Pears and chocolate: a timeless pairing

Peaches and chocolate is definitely one of the most successful pairings in the history of pastry-making. In the combination of peaches and chocolate, the fresh, sweet, slightly sour flavors of the former poetically meld with the delicious richness of the latter. 

A timeless alliance that, with extreme simplicity, is able to tantalize the most discerning palates. But what dessert recipes can we prepare with peaches and chocolate? In reality, it is not at all easy to answer this question since there are indeed countless possibilities before us. Today, however, we have decided to look at three, easy and quick but rich in flavor: simply mouthwatering!
 

Peach and chocolate cake

The peach and chocolate cake is a true classic, with countless recipe variations. A soft and delicious dessert where our beloved peaches and chocolate take center stage. Regardless of the recipe you choose, it is important to pay attention to the variety of peach and the type of chocolate you go for.

As for the chocolate, it must be strictly dark because, firstly, its bitter note contrasts with the sweetness of the peach flesh and, secondly, it balances the flavor of the entire cake by countering the sweetness added to the batter from the sugar. 

Regarding the peaches, you can choose any variety you like, although some are more suitable for making the peach and chocolate cake. First of all, we must mention the classic Williams pears, versatile in cooking and probably the most readily available variety.

Then there is the Kaiser pear, which has a slight sweet-sour contrast, and its firm flesh makes it perfect for our peach and chocolate cake, as it will likely crumble less during the baking process. Another excellent variety for making the peach and chocolate cake is the Conference pear, whose juicy, sweet flesh, with the right balance of acidity, pairs perfectly with particularly sugary batters.

One last note regarding the peach and chocolate cake: when you need to incorporate the peaches into the batter, the advice is to cut them not too small to enhance their flavor as much as possible when you taste the cake.
 

Pear crumble

The pear crumble is another delicious recipe to make with peaches and chocolate, not to mention that the preparation is much simpler, cheaper, and faster compared to the peach and chocolate cake.

The pear crumble, a dessert originating from Great Britain, masterfully combines different flavors and textures that pleasantly surprise those who taste it. The pear crumble might be described as a baked spoon dessert that almost visually resembles a local sbrisolona.

The crumble should consist of two-thirds of the pear filling and one-third of "crumbs," as "crumble" in English means "to crumble." Therefore, the pear crumble will consist of a layer of pears that will then be covered with the crumbly dough before being baked in the oven until golden.

To prepare crumbs that present the right balance between crispiness and softness, it is essential to roughly mix the dry ingredients, such as flour, sugar, and spices, before adding the butter in pieces. Everything should then be mixed by hand until a crumbly dough is obtained, resembling that of sbrisolona.

Note: the pears should be used raw together with roughly chopped chocolate to give compactness to the dessert, which otherwise risks being too soft. The pear crumble should be consumed while still warm, as the crust could absorb ambient moisture, risking to compact too much, thus affecting the texture and flavor of the entire dessert.
 

Pear and chocolate tart

The most laborious recipe is undoubtedly that of the pear and chocolate tart. The most complicated and time-consuming part of the recipe is definitely the preparation of the shortcrust pastry, which takes at least an hour. 

As for the filling of the pear and chocolate tart, the pears should be blanched in water and sugar before being placed on the bottom above the shortcrust pastry, and then cooled. The chocolate cream should then cover the pears, regardless of the recipe you follow. If you like, you can also decorate the top of the tart with strips or designs of shortcrust pastry before baking. Once you pull out the pear and chocolate tart from the oven, you will be able to enjoy a creamy and crunchy cake at the same time that is extremely delicious.

Choose your favorite recipe and bring to life the most creative and tasty combinations of peaches and chocolate.

Ilaria Chesini

S&M