For Thursday thoughts today we're talking dipping fruit in chocolate. Delicious, right? In my days as the owner of a chocolate fountain (those were good days, cut short by lack of space in a move across the country) my favorite things to dip were the fruits. Raspberries, of course, and strawberries, but what really surprised me was how good pineapple was with chocolate. Pineapple and chocolate are good friends, I'm telling you. Not that they are without their issues, though. If you actually want to cover some fresh pineapple with a hard chocolate coating, the two tend to not get along. The moisture on the cut pineapple causes all kinds of fun seizing problems with the dipping chocolate, and that's before you realize your chocolate is sliding off the pineapple completely. 

Here's where you lean closer to your computer, because I'm going to tell you a little secret about how to dip fresh pineapple in chocolate. Because trust me, you want to. It is delicious, for one, and makes a great and simple dessert/appetizer for two. And did I mention it is delicious? Anyway, the best way I've found to do it is to pat the pineapple pieces dry, and then freeze them for a few hours in the freezer. This locks in all the fresh pineappley goodness and keeps it from messing with the melted chocolate goodness. 

Then you enlist the help of the cutest kitchen helper in the world dip the pineapple with you. Although you may want to warn your helper that ALL the pineapple pieces are frozen. She might get disappointed after the first four or five. 

I usually melt my chocolate (I use plain ol' chocolate chips) with a little bit of vegetable oil. This makes the chocolate a little less brittle when it hardens up again. You just drop each piece it, coat it completely, and set it aside to cool completely on some parchment paper. Within a few minutes you'll be surrounded by beautiful, heavenly scented pieces of chocolate covered pineapple. 

Jump around for joy and eat about five slices.

Chocolate Dipped Pineapple Slices

By Heat Oven To 350 Published 08/22/2013

Ingredients

• 1 fresh pineapple
• 3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 3 tablespoons oil

Instructions

1. Peel and core pineapple and cut into thin slices about 1/4 inch thick. Place in a single layer on a cooling rack and pat each side with paper towels. Place entire cooling rack, including pineapple, in the freezer for 2-3 hours or until frozen solid.
2. Place chocolate chips and oil in a double boiler and heat over simmering water until chocolate is melted.
3. One by one, dip each piece of pineapple in melted chocolate until it is completely covered. Lay the chocolate covered pieces on parchment paper to solidify.
4. Once chocolate has solidified, serve chocolate covered pineapple immediately or store in the fridge for up to a day.

Yield: 10 servings
Prep Time: 20 min
Cook time: 2-3 hours (mostly freezing time)

Recipe Source: HeatOvenTo350

Posted in: Dessert