Chocolate & Pear Pastry Wreath

This post was sponsored by AMERICAN HERITAGE® Chocolate as part of an Influencer Campaign for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

My memories of childhood holidays are filled with magic. No matter the business or financial hardships, my mom always went out of her way to infuse every day with seasonal whimsy. Now that I’m a mom, I want to do the same for my daughter. While I am certainly no Mary Poppins, I do have a bit of fairy dust up my sleeve. And one of my magic tricks is whimsical baked goods. With the help of the ever scrumptious AMERICAN HERITAGE® Chocolate, I am whipping up a treat that is sure to add a bit of fantasy to our holidays. Join in on the magical fun with my Chocolate & Pear Pastry Wreath!

Chocolate & Pear Pastry Wreath

Time: 25 min; Serves: 4-6 

INGREDIENTS:

• 6 ounces of AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate® Finely Grated Chocolate
• 1 pre-made pastry puff dough roll
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon of orange extract
• 4-6 slices of dried pears
• 1 egg yolk

 DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Dice the dried pear slices and then mix with the cinnamon. Set aside.
3. Lay out the pre-made pastry puff dough roll on parchment paper or floured surface and roll out. It should be in a rectangular shape, approximately 9×14”.
4. In a microwave-safe mixing bowl, add the finely grated AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate. Melt in the microwave for 30 seconds at medium heat. Stir well and return to the microwave for 10-20 seconds and repeat until smooth. Add the orange extract to the melted chocolate and mix thoroughly.
5. Immediately spread the chocolate mixture over the surface of the rolled out dough and sprinkle the diced pears on top. Then tightly roll the dough upon itself, lengthwise.
6. Twist the rolled dough to secure and shape in the form of a wreath on the lined baking sheet. Press the ends together tightly. Brush the pastry wreath with the egg yolk and place in the oven. Bake approximately 15 minutes. Remove, let cool completely, and enjoy!

The most fabulous thing about this recipe that it is easier to make than it looks. But just in case you’re a bit nervous, let’s walk through the steps together. No really, I promise you’ll be a bona fide Tinkerbell in your kid’s eyes (pixie dust and all!) by the time we’re through. First, you’ll want to preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Next, dice the 4-6 dried pear slices and then mix with the cinnamon. Set aside. Tip: You are welcome to use fresh pear slices, but the dried ones will give off less liquid and will help avoid a soggy pastry.

Lay out the pre-made pastry puff dough (easily found in your local market’s freezer aisle) on parchment paper or floured surface and roll out with a rolling pin. It should be rolled out to a rectangular shape, approximately 9×14”.

In a microwave-safe mixing bowl, add the Finely Grated AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate. Melt in the microwave for 30 seconds at medium heat. Stir well and return to the microwave for 10-20 seconds and repeat until smooth. Add the orange extract to the melted chocolate and mix thoroughly. I highly recommend the use of AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate in this (and all holiday sweets) recipe. It is based on authentic recipes dating back to the 1700s, used by the early American chocolate makers. Vanilla, orange peel, and cinnamon are blended directly into the cocoa for a mind-boggling flavor experience that won’t be forgotten. And best of all, it is so finely grated and can replace semi-sweet chocolate in a 1 to 1 ratio, that it is ideal for melting and using in all your treasured recipes. To summarize, AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate is fabulous and you need it in your life!

For the next step, you’ll need to work a bit quickly. Immediately spread the chocolate mixture over the surface of the rolled out dough and sprinkle the diced pears on top. Then tightly roll the dough upon itself, lengthwise.

Next, you will want to twist the rolled dough to secure the filling and make it look pretty. Then shape the dough in the form of a wreath on the lined baking sheet. Press the ends together tightly.

Brush the pastry wreath with the egg yolk and place in the oven. Bake approximately 15 minutes or until it turns golden brown. Remove, let cool completely, and enjoy!

And voila! A whimsical piece of pastry magic to make your child (and everyone around you) smile. With the AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate’s flavorful spices, it will be sure to make lasting and loving childhood memories.

And don’t forget to order American Heritage Chocolate to have stocked in the pantry this season… it’s available on Amazon, so it couldn’t be easier to purchase. So are you going to try out the recipe? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section and also share your favorite magical holiday treats below… inquiring minds want to know! Happy Holidays!