Pear and Chocolate Strudel

The combination of pear and chocolate is a classic that never disappoints, and incorporating it into a strudel makes the result truly delicious. Here is the recipe for a pear and chocolate strudel with an Italian twist.

Ingredients

• 1 roll of rectangular puff pastry
• 3 ripe but firm pears
• 50 g of brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• 100 g of dark chocolate
• 30 g of butter
• 30 g of breadcrumbs
• Powdered sugar (for dusting)
• 1 egg (for brushing the dough)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
2. Peel the pears and cut them into small cubes. Put them in a pan with a bit of butter and the brown sugar, and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes until they become slightly tender. Add the cinnamon and mix well.
3. Coarsely chop the dark chocolate and add it to the pears. Allow the mixture to cool.
4. Unroll the puff pastry on a sheet of parchment paper. Spread the breadcrumbs in the center of the pastry, leaving a clean edge around. The breadcrumbs will help absorb the moisture from the pears.
5. Distribute the pear and chocolate mixture over the breadcrumbs.
6. Melt the remaining butter and brush it on the edges of the puff pastry.
7. Roll the puff pastry onto itself starting from the long side, wrapping the filling well, then seal the ends.
8. Brush the strudel with the beaten egg and make a few small cuts on the surface to allow steam to escape during cooking.
9. Bake for about 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Once baked, let the strudel cool on a wire rack.
10. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.

Curiosity

Strudel is a dessert that has its origins in Austria, but it is also very popular in Northern Italy, particularly in Trentino-Alto Adige where it has been adopted and adapted in different variants. Traditionally, strudel is filled with apples, raisins, and pine nuts, but this version with pears and chocolate is a delicious reinterpretation and perfect for surprising your guests.