Ghost Strawberries

These white chocolate-covered strawberry ghosts are spooky enough for the witching hour. Juicy, ripe chocolate-covered strawberries are a classy dessert normally associated with Valentine’s Day, but they’re so delicious that we say it’s high time to enjoy them all year long.

Swapping in white chocolate for the dark chocolate doesn’t just make them scary Halloween treats: The white chocolate makes the berries a tad sweeter and accommodates added flavorings such as almond extract. Best of all, ghost strawberries are a fun recipe to make with children. These treats are a welcome scare at any school party, office potluck or Halloween bash.

Ingredients for Ghost Strawberries

• Fresh strawberries: Even though they’re covered in chocolate, strawberries are still the star of this recipe. Look for bright red strawberries without bruises or blemishes. Ripe, tasty strawberries will smell very sweet, so give them a sniff. Pick strawberries that are big, since they’ll be easier to dip. Store them in the fridge if you get them more than a day ahead of time and use any extras in another strawberry dessert.
• White baking chocolate: Using sweet white chocolate gives these berries a ghostly pallor. Use a chopped white chocolate bar or chunks since chocolate chips don’t melt very easily.
• Shortening: Adding a bit of shortening to the melted chocolate slightly thins it, making it smoother and easier to work with. Plus, it will stay softer a bit longer.
• Almond extract: Nutty almond extract adds complex flavor to the chocolate coating, making this treat appealing to grown-ups and kids alike.
• Miniature semisweet chocolate chips: Tiny chips make quick eyes and, when melted, create the mouths for the strawberry ghosts.

Directions

Step 1: Clean the berries

Wash the strawberries well. Gently pat them with paper towels until completely dry.

Editor’s Tip: If the berries are damp, the chocolate coating won’t adhere well, so don’t skip this step!

Step 2: Melt the chocolate

In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the white chocolate and shortening at 50% power; stir until smooth. Stir in the almond extract.

Editor’s Tip: If you prefer, you can also melt chocolate in a double boiler over the stovetop.

Step 3: Dip each ghost

One berry at a time, dip the strawberries in the chocolate mixture. Then place them on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet. A little excess chocolate will drip down, forming each ghost’s tail.

Step 4: Add the eyes

Immediately press two chocolate chips into the coating for eyes.

Step 5: Freeze

Once all the berries are dipped and have their eyes, place the baking sheet in the freezer. Freeze for about five minutes, until the coating is completely firm.

Step 6: Make the mouths

Melt the remaining semisweet chocolate chips in the microwave. Stir until smooth. Dip a toothpick into the melted chocolate and draw a mouth on each ghost.

Step 7: Chill

Refrigerate the strawberries until ready to eat.

Ghost Strawberry Variations

• Switch up the extract: Vanilla extract is another tasty option if you don’t have almond extract. If you want the easiest preparation, you can omit the extract altogether. Extract makes the chocolate harden more quickly, so consider leaving it out if you’re cooking with kids.
• Jazz up the decorations: Swap in candy eyes for the chocolate chips. Pipe on the mouths rather than drawing them with a toothpick. Add colorful hair with small sprinkles.
• Make strawberry pumpkins: Add a few drops of orange food coloring to the white chocolate to make jack-o’-lanterns.

How to Store Ghost Strawberries

You can keep strawberry ghosts in the refrigerator or at room temperature. Storing them at room temperature keeps the chocolate layer nice and soft. In the fridge, the chocolate will harden. Either way, wrap the dipped berries tightly in storage wrap or seal in an airtight container.

How long do strawberry ghosts last?

Left on the countertop, chocolate-covered strawberry ghosts will keep for up to 24 hours. Keep them away from direct light and heat.

In the refrigerator, the ghost chocolate-covered strawberries will keep for up to three days. The chocolate will harden in the cold, so plan to take them out of the fridge an hour or so before you plan to serve.

Can you freeze strawberry ghosts?

You can also freeze ghost chocolate-covered strawberries. Place the prepared berries on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Freeze until firm, then transfer the berries to a freezer-safe container. They’ll keep for up to three months in the freezer.

Can you make strawberry ghosts ahead of time?

These spooky berries could work as a make-ahead Halloween recipe. Make them up to a day in advance, then store them in the refrigerator until ready to serve. (If you make chocolate-covered strawberries too far in advance, the berries will start leaking juice.) Once the chocolate coating and decorations are completely firm, cover the berries in storage wrap.

Ghost Strawberry Tips

What if my chocolate hardens too quickly?

Once you dip the strawberries into the chocolate, it will start to harden pretty fast. While it may be tempting to dip a few strawberries at a time and then decorate them in batches, you may find that the chocolate is already too hard for the chips to adhere. It’s best to dip one ghost at a time, add the eyes, set it down to dry and then proceed with the next.

If the chocolate is much too hard, return it to the microwave to gently reheat it and stir in another teaspoon of shortening. The shortening will thin the chocolate, which will slow its hardening.

What else can I serve with strawberry ghosts?

Chocolate-covered strawberry ghosts are made for a Halloween party! For kids, pair the ghosts with easy pizza and some sneaky ways to eat vegetables, like roasted pumpkin nachos. For adults, pair the ghost strawberries with a sandwich roll shaped like a snake or corn quesadillas with a spider web sour cream topping. There’ll be plenty of candy, but you could also prep a spooky sweet treat, like classic candy apples or a showstopping witch cake.