# Components:
→ Chocolate Shell
01 - 10.5 ounces high-quality dark or milk chocolate, chopped into small pieces
→ Filling
02 - 7 ounces fresh strawberries, hulled and dried
→ Decoration
03 - 1 ounce white chocolate, melted for drizzling
04 - Edible gold leaf or sprinkles as desired
# Directions:
01 - Chop chocolate into small, uniform pieces. Melt two-thirds of the chocolate gently over a double boiler or in microwave at 30-second intervals, stirring constantly until smooth. Add remaining third and stir until fully melted and tempered.
02 - Pour tempered chocolate into a clean, dry heart-shaped silicone or polycarbonate mold. Tilt to coat all surfaces evenly. Invert the mold and allow excess chocolate to drip out, leaving a 0.1 inch shell. Scrape edges clean and refrigerate for 10 minutes.
03 - Repeat the chocolate coating process to ensure structural durability of the shell. Refrigerate for an additional 10 minutes.
04 - Carefully remove the chocolate heart shell from the mold and place it on a parchment-lined baking tray.
05 - Position the prepared strawberries inside one half of the chocolate heart. If using a single-piece mold, gently fill through the opening.
06 - Gently warm the edge of the empty half or chocolate disk and press it firmly onto the filled half to seal. Smooth the seam with a warm offset spatula for a refined finish.
07 - Drizzle melted white chocolate over the sealed heart, add sprinkles, or apply edible gold leaf as desired. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
08 - Present the chocolate heart with a small wooden mallet or spoon for breaking open and revealing the strawberries inside.