Drunken Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Danny's birthday. He would have been twenty-eight. I went to Holy Cross on a warm July morning and sat by the headstone and said, "I got married, man." I know I've been telling him all year. I know I told him at the rehearsal and before the ceremony and in my head during the first dance. But sitting here, alone, with his name in stone, saying it out loud — "I got married" — is different. It's the final telling. The one that makes it real to the dead.

I brought him a beer. Dwa Narody, the wedding beer. I poured some on the ground by the headstone. The earth drank it. Somewhere, I hope, Danny tasted honey and rye and thought, "Not bad." He would have said "not bad" because Danny was a Miller Lite guy who would have made fun of my fancy amber ale. He would have drunk it anyway. He would have drunk everything at my wedding and given a toast that would have been ninety percent inappropriate and I would have loved every word.

The 8 in my wedding ring. I showed it to the headstone. Held up my hand. The gold band with the D and the 8 engraved inside. He's there. In the ring. On my wrist. In the threshold of a shop that doesn't exist yet but will. Danny Katz is woven into everything I am and everything I will be, and Megan knows this and honors it, and that is why she is the right person.

Made a batch of pierogi at home that night. Sauerkraut. Danny's favorite. The ritual continues. Married or not, employed or not, young or old — the pierogi continue. The dough and the filling and the fold and the fry. Always. As long as I'm here. As long as I have hands to make them.

After I got home from Holy Cross that evening, after the pierogi were folded and fried and eaten in the quiet of my kitchen, I wanted something sweet — something that felt like a toast. Danny would have been the first one to grab the dessert tray at any party, and he would have absolutely approved of strawberries soaked in something strong and dunked in chocolate. These Drunken Chocolate Covered Strawberries are the closest thing I have to giving him the wedding dessert he missed: indulgent, a little reckless, and worth every bite.

Prep Time: 15 min | Cook Time: 10 min | Total Time: 2 hrs 25 min (includes soaking & chilling) | Servings: 24 strawberries

Ingredients

24 large fresh strawberries, washed and dried thoroughly, stems on
1/2 cup bourbon, rum, or amaretto (or your spirit of choice)
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate
1/2 cup white chocolate chips (for drizzle, optional)
1 tablespoon coconut oil or shortening (to thin chocolate)
Flaky sea salt, sprinkles, or crushed nuts for topping (optional)

Instructions

Soak the strawberries. Place clean, dry strawberries in a shallow dish and pour the alcohol over them. Turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (up to overnight for stronger flavor). The longer they soak, the more pronounced the boozy note will be.
Dry thoroughly. Remove strawberries from the dish and pat each one completely dry with paper towels. Any moisture left on the berries will cause the chocolate to seize and not adhere properly. Let them air-dry on a wire rack for 10–15 minutes.
Melt the chocolate. Combine the semi-sweet chocolate chips and coconut oil in a heatproof bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until fully melted and smooth — about 2–3 intervals. Alternatively, melt over a double boiler on the stovetop, stirring constantly.
Dip the strawberries. Holding each strawberry by the stem, dip it into the melted chocolate and let the excess drip off. Set on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Add flaky salt, sprinkles, or crushed nuts immediately before the chocolate sets.
Drizzle with white chocolate. Melt white chocolate chips the same way. Transfer to a small zip-lock bag, snip a tiny corner, and drizzle over the dipped strawberries for a decorative finish.
Chill and set. Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator for 20–30 minutes until the chocolate is fully hardened. Serve the same day for best texture; store leftovers uncovered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Nutrition (per serving)

Drunken Chocolate Covered Strawberries — The Toast Danny Never Got to Give