5 from 88 votes
Poire Belle Hélène {Poached Pears with Chocolate}
Poire Belle Hélène features pears poached in a sweet wine mixture until tender, served with a rich dark chocolate sauce made from bittersweet chocolate, butter, sugar, cream, and vanilla. This dessert combines the gentle fruitiness of the pears with the silky, intense chocolate, ideal for an elegant dessert presentation.
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
40 mins
Servings:
4
people
Calories:
928 kcal
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
French
Ingredients
For the poached pears:
- 1 bottle white wine Riesling, Prosecco, or other sparkling wine, sweet
- 1 cup water
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 4 pear such as Bosc or Bartlett, firm
For the dark chocolate sauce:
- 8 oz bittersweet chocolate chopped (or dark)
- 7 Tbsp butter softened, unsalted
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup water hot
- 1 tsp vanilla
- salt pinch
Instructions
- Peel pears up to the stem and core from the bottom.
- Bring water, wine, and sugar to a boil in a large dutch oven or saucepan.
- Add pears and reduce heat to low.
- Cover and simmer for about 10-12 minutes or until pears are tender, but not too soft. Let sit in the poaching liquid until cool, about 30 minutes.
- Remove pears and refrigerate until ready to use.
- Meanwhile, combine the chocolate, butter, sugar, cream, and hot water in the top of a double boiler.
- Simmer on a medium low heat and stir until chocolate is smooth, about 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and add the vanilla and a pinch of salt. Stir well.
- Put a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream and one poached pear in a dish. Drizzle liberally with chocolate sauce and serve immediately.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Keep the poached pears refrigerated until serving to maintain their texture and freshness.
- Chocolate sauce can be stored in a covered container in the fridge for up to one week.
- The nutritional values for chocolate sauce account for the full bottle of wine used in poaching, which is discarded after cooking the pears.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1serving
Calories
928kcal
(46%)
Carbohydrates
122g
(41%)
Protein
6g
(12%)
Fat
49g
(75%)
Saturated Fat
36g
(180%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
2g
(12%)
Monounsaturated Fat
8g
(40%)
Trans Fat
1g
(50%)
Cholesterol
87mg
(29%)
Sodium
77mg
(3%)
Potassium
602mg
(13%)
Fiber
8g
(32%)
Sugar
100g
(200%)
Vitamin A
1100IU
(22%)
Vitamin C
8mg
(9%)
Calcium
216mg
(22%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4 people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 928
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1serving | |
| Calories | 928kcal | 46% |
| Carbohydrates | 122g | 41% |
| Protein | 6g | 12% |
| Fat | 49g | 75% |
| Saturated Fat | 36g | 180% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 87mg | 29% |
| Sodium | 77mg | 3% |
| Potassium | 602mg | 13% |
| Fiber | 8g | 32% |
| Sugar | 100g | 200% |
| Vitamin A | 1100IU | 22% |
| Vitamin C | 8mg | 9% |
| Calcium | 216mg | 22% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.