Description

Indulge in a Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Royale! This decadent cocktail combines fresh strawberries, rich chocolate, and bubbly champagne

Ingredients

The elegance of this cocktail relies on the quality and freshness of its core components. Each ingredient plays a critical role in building its complex flavor profile.

The Fresh Fruit Foundation:

3-4 Large, Ripe Fresh Strawberries (plus 1 for garnish): This is non-negotiable. You must use fresh, ripe strawberries for the authentic, vibrant fruit flavor. Hull (remove the green top) and slice the berries for muddling. The riper the berry, the sweeter and more fragrant your cocktail will be.
½ oz Fresh Lemon Juice: This is essential for balance. The sharp, bright acidity of the lemon juice enhances the natural sweetness of the strawberries and provides a counterpoint to the rich chocolate and sweet liqueur, preventing the drink from being cloying.

The Spirits & Liqueurs:

½ oz Dark Chocolate Liqueur: This provides the “chocolate-dipped” flavor. Use a high-quality liqueur like Godiva Dark Chocolate Liqueur or Tempus Fugit Crème de Cacao. The dark version is preferred over white for its deeper, more sophisticated chocolate note that better mimics the coating of a real chocolate-dipped strawberry.
½ oz Strawberry Liqueur or Vodka (Optional but Recommended): A strawberry liqueur (like St. Germain’s Strawberry Liqueur) will intensify the berry flavor. Alternatively, a splash of strawberry-infused vodka or even a plain, high-quality vodka will add a clean alcoholic strength without additional sweetness.

The Sweetener:

¼ oz Simple Syrup (Optional): This is your tool for customization. Taste the muddled mixture before adding the sparkling wine. If your strawberries are very ripe, you may not need it. If they are slightly tart, this will bring everything into perfect harmony.

The Sparkling Crown:

3-4 oz Chilled Brut Champagne, Prosecco, or Cava: The choice here defines the character of your Royale. Brut Champagne will be the driest and most sophisticated. Prosecco tends to be a touch fruitier and softer. Cava offers a fantastic, dry, and affordable alternative. The key is that it must be well-chilled.

For the Garnish:

1 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry: This is the pièce de résistance. You can purchase these or make your own by melting high-quality dark chocolate and dipping fresh, dry strawberries, allowing them to set on parchment paper.
Dark Chocolate Shavings: For an extra touch of decadence.

Instructions

Now that you have your ingredients ready, let’s dive into the steps for making this delightful Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Royale. It’s as easy as pie, and I promise you’ll feel like a master mixologist!

Step 1: Prepare the Strawberry Base
Take your cocktail shaker and add the 3-4 hulled and sliced fresh strawberries. Add the ½ oz of fresh lemon juice. Using a muddler, gently but firmly press and twist the strawberries until they are completely crushed and have released all their juicy pulp. You should have a vibrant, fragrant, and slightly chunky strawberry mash.

Step 2: Build the Flavor Foundation
To the muddled strawberries, add the ½ oz of dark chocolate liqueur, the ½ oz of strawberry liqueur or vodka (if using), and the optional ¼ oz of simple syrup. If you are not using the simple syrup, this is the time to taste and decide if the mixture needs a touch more sweetness.

Step 3: The Shake and Strain
Add a small handful of ice to the shaker. Secure the lid tightly and shake vigorously for 12-15 seconds. This will chill the mixture, dilute it slightly to perfect the balance, and further integrate the flavors. Double-strain the mixture into a chilled champagne flute: use your Hawthorne strainer to hold back the ice and a fine-mesh strainer placed over the flute to catch all the strawberry seeds and pulp, ensuring a perfectly smooth liquid in your glass.

Step 4: The Grand Topping – The Sparkling Wine
Now, slowly and gracefully top the flute with your chilled Brut Champagne, Prosecco, or Cava. Pouring it down the side of the glass or over the back of a spoon can help preserve the bubbles and create a beautiful layered effect before you stir.

Step 5: The Gentle Stir
Insert a long, thin bar spoon and give the cocktail one or two very gentle stirs to integrate the strawberry mixture with the sparkling wine. Avoid stirring too vigorously, as you will knock out the precious carbonation.

Step 6: The Final Garnish
For the final, iconic touch, rest your prepared chocolate-dipped strawberry on the rim of the flute. As a final flourish, you can sprinkle a few dark chocolate shavings directly onto the surface of the drink.

Step 7: Serve Immediately
Present the cocktail immediately while the bubbles are at their most active and vibrant. Encourage the drinker to take a sip and then a bite of the garnishing strawberry for the full, immersive experience.

Notes

Cocktail Shaker
Muddler
Hawthorne Strainer
Fine-Mesh Strainer
Jigger
Chilled Champagne Flutes

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Category: Drinks
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 180
Sugar: 15g
Sodium: 10mg
Carbohydrates: 18g
Fiber: 1g