Prepare the strawberries: Wash the strawberries thoroughly under cold running water, then pat each one completely dry with a clean tea towel or kitchen paper. Leave the green leaves and stems intact—they act as a handy handle for dipping. You should see no water droplets on the fruit at all; the berries should look matte and dry.

Melt the chocolate: Place the broken chocolate pieces and the coconut oil in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water. Make sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. Stir gently with a spatula until the chocolate is mostly melted, then remove the bowl from the heat and continue stirring until it is completely smooth and glossy. You’ll feel the mixture turn from thick and lumpy to silky and fluid—that’s your cue that it’s ready.

Add the vanilla: Stir in the vanilla extract if using. The aroma will become noticeably richer and more fragrant, almost like a dark chocolate truffle.

Dip the strawberries: Hold a strawberry by its leaves and dip it into the melted chocolate, twisting gently to coat about three-quarters of the berry. Lift it out and let the excess chocolate drip back into the bowl for a few seconds. You should see a smooth, even layer clinging to the red flesh with no bare patches.

Set the strawberries: Place the dipped strawberry onto a baking tray lined with baking paper. If you want to add a coating (pistachios, coconut, or raspberry powder), sprinkle it over the wet chocolate immediately before it starts to set. Continue with the remaining strawberries, leaving a little space between each one so they don’t stick together.

Chill to set: Transfer the tray to the refrigerator and chill for at least 20 minutes. The chocolate should be firm to the touch and will make a slight tapping sound if you gently flick it with your fingernail. If the weather is cool, you can leave them on the counter for 30 minutes instead.

Serve: Remove the strawberries from the fridge about 5 minutes before serving so they lose a little of their chill—this allows the chocolate to soften slightly and the flavour to bloom. Arrange them on a plate and enjoy immediately.