Spiced Apples & Pears With Chocolate Sauce - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 1/2 oz dark chocolate, roughly chopped
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 1/2 None apples, cored and sliced
1 None pear, peeled, cored and cut into cubes
1 tsp sugar
1 1/2 tbsp butter
1/2 None cinnamon stick
1/2 None vanilla pod, sliced lengthways
None None Mint leaves, to decorate

Preparation

For the decoration, place 1/3 of the chocolate in a bowl over a pan of simmering water and gently stir until melted. Fill a disposable piping bag fitted with a small round nozzle with the melted chocolate and pipe 3-4 hearts on a piece of parchment paper (you will only need 2 but this allows for breakages). Leave to set.
For the chocolate sauce, heat the cream in a small saucepan. Add the remaining chopped chocolate and any remaining chocolate from the piping bag, stir until all of the chocolate has melted. Remove from the heat and allow to cool, stirring several times.
For the fruit, sprinkle the apple slices and pear cubes with the sugar. Melt the butter in a pan. Add the cinnamon stick and scrape the vanilla seeds into the pan, cook for 1-2 mins until aromatic.
Add the the apple slices a few at a time and cook for 1-2 mins. Remove and divide between two warmed plates.
Add the pear to the pan and cook for 1-2 mins, then scatter over apple slices. Drizzle with the chocolate sauce and any remaining juices from the pan. Decorate with the chocolate hearts and mint leaves.