Array of Autumn Fruits with Dark Chocolate Dip
When that "Nasty Chocolate Monster" comes knocking at your door, whip up this decadent fudgy sauce for a mini-indulgence that will satisfy your craving pronto. Plus, dark chocolate contains antioxidants and magnesium, making it A-OK for an occasional treat.
Yield: about 2 cups or 6 to 10 servings
Yield: about 2 cups or 6 to 10 servings
Ingredients
Dark Chocolate Dip
- 1 pound good quality dark chocolate coarsely chopped
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 Granny Smith apples cored and cut into wedges
- 2 pears cored and cut into chunks
- 4 bananas peeled and sliced into chunks
- 1 small bunch grapes
- 1 cup unsweetened dried apricots try to find unsulfured
- Lemon juice
- Toothpicks
Instructions
- In the top of a double boiler, (or use 2 saucepans, one resting on top of the other over simmering water), melt together the chocolate pieces and butter. Stir in the vanilla extract. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly. Pour into a small bowl.
- Arrange the fruits on a decorative platter along with toothpicks. Sprinkle apples, pears and bananas with lemon juice to reduce browning. Serve with Dark Chocolate Dip.
Notes
Make ahead and Storage Tips: chocolate dip can be made up to 2 weeks ahead. Cover saucepan and refrigerate. About 30 minutes before serving, warm dip over low heat until it can be stirred. (about 5 minutes) As cut apples, pears and bananas can brown, (even when sprinkled with lemon juice) do not prepare earlier than a few hours before serving.
Select your fruits according to what’s in season and available locally. In the summertime, strawberries, peaches, nectarines and melons would be delicious. In the colder months, perhaps try a selection of dried fruits as well as apples and bananas.
When choosing dark chocolate, try to “go organic” as the quality of the ingredients tend to be more pure with limited or no additives. Look for a dark chocolate made from at least 80% cacao. I love dark chocolate made by Green & Black, Endangered Species or Scharffren-Berger.
