Orange and Chocolate Baskets

Orange and chocolate baskets are an elegant and delicious dessert. Here I offer you the recipe for this delightful treat.

Ingredients

• 1 roll of puff pastry
• 2 untreated oranges
• 200 g of dark chocolate
• 100 ml of fresh cream
• 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar
• A pinch of salt

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C (350 °F).
2. Roll out the puff pastry and cut out circles slightly larger than the molds you’ll use for the baskets.
3. Place the circles of puff pastry into the previously buttered and floured molds, making sure the pastry sticks well to the edges. Prick it with a fork to prevent it from puffing up too much during baking.
4. Put the molds in the oven and bake for about 15 minutes or until the puff pastry is golden. Once ready, let the baskets cool completely.
5. Meanwhile, grate the zest of one orange and squeeze the juice of both. Strain the juice to remove any seeds and solid parts.
6. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler with the cream and a pinch of salt. Stir until you get a smooth and even ganache.
7. Add the grated orange zest and two to three tablespoons of orange juice to the ganache, mixing well.
8. Pour the ganache into the bottom of each cooled puff pastry basket.
9. Put the baskets in the refrigerator for at least an hour so that the ganache sets.
10. Before serving, dust them with powdered sugar.

Curiosity

Chocolate and orange are a winning combination in pastry. The bitterness of dark chocolate perfectly complements the sweetness and acidity of the orange, creating a balance of flavors that excites the palate. This pairing is also very common in Italy during the holidays, especially at Christmas, when oranges are in the peak of their season.