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Poire Belle Hélène {Poached Pears with Chocolate}

An indulgent, classic French dessert made of poached pears smothered in dark chocolate sauce with a side of vanilla ice cream.

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 928 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: French

Ingredients

For the poached pears:
  • 1 bottle sweet white wine (Riesling, Prosecco, or other sparkling wine)
  • 1 cup water
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 4 firm pears such as Bosc or Bartlett
For the dark chocolate sauce:
  • 8 oz bittersweet chocolate chopped (or dark)
  • 7 Tbsp unsalted butter softened
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup hot water
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • pinch of salt

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Peel pears up to the stem and core from the bottom.
  2. Bring water, wine, and sugar to a boil in a large dutch oven or saucepan.
  3. Add pears and reduce heat to low.
  4. 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.
  5. Remove pears and refrigerate until ready to use.
  6. Meanwhile, combine the chocolate, butter, sugar, cream, and hot water in the top of a double boiler.
  7. Simmer on a medium low heat and stir until chocolate is smooth, about 5 minutes.
  8. Remove from heat and add the vanilla and a pinch of salt. Stir well.
  9. Put a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream and one poached pear in a dish. Drizzle liberally with chocolate sauce and serve immediately.

Notes

  • Remaining chocolate sauce will keep about a week in a covered container in the fridge.
  • Nutritional values include the entire bottle of wine, which will be discarded once the pears are poached. 
  • Nutritional value is for 1/4 of chocolate sauce. You should have plenty left over.
  • Remaining chocolate sauce will keep about a week in a covered container in the fridge.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1serving Calories 928kcal (46%) Carbohydrates 122g (41%) Protein 6g (12%) Fat 49g (75%) Saturated Fat 36g (180%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Monounsaturated Fat 8g Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 87mg (29%) Sodium 77mg (3%) Potassium 602mg (17%) Fiber 8g (32%) Sugar 100g (200%) Vitamin A 1100IU (22%) Vitamin C 8mg (9%) Calcium 216mg (22%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4people

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.

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