Papa's Pepper Spicy Chocolate Covered Strawberries
(Courtesy of Spencer from @spencerthecook from Instagram ... )
Dropping just in time to make for your sweetie for Valentine's day, Papa's Pepper spicy chocolate covered strawberries with homemade whipped cream. The first time I saw someone add spice to chocolate it was on an episode of Beat Bobby Flay and I thought he was crazy. Spicy chocolate?? That's clearly nuts! Well, I was wrong, incredibly wrong. The little bit of spice adds another layer of flavor and cuts through the rich chocolate. Want a great way to spice up your Valentine's? Here it is!
For the chocolate:
16 oz. Semisweet chocolate chips
1 Stick butter, cut into 8 pieces
Pinch of salt
3/4t Papa's Pepper premium spice blend
1lb. Strawberries, chilled, with tops
1/2C crushed pretzels for garnish
For the whipped cream:
1C Heavy cream
1t Vanilla extract
2T Powdered sugar
Pinch of salt
In a double boiler (or a sauce pan with two inches of water with a stainless steel bowl in top) over med-high heat, add butter. Once butter starts to melt add chocolate chips. While stirring combine butter and chocolate over steaming sauce pan until it's silky and smooth. Don't let bowl touch the water. Add pinch of salt, Papa's Pepper, taste and adjust salt as needed.
Remove bowl from sauce pan, dip strawberries 1/2-3/4 way into chocolate, remove, hold over bowl for a few seconds and then set on wax or parchment paper. Repeat for all strawberries and place them in refrigerator.
Pour heavy cream in bowl and whisk vigorously (you can use stand mixer with whisk attachment) until it starts to thicken. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract and whisk until stiff peaks form.
Place pretzels in plastic baggie and crush into small pieces.
In a small serving bowl spoon whipped cream in bottom, smoothing it out as you spoon it in. Sprinkle crushed pretzels over whipped cream and place chocolate covered strawberries around the outside of bowl on top of whipped cream.
Enjoy with your special someone!❤️❤️