Okay, so you know how sometimes the BEST things come from the weirdest ideas? Like, who thought to put chocolate and peanut butter together? Genius! Well, these Carrot Chocolate Strawberries are kinda like that. I know, I know – it sounds a little crazy, but trust me on this one! We take fresh strawberries, give ’em an orange candy coating to look like little carrots, and then nestle them in yummy chocolate pudding. It’s such a fun treat, especially for parties or just to make someone smile. My kids went absolutely wild for these!
Why You’ll Love These Carrot Chocolate Strawberries
Seriously, you NEED these in your life! Why? Let me tell you:
- They’re SO fun to make – get the kids involved!
- Totally Instagrammable! Seriously, these are just plain cute.
- Chocolate + strawberries? It’s a match made in heaven.
- Themed party perfection! Think Easter, birthdays…any excuse!
- Super easy to customize. More on that later, but the possibilities are endless!
Ingredients for Your Carrot Chocolate Strawberries
Alright, let’s gather our goodies! You’ll need:
- Strawberries – about a pound, rinsed and *totally* dried. No soggy carrots here!
- One bag of orange candy melts. I like the bright orange ones!
- Parchment paper – keeps things from sticking, yay!
- A plastic baggie – the sandwich size is perfect.
- Clear cups – so you can see all the yummy layers!
- Crushed Oreos – for that dirt-like topping. Yum!
- One large box of chocolate pudding mix. The instant kind is easiest!
- Three cups of milk – whatever kind you like best.
Equipment You’ll Need
Okay, so before we get started, let’s make sure we have all our tools ready. Nothing’s worse than realizing you’re missing something halfway through! You’ll need a baking sheet (for the strawberries!), a small saucepan for melting those candy melts, something to stir with (I love my silicone spatulas), scissors for snipping the baggie, and measuring cups for the pudding. Easy peasy!
How to Make Carrot Chocolate Strawberries: Step-by-Step Instructions
Alright, buckle up, buttercups! Here’s how we turn simple ingredients into adorable Carrot Chocolate Strawberries. Don’t worry, it’s easier than it looks! Just follow along, and we’ll have a dessert masterpiece in no time.
Preparing the Strawberry “Carrots”
Okay, first things first, let’s get those strawberries looking like carrots! Grab your orange candy melts and that saucepan. Now, this is important: melt the candy melts on LOW heat. Seriously, low and slow is the way to go here. Stir CONSTANTLY! If you don’t, they’ll burn, and nobody wants burnt chocolate. Eww. Once it’s all smooth and melty, hold the pot at a slight angle. Grab a strawberry by the stem (that’s your handle!) and dip both sides in the orange chocolate. Let the excess drip off a bit – we don’t want gloppy carrots! Pop them onto your parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Repeat for all the berries. Now, let them set! This takes a little time, so be patient. Like, 20-30 minutes. While those are hardening, grab the rest of the candy melts and melt them the same way. Pour the chocolate into your plastic baggie and squeeze it all into one corner. Snip a *tiny* bit off the corner of the baggie with scissors. Now, drizzle that chocolate back and forth over the orange strawberries. So cute! Let that set too!
Assembling the Chocolate Pudding Base
Next up, let’s make that yummy chocolatey base! This part is super easy. Just follow the directions on your box of chocolate pudding. Seriously, can’t mess that up! Once the pudding is ready (it needs to set a bit, so give it a few minutes), grab your clear cups. Add about 2 tablespoons of crushed Oreos to the bottom of each cup. This is our “dirt” for the carrots! Then, spoon the chocolate pudding over the Oreos. Don’t fill it all the way to the top – we need room for our carrots! Finally, sprinkle a little more crushed Oreo on top of the pudding. Because why not? More chocolate is always a good idea!
Combining Carrot Chocolate Strawberries and Pudding
Okay, the moment we’ve been waiting for! Time to put it all together! Gently push one of your chocolate-covered strawberry “carrots” into the center of each pudding cup. Ta-da! Aren’t they adorable? Now, pop those bad boys into the fridge for at least 30 minutes. This lets the pudding set completely and the chocolate on the strawberries to harden up if it hasn’t already. Plus, cold pudding is just better, right? When you’re ready to serve, just grab them out of the fridge and get ready for some serious “oohs” and “aahs”! These Carrot Chocolate Strawberries are guaranteed to be a hit!
Tips for Perfect Carrot Chocolate Strawberries
Want your Carrot Chocolate Strawberries to be total showstoppers? Here’s the inside scoop! First, a little trick I learned the hard way: spray your baking sheet with cooking spray *before* you put the parchment paper down, or use magnets to hold the parchment paper in place. That stops it from sliding around while you’re dipping. Also, I can’t stress this enough: stir that chocolate *constantly* when it’s melting! Burnt chocolate is a sad, sad thing. And finally, make *sure* those strawberries are bone-dry before you dip them. Water and melted chocolate? Nope, not friends!
Variations on Your Carrot Chocolate Strawberries
Okay, so you’ve made the classic Carrot Chocolate Strawberries. Awesome! But what if you wanna get a little wild? No prob, Bob! There are tons of ways to mix it up. How about using white candy melts and then adding orange sprinkles? Or maybe try different colors of candy melts altogether! Rainbow carrots, anyone? You could even swap out the chocolate pudding for vanilla, or even butterscotch! Get creative – it’s your dessert, after all!
Storing Your Carrot Chocolate Strawberries
Got leftovers? Lucky you! The best way to keep these Carrot Chocolate Strawberries fresh is to pop the whole assembled cups into the fridge. But here’s a little secret: if you have any strawberries left *undipped*, store them separately. The chocolate-covered ones can make the pudding a little soggy if they sit too long. Just sayin’!
Frequently Asked Questions About Carrot Chocolate Strawberries
Got questions? I’ve got answers! Here are a few things I get asked all the time about these Carrot Chocolate Strawberries:
Can I use white chocolate instead of orange candy melts? Sure thing! Just add a few drops of orange food coloring to get that carrot-y color.
How long will the strawberries last? Honestly? Not long, because they’re so yummy! But seriously, they’re best enjoyed within a day or two. The strawberries will start to get a little soft after that.
Can I make these ahead of time? You can definitely prep some of the parts! Make the pudding and crush the Oreos a day ahead. But I recommend dipping the strawberries the day you’re serving them for maximum freshness.
What if my candy melts seize up? Oops! This happens sometimes. Try adding a *tiny* bit of vegetable oil or shortening and stirring like crazy. Sometimes that can bring them back! Just be careful not to add too much liquid.
Nutritional Information for Carrot Chocolate Strawberries
Okay, so let’s talk numbers. Now, keep in mind, this is just an *estimate*, because it all depends on the exact brands and amounts you use. But roughly, one of these Carrot Chocolate Strawberry cups will set you back around 300 calories, with about 15 grams of fat, 3 grams of protein, and 40 grams of carbs. Hey, it’s a dessert! Enjoy every bite!
Enjoy Your Delicious Carrot Chocolate Strawberries
Alright, that’s it! Go forth and make some Carrot Chocolate Strawberries! And hey, if you try them, leave a comment below and let me know what you think! Bonus points for pics!
Print
Adorable Carrot Chocolate Strawberries Delight in 30 Minutes
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes + refrigeration
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Melting, Dipping, Refrigerating
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This recipe combines fresh strawberries with orange candy melts to resemble carrots, paired with chocolate pudding cups for a delightful treat.
Ingredients
- Strawberries, rinsed and dried
- 1 bag Orange Candy Melts
- Parchment paper
- Plastic Baggie and Scissors
- Clear Cups
- Crushed Oreos
- 1 box Chocolate Pudding (large box)
- 3 cups milk
Instructions
- Rinse strawberries and place them on a paper towel to dry.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Melt Candy Melts (excluding 15-20) on LOW heat, stirring constantly until smooth.
- Hold the pot of chocolate at an angle, grab strawberries by the stem, dip both sides in the chocolate, and place on parchment paper. Repeat for all strawberries.
- Let strawberries set on your counter until hard.
- Cut the tip of a sandwich bag for the chocolate drizzle.
- Melt reserve candy melts on LOW stirring CONSTANTLY. Pour the chocolate into the baggie and squeeze to one side.
- Drizzle the chocolate from side to side over the strawberries on the parchment paper. Let set.
- Add 2 TB crushed Oreos to the bottom of each cup.
- Make pudding as directed on box.
- Pour pudding into cup over crushed Oreos. Top with more crushed Oreos.
- Place strawberry in center. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
- Use cooking spray or magnets to keep parchment paper in place.
- Stir chocolate constantly to prevent burning.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
