how-to video for this on Instagram, nevertheless it was too cute to not embody on the weblog. We have now a pair vacation gatherings this month and I used to be in quest of allergy-friendly gadgets that impress but take minimal time to whip up!

I considered chocolate-covered strawberries because it’s one thing even my klutzy self has made with success prior to now, and when you grasp these, you possibly can simply change the toppings for various holidays (a fast Pinterest search guided me to Rudolph)! With the microwaving shortcut, this one might be finished in half-hour and my little style testers have been delighted!

What You’ll Want

• 1 container of strawberries (16 oz)
• 3/4 cup chocolate chips
• Parchment paper
• Pretzels
• Purple circle sweet or dried cranberries for the noses
• Sweet eyes, discovered at craft shops like Michaels or choose grocery shops. You can too simply make eyes by chopping up items of sweet (ie licorice), dried fruit, or use spherical white pearl sprinkles. If dairy allergic reactions aren’t a difficulty, Nick had the thought to open up a packet of Swiss Miss Marshmallows cocoa combine and select the tiny dehydrated marshmallows to make use of as eyes!

Meals Allergy Alternate options

For dairy-free chocolate we use Get pleasure from Life model (I get it at Amazon or Target), which is freed from 14 main meals allergens and made in a devoted nut-free facility. As a substitute of utilizing M&Ms for the reindeer nostril, we swapped in Skittles as a dairy-free, nut-free various.

Skittles and the sweet eyes might be exhausting to chew for youthful youngsters although, so subsequent time I’ll dry dried cranberries for the nostril and make my very own eyes!

1. Wash & Completely Dry the Berries

It’s vital to ensure the berries are dried completely earlier than dipping. Water can forestall the chocolate coating from adhering nicely to the berries, and droplets of water within the chocolate dip can mess up the consistency.

2. Prep the “Antlers”

I used our trusty food scissors to chop my pretzels, however you possibly can simply break them by hand or use a paring knife on a chopping board. I then roughly matched up my pretzel items in pairs, in order that they’re able to insert after dipping the berries. These do NOT should be excellent!

I noticed on Pinterest most ppl put the antlers on first after which dipped the berries, however I discovered it a lot simpler to dip first. Should you make one finish of your pretzel sticks sharp, they’ll be a lot simpler to insert into the strawberry.

I additionally noticed some versions utilizing entire mini pretzels caught on prime of the berries (as an alternative of minimize up pretzels), which might prevent this whole step!

3. Soften the Chocolate

The right solution to soften chocolate is slowly by way of a double boiler over stovetop, however I’ve been utilizing the microwave shortcut with out subject. I like to make use of a small deep bowl or glass measuring cup with a deal with. The KEY to not burning chocolate chips within the microwave is to do small increments of time and verify on it every time.

• Small Increments. Begin with 30 seconds, then another spherical of 30 seconds. Add on further time in increments of 15 seconds, ensuring to verify the chocolate every time till it’s melty. I then stir the chocolate after taking it out of the microwave.
• NO water. Ensure that not even a drop of water will get contained in the bowl, or the chocolate could “seize” and grow to be a clay-like consistency.
• I add an non-compulsory spoonful of coconut oil previous to melting, which allegedly thins out the melted chocolate for extra fluid dipping, however that is undoubtedly not a necessity.

4. Dip

Whereas gripping onto the strawberry leaves, dip every strawberry within the melted chocolate, scrape among the extra chocolate off on the sting of the bowl, and place it down on parchment paper to “set.”

I dip about 4 – 5 berries in a row, pause to brighten them, after which microwave the dipping chocolate about 15 seconds once more earlier than resuming dipping.

5. Adorn

Earlier than the chocolate coating dries, stick in your antlers, eyes and nostril. That’s it!

Serve the identical day, or refrigerate if serving the next day. I might serve these inside 24 hours of creating them.