Chocolate covered strawberries are said to be a great aphrodisiac, which is probably what makes them one of the most popular treats for Valentine’s Day. The FDA will tell you  that there is no such thing as an aphrodisiac, but history and science have another story to share. Since the time of ancient Rome, strawberries were thought of as an aphrodisiac, so much so, that newlyweds would indulge in strawberry soup to promote that lovin’ feeling. From the Mayans to the Aztecs to the Spanish Conquistadors, all recognized the sensual benefits of chocolate. Fast forward to the 21st century… Scientists have analyzed the chemical compounds in this decadent treat and have studied brain scans to show how both of these are “love” foods (or at least happy foods). Sorry members of the FDA, I’m going to have to side with science and history on this one and hold onto the hope of Prince Charming arriving with a box of chocolate strawberries in my near future.

A few weeks ago, I discovered something  one step up from a chocolate-covered strawberry. It’s a chocolate covered strawberry filled with cream. It takes a little bit longer to make, but trust me, it  is worth every second you invest. Once you have dipped the strawberries, you whip up some cream and pipe inside. There are two fabulous options for the cream. The first is cream cheese frosting (The God of all frostings – my opinion!). The second is a marscapone filling, equally decadent.

If you’re short on time, but want to share some love-inducing food with your sweetheart, make up a few of these.

Step 1 ~ Prep Strawberries

Wash and let dry. If you’re only filling the strawberries (skipping chocolate), cut the stem off so that strawberries stand pointed-side up. With a sharp knife, cut and “X” into each strawberry, almost to the bottom of each berrry. Gently open the strawberry apart at the cut. If you’re doing both the chocolate and cream option, cut the tip off the strawberry so that it stands upright.Use a paring knife to hull out the middle (see picture above).

Step 2 ~ Dip Strawberries into Chocolate (optional, these still taste fabulous with just the cream)

See tips on making chocolate covered strawberries.

Step 3 ~ Make Filling (Cream Cheese or Marscapone, your choice!)

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cream together the cream cheese and butter until creamy. Add the vanilla, then gradually add in the confectioners’ sugar. Store in the refrigerator after use. 

Marscapone Filling Recipe (Joyofbaking.com)

1/3 cup mascarpone cheese

1/3 cup (80 ml) heavy whipping cream

2-3 (24-36 grams) tablespoons granulated white sugar

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

In a medium sized bowl, whip the mascarpone cheese and whipping cream until soft peaks form.  Add the sugar and vanilla and continue to whip until stiff peaks form. 

Step 4 ~ Fill the strawberries

Spoon the cream mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe the cream into the the strawberries. If you do not have cake decorating supplies, spoon the cream into a ziploc, and cut off the tip of the bag to pipe. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.