NEW YEAR STRAWBERRY APPETIZER CLOCK

Celebrate the new year with this white chocolate dipped strawberry appetizer. It looks like a clock that’s just about to strike midnight, and it’s so easy to make!

The last few years, my husband and I have gone to bed an hour or two after our toddler and I feel great about that. Ha! This new year appetizer doesn’t sit too heavy in the stomach and is great for evening snacking- no matter what time you’re going to bed!

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS

• STRAWBERRIES
  You’ll need as least 13 strawberries that are deep red in color (this means they are sweet!). It also helps if they are all close to the same size. You’ll need 12 strawberries for the outer rim of the clock and one for the center of the clock.
  
• WHITE CHOCOLATE MELTS
  I love the Wilton brand, but you can use any white chocolate melts to make these. Candy melts and wafers tend to have a much better dipping consistency than chocolate chips.
  
• GOLD SPRINKLES
  Gold sprinkles really shine against the white chocolate.
  
• TOOTHPICKS
  You will need toothpicks to help you roll the strawberries (optional). You can roll the strawberries without the toothpicks but it may be a bit messy. The toothpicks (or a wooden skewer, cut into two pieces) can be used for the hands of the clock.
  
• PARCHMENT PAPER
  After dipping, set the strawberries on the parchment paper and they will remove easily once set.

HOW TO MAKE NEW YEAR APPETIZER CLOCK

1. Get the strawberries ready. Rinse the strawberries, and then let them dry on a paper towel lined container or plate in the refrigerator. The strawberries need to be dry so that the white chocolate will stick to the strawberries. When they are completely dry, insert a toothpick into the center of the green stem of each strawberry. This will make them much easier to roll in the melted chocolate.
   
2. Melt white chocolate wafers. To melt the wafers, simply microwave them in a microwave safe bowl in ten second increments. If you have a soften/melt or defrost setting, that would work best. Stir the chocolate around every ten seconds. Keep heating until all the chocolate is melted. It is important not to overheat and scorch the chocolate.
   
3. Dip and drizzle strawberries. This is the fun part! Roll each strawberry around in the white chocolate until all sides are covered. Then, carefully place it on parchment paper. After all the strawberries have been dipped, use a spoon to drizzle more white chocolate back and forth over each strawberry. Cut the tip off the thirteenth strawberry to act as the center of the clock hands, and cover this in the chocolate was well.

5. Sprinkle with gold “glitter” sprinkles. Immediately sprinkle each strawberry right after you drizzle it. If you wait too long, the chocolate will set on the strawberry and the sprinkles will not stick at all.

6. Assemble the clock. First, use two toothpicks or a wooden skewer (broken into two pieces- one shorter than the other) for the hands of the clock. Then, place the strawberry tip in the center to “hold” the two clock hands together.

Next, take four strawberries and assemble them at the 12:00, 3:00, 6:00 and 9:00 locations. This ensures better placement of the strawberries so they are placed where the numbers of the clock would be. Take the rest of the strawberries and fill in the gaps so that there are 12 strawberries total around the “clock.” Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

TIPS

• Use a non-white, circular platter. This will help the beautiful strawberries to stand out more.
  
• Use toothpicks inserted into the heads of the strawberries (place them in the middle of the green stem) to make it easier to roll the strawberries in the white chocolate.
  
• The white chocolate will dry quickly. Sprinkles will not stick all to the strawberry once the chocolate starts to set, so be sure to sprinkle each strawberry immediately after you drizzle it. If you choose not to drizzle, then sprinkle each strawberry immediately after dipping it.
  

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

CAN I MAKE THIS AHEAD OF TIME?

Absolutely! Make this new year appetizer up to two days in advance and cover with plastic wrap. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

DOES THIS NEED TO BE KEPT REFRIGERATED?

Yes. Keep in refrigerator until ready to serve. Best if eaten within two days.

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