Chocolate cake with stuffed pears

Chocolate pear stuffed cake is a refined dessert, perfect for impressing at any special occasion. This recipe combines the soft texture of chocolate cake with the subtle sweetness of caramelized pears, offering an explosion of flavors with every bite. Here's how you can achieve this decadent dessert step by step.

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Baking time: 20-30 minutes
Total time: 1 hour
Number of servings: 6

Ingredients:

*For caramelizing the pears:*
- 6 ripe but firm pears
- 375 ml semi-dry white wine
- Juice of 2 oranges
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- A small stick of cinnamon

*For the chocolate filling:*
- 60 ml heavy cream
- 60 g dark chocolate

*For the chocolate batter:*
- 100 g dark chocolate
- 100 g butter
- 50 ml milk
- 2 eggs
- 100 g sugar
- 125 g flour

Detailed instructions:

1. Preparing the pears: Start by peeling the pears. Use a small spoon to remove the seeds, creating a cavity in each pear. Make sure the pears are ripe but firm to hold their shape during boiling.

2. Caramelizing the pears: Place the pears in a saucepan and add the white wine, orange juice, sugar, and the cinnamon stick. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat for about 10 minutes, until the pears become slightly softer but remain firm. This step is essential for infusing the pears with flavors from the syrup.

3. Preparing the chocolate filling: In another container, heat the heavy cream until it is nearly boiling. Remove from heat and add the broken dark chocolate. Stir well until the chocolate is completely melted. Let the cream cool in the refrigerator, stirring occasionally, until it reaches a spreadable consistency.

4. Preparing the chocolate batter: In a saucepan, melt the butter and milk over low heat. Once the butter is melted, add the dark chocolate and stir until completely melted. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs with the sugar for 8 minutes, until you achieve a light and airy foam. Gradually add the melted chocolate mixture, stirring continuously. Finally, fold in the flour, mixing gently until well combined.

5. Assembling the cakes: Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Grease 6 small cake molds with butter. Pour the batter into each mold, leaving a little space for the pears. Place a stuffed pear with the chocolate cream in the center of each mold.

6. Baking: Bake the cakes for 20-30 minutes or until the batter is firm to the touch. Test with a toothpick: if it comes out clean, the cakes are done.

7. Serving: Let the cakes cool for 10 minutes before removing them from the molds. Serve warm or at room temperature, possibly with a scoop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for a perfect contrast of temperatures.

Useful tips:
- You can vary the recipe using other fruits, such as apples or apricots, instead of pears.
- Make sure the chocolate you use is of high quality for a more intense flavor.
- If you want a crunchy note, you can add chopped nuts to the batter.

This chocolate pear stuffed cake is not only a quick and simple dessert to prepare but also a delicacy that will delight anyone's taste buds. With a perfect combination of chocolate, fruit, and warm flavors, it is ideal to be served on festive days or simply as a treat at the end of a special day.