Chocolate-Wrapped Pears

Name: Chocolate-Wrapped Pears
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 12 servings
Ingredients: 2 cups sugar; 8 cups water; Juice of 2 lemons; 4 cinnamon sticks; 8 whole cloves; 1/4 cup creme de menthe; 12 firm, ripe pears with stems; 8 ounces semisweet chocolate; 1/4 pound unsalted butter, softened; Fresh or crystallized mint

By Marian Burros

Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes, plus overnight refrigeration
Rating: (0)
Comments: Read comments

Featured in: FOOD; New Year, New Fare

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Ingredients

Yield:12 servings

2cups sugar
8cups water
Juice of 2 lemons
4cinnamon sticks
8whole cloves
¼cup creme de menthe
12firm, ripe pears with stems
8ounces semisweet chocolate
¼pound unsalted butter, softened
Fresh or crystallized mint

Ingredient Substitution Guide

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Preparation

Step 1
Dissolve the sugar in the water. Add the lemon juice, spices and creme de menthe and simmer, tightly covered, for 10 to 15 minutes.
Step 2
Peel the pears carefully, leaving stems intact, and cut a slice off the bottoms so they will stand upright.
Step 3
Poach the pears in gently boiling syrup until tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Cool pears in the syrup and then chill thoroughly, preferably overnight.
Step 4
Melt the chocolate in a bowl over warm water. Add the butter and stir until it is melted and the mixture is smooth.
Step 5
Remove the pears from the syrup and dry carefully with paper towel. Dip each pear in the melted chocolate to coat evenly. Use a spoon, if necessary, to fill in uncoated spots. Lift the pears out of the chocolate to drain off excess. Arrange on serving dish. Decorate the top of each pear with a sprig of fresh or crystallized mint. Chill until ready to serve.