Poached Pears with Chocolate

Yield: 6 Poached Pears

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Chill Time: 20 Minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

• 1 (9 ounce) Bag Bake Believe^® Dark Chocolate Chips 
• 2 ½ cups red wine*
• 1 cup fresh orange juice
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2 whole cinnamon sticks
• 6 All spice berries
• 8 whole cloves
• 6 firm pears, peeled with stems remaining
• 1 teaspoon coconut oil 

Instructions:

1. Place wine, orange juice, maple syrup and vanilla in a medium saucepan. Stir to combine, then add cinnamon sticks, all spice berries, and cloves. Bring mixture to a boil then reduce heat to low and add pears. Simmer for 25 to 30 minutes or until pears are tender, rotating the pears a few times during poaching.
2. Remove from heat and let rest in the liquid for 10 minutes. Store pears for up to 1 day in poaching liquid in refrigerator. When ready to serve, remove from liquid and transfer to a plate. Use a paper towel to blot each of the pears dry.
3. Combine chocolate chips and coconut oil. Melt over a double boiler or in the microwave on low power, stirring every 15 to 30 seconds until melted and smooth. Place a sheet of parchment paper on your work surface.
4. Dip each pear halfway into chocolate then transfer to prepared baking sheet. Refrigerate until chocolate is set and enjoy.

*Dry red wine will produce a less sweet poached pear