I recently co-hosted a dairy-free gluten-free bridal shower and the theme was butterflies. The bride’s primary wedding color was pink, so I decided to create some dairy-free strawberry white chocolate butterflies to top the dessert. They not only have a pink pretty hue, but are also delicious! You can use this naturally pink white chocolate to make other shapes, for pink baking chips, or as a dessert coating or topping.
Dairy-Free Strawberry White Chocolate that’s Naturally Pink
This quick little recipe is so easy, and it’s made with simple ingredients. It’s a great way to avoid food dyes and other additives, and you control the color and taste intensity! I’ve included some tips in the FAQs below.
Wait, Dairy-Free White Chocolate?! Where Do I Get That?
Sometimes I do like to make homemade dairy-free white chocolate, but it’s getting easier to purchase good dairy-free white chocolate. The one I’m currently using is Enjoy Life White Chocolate Mini Chips. They taste great, are top allergen free, and melt easily.
Can I Just Melt the White Chocolate in the Microwave?
There are two reasons I like to use the counter-top double broiler method, but they both involve temperature control. Some brands of white chocolate melt quite quickly, and can scorch if your vessel doesn’t transfer heat properly. If you microwave it, 30 seconds is usually plenty. It will seem solid, but just stir and it will melt. The other reason is that my method keeps the white chocolate melted while you work. It sets up just as easily as it melts, which can be problematic if you don’t work quickly enough.
Can I Use More Strawberry Powder?
It can be tempting to create a richer hue, but the more strawberry powder you add, the more gummy and brittle the strawberry white chocolate will become. Using a modest amount still gives a pretty color and a gentle fruity flavor. But if you want a more intense pink and stronger flavor, melt in a little shortening. Start with about 1/2 teaspoon. This will help make the chocolate a little softer to absorb the added powder.
Will other Freeze-Dried Fruit Powders Work?
Yes, they will! White chocolate is quite sweet, so you can really pair any type of fruit with it, even tangy ones. As an added bonus, other powders will create different colors.
- Yellow: Lemon, Passion Fruit, Pineapple, Apple, Banana, or Cloudberry
- Orange: Mango, Peach, or Orange
- Pink / Red: Strawberry, Dragon Fruit, Pomegranate, or Raspberry
- Purple: Acai, Blueberry, Elderberry, Blackberry, or Black Raspberry
- Green: Kiwi
Isn’t Freeze-Dried Fruit Expensive?
It’s highly concentrated fruit, so it might seem expensive by weight. But one bag goes a long way. Some people argue that it’s cheaper to buy freeze-dried fruit and grind it, but they aren’t looking at the weight cost. A cup of freeze-dried fruit grinds down to a much smaller amount, and costs much more by weight. I paid the same amount for 4 ounces of freeze-dried strawberry powder as it cost for a 1-ounce package of freeze dried strawberries at the store. And that package of strawberry powder can make 114 to 228 ounces (up to 14 pounds!) of dairy-free strawberry white chocolate!
Where Did You Get those Butterfly Molds?
On Amazon, of course! I like that they are small and silicone, for easier removal. But these intricate patterns are a little tricky. My dairy-free strawberry white chocolate butterflies aren’t perfect, but still very cute I think! You can use any chocolate mold for this recipe.
Can I Use This Strawberry White Chocolate in Place of Pink Candy Melts?
Yes! You can just use the already melted version of this dairy-free strawberry white chocolate for coating other treats. I also like to make dairy-free strawberry white chocolate chips for use in cookies and no bake recipes, and you can make them wafer size for later use. You don’t need a mold for the chips or wafers; see the recipe notes for directions.
Special Diet Notes: Dairy-Free Strawberry White Chocolate
By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan, and vegetarian.
- 3 ounces dairy-free white chocolate (1/2 cup mini chips; I use Enjoy Life White Baking Chips or homemade)
- ½ to 1 teaspoon freeze-dried strawberry powder (or other fruit powder)
- Place a glass measuring cup inside a heat-safe bowl that's just a little bigger than the measuring cup. Pour boiling water in the bowl, around the measuring cup.
- Add the white chocolate and freeze-dried strawberry powder (or other fruit powder) to the measuring cup. Let it sit for 5 minutes.
- Stir the white chocolate until smooth and evenly flavored with the strawberry powder.
- Pour the strawberry white chocolate into molds. It will be quite thick. If pouring from the glass measuring cup, wipe away the water from the outside of the measuring cup before pouring.
- Tap your molds on the counter to distribute the strawberry white chocolate and even it out.
- Refrigerate for 5 to 10 minutes, or until set.
- Carefully remove the chocolate from your molds.
- The strawberry white chocolate can be stored at room temperature for up to a week, or in the refrigerator or freezer for longer storage.