Valentine's Day Chocolate Strawberries & Cherries: Order Guide 2026

Valentine's Day falls on a Saturday this year. That's great news for romantic dinners—and a warning for anyone planning to order chocolate-covered strawberries. Weekend Valentine's Days mean peak demand. Every chocolatier in Miami will be slammed. If you wait until February 13th to order, you'll likely find "sold out" messages everywhere you look.

We've been making chocolate strawberries at The Sweet Tooth since 1979. Every Valentine's season teaches us the same lesson: the people who order early get the best berries. The people who wait get disappointed.

Why Chocolate Strawberries Sell Out

Fresh strawberries are perishable. Unlike boxed chocolates that sit on shelves for months, chocolate-dipped strawberries have a 24-48 hour window of peak freshness. We can't dip berries a week early and hope they hold. Each strawberry gets hand-dipped the day before or the day of delivery.

This creates a bottleneck. Our team can only dip so many strawberries per hour. When Valentine's Day lands on a Saturday, we're essentially preparing for Thursday, Friday, AND Saturday deliveries simultaneously. The math doesn't work unless customers spread their orders across the week.

Order by February 1st. Seriously. Your strawberries will still be dipped fresh for your chosen delivery date, but you'll secure your spot before we hit capacity.

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries vs. Shipped Berries

National delivery services ship strawberries across the country in boxes. They arrive cold. Sometimes frozen. Often sweating. That white film on shipped chocolate? It's called bloom—caused by temperature changes during transit. The berries inside might be mushy from condensation.

Local chocolatiers like us dip strawberries fresh and deliver them the same day. The chocolate shell stays glossy and snaps when you bite through. The strawberry inside stays juicy, not waterlogged. That's the difference between a $40 gift that impresses and a $60 gift that disappoints.

If your Valentine lives in Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, or anywhere in South Florida, skip the national services. Order our chocolate covered strawberries and get them delivered fresh.

How Long Do Chocolate-Covered Strawberries Last?

Room temperature gives you the best flavor but shortest window. Eat them within 12-24 hours. Refrigeration extends life to 48 hours, sometimes three days if stored properly. But refrigerated strawberries sweat. The chocolate loses its snap. The berry flavor dulls.

Our recommendation? Time your delivery for the day you plan to enjoy them. If Valentine's dinner is Saturday night, schedule Saturday delivery. Don't order for Thursday thinking you'll "save them" for later. Fresh berries taste better than day-old berries every time.

Storage tips if you must refrigerate: Line a container with paper towels. Place strawberries in a single layer, not stacked. Cover loosely—never airtight. Let them sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving to bring back flavor and reduce condensation.

Chocolate-Covered Cherries: The Underrated Valentine Gift

Everyone thinks strawberries for Valentine's Day. That's exactly why chocolate-covered cherries stand out. Dark cherries dipped in rich chocolate offer an intense, romantic flavor profile. The deep red color fits the holiday perfectly. And cherries hold up better than strawberries—they're less prone to sweating and last longer without quality loss.

We hand-dip both fresh cherries and maraschino cherries depending on availability and preference. Fresh cherries deliver a tart-sweet contrast against dark chocolate. Maraschino cherries provide that classic cordial-style experience—sweet, intense, nostalgic.

For couples who want something different than the standard strawberry box, cherries make a memorable alternative. They also pair beautifully with wine, making them perfect for Valentine's dinner parties.

PARVE Options for Kosher Valentine's Gifts

Our chocolate strawberries come in both dairy and PARVE (dairy-free) options. The PARVE version uses rich dark chocolate that actually enhances the strawberry flavor. Many customers prefer it even without dietary restrictions—the bittersweet chocolate balances the berry's natural sweetness.

All our products carry Kosher Miami certification. For Valentine's gifts going to observant families, this matters. You won't find many kosher chocolate strawberry options at national chains.

Valentine's Day Delivery in Miami

We deliver throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. Orders placed before noon can arrive the same day. For Valentine's Day specifically, here's what to know:

February 12-14 delivery: Order by February 8th to guarantee your slot. After that, we may stop taking orders depending on capacity.

February 14th (Valentine's Day) delivery: These slots fill first. If Valentine's dinner is at 7pm, schedule afternoon delivery. Morning deliveries work for office surprises.

Same-day delivery: Available year-round, but not guaranteed on Valentine's Day itself unless you order very early. Call us at (305) 682-1400 if you need last-minute help—we'll do what we can.

Add-Ons That Make Strawberries Special

Chocolate strawberries by themselves make a wonderful gift. But Valentine's Day calls for something extra. Consider these combinations:

Strawberries + Champagne. We don't sell alcohol, but we can arrange gift baskets that leave space for a bottle. The presentation looks intentional, like you planned it.

Strawberries + Roses. Our gift baskets can incorporate fresh flowers or silk roses. Red on red creates visual impact.

Strawberries + Truffles. For the serious chocolate lover, add handmade truffles to the box. Variety keeps things interesting. Browse our truffle collection for options.

Strawberries + Personalized Message. Every order includes a gift card. Write something meaningful. The chocolates get eaten, but the words get remembered.

Why Fresh Hand-Dipped Beats Mass-Produced

Factory-dipped strawberries use compound chocolate—a cheaper product that contains vegetable oils instead of cocoa butter. It melts at a higher temperature, ships more easily, and tastes like plastic compared to real chocolate.

We use real chocolate. Tempered properly. Dipped by hand in small batches. The difference shows in the shine, the snap, and the flavor. When your Valentine bites into one of our strawberries, they'll know this isn't something you grabbed from a grocery store display.

Browse our full chocolate dipped fruit collection or check out our Valentine's Day collection for more gift ideas.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I order chocolate strawberries for Valentine's Day?

Order by February 1st to guarantee your delivery slot. Valentine's Day 2026 falls on a Saturday, which means extremely high demand Thursday through Saturday. Early orders get priority scheduling.

How long do chocolate-covered strawberries stay fresh?

At room temperature, 12-24 hours. Refrigerated, 2-3 days maximum. For the best taste and texture, eat them the same day they're dipped. Schedule delivery for when you plan to enjoy them.

Can I get same-day delivery on Valentine's Day?

Possibly, but not guaranteed. Valentine's Day slots fill up fast. Call us at (305) 682-1400 as early as possible if you need last-minute delivery—we'll try to accommodate you, but can't promise availability.

Do you have dairy-free chocolate strawberries?

Yes. Our PARVE (dairy-free) chocolate strawberries use rich dark chocolate and taste incredible. They're kosher certified and perfect for anyone with dairy restrictions or preferences.

Are your chocolate strawberries kosher?

Yes. All our products carry Kosher Miami certification. This includes our chocolate-covered strawberries, cherries, and all other dipped fruits.

What's better for Valentine's Day—strawberries or cherries?

Strawberries are the classic choice. Cherries offer something unexpected and romantic. If your Valentine loves surprises, go with cherries. If they prefer tradition, strawberries never disappoint. We're happy to create mixed boxes with both.

How do I store chocolate strawberries if I can't eat them right away?

Line a container with paper towels. Place strawberries in a single layer. Cover loosely with plastic wrap or foil—never seal airtight. Refrigerate and consume within 48 hours. Let them warm to room temperature for 30 minutes before eating.

Where can I get chocolate strawberries near me in Miami?

Visit our store at 18435 NE 19th Ave in North Miami Beach, or order online for delivery throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. We're open Sunday through Friday.