If combining flavorful healthy fruit and decadent dark chocolate seems a little contradictory, you may be surprised that there isn't much to feel guilty about if you indulge in a few chocolate-covered strawberries or a pineapple wedge dipped in chocolate. In fact, there are some nutritional benefits to eating dark chocolate. According to Medical News Today, the antioxidants found in dark chocolate have the potential to have a variety of health benefits such as improving heart health, decreasing cholesterol levels, and helping the mind to stay sharp. Something to look for on the label of chocolate is the cocoa content, Medical News Today advises that the higher the cocoa content (as is found in dark chocolate), the more health benefits there are. Additionally, Harvard Health Publishing reports that antioxidants found in cocoa combat free radicals, which can harm several important parts of the body, including DNA and cells. The health benefits don't stop there. According to Healthline, dark chocolate is very nutritious, containing magnesium, manganese and copper, and can help to reduce the risk of heart disease, improve blood flow and lower blook pressure. Another plus to eating dark chocolate in moderation? Medical News Today says that it may have less fat and sugar than milk or varieties of chocolate. However, you should check nutritional labels in order to verify the sugar and fat content. Now that you are eager to try some dark chocolate paired with fresh fruit, which one should you pick?
What's more romantic than eating chocolate-covered strawberries with your sweetheart? How about making them together before sharing them?
While strawberries may be a quintessential fruit partnered with dark chocolate, so many other sweet fruits also pair well with it. Together, the bitterness of the dark chocolate and the sweetness of the fruit makes for a happy marriage of flavor.
Some of the recipes found on TasteofHome.com involve covering pomegranate seeds, figs, and kiwi with chocolate. The Food Network recommends using dried mango as well as the sweet fruits papaya and apricots for dipping. Chocolatier Moonstruck Chocolate suggests some more unusual combinations to try, such as raspberries and grapes, along with more conventional strawberries and bananas, both fresh and dried.
When it comes to the sweetest fruits, WebMD has it broken down by which has the highest sugar content. The top five are mangoes, grapes, and pears.
Not to be overlooked, citrus fruits make for a great partner to dark chocolate. Bissinger's in Paris, which has specialized in handcrafted chocolate since the 1600s, offers several kinds of fruits dipped in chocolate including dark candied lemon and orange peels. Each Green Corner states that in addition to citrus fruits, dark chocolate goes well with the acidity of kiwis. Some fruits that are neither very sweet nor very sour work well with dark chocolate, according to Each Green Corner, such as apples and cherries.
The description for Bissinger's dark Bing cherries, states that the match enhances the chocolate's flavor while heightening the luscious cherry taste. Amy's Gourmet Apples, another company that knows what fruits pair best with dark chocolate, sells a granny smith apple dipped in caramel and tempered dark Belgian chocolate with a dusting of sea salt. For a fun-shaped, slightly acidic fruit to cover in dark chocolate, purchase a starfruit for your dipping experiments (via Frieda's).
There's no need to stop with just dark chocolate and fruit. Try adding nuts, drizzled caramel, and coconut flakes to finish off these delicious treat creations.
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Can chocolate-dipped fruit really be healthy? Yep, because fruit is naturally low in fat, sodium and calories. It’s also high in the good stuff, like vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
And while it’s true that chocolate is high in calories, fat and sugar, some studies suggest that a moderate amount of high-quality dark chocolate may help prevent heart disease and promote artery health. That’s because the cocoa beans used to make chocolate contain flavanols, which are beneficial antioxidants and known to prevent or delay damage to cells. There’s also evidence that flavanols help lower blood pressure.
The trick is to go with dark chocolate with at least a 70% cacao content; it has the highest amount of flavanols.
After you have your chocolate, choose your fruit. Any kind is a perfect match for chocolate. For inspiration, check out these 12 much-loved recipes.
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Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries
It’s easy to make this traditional Valentine’s Day dessert extra special: Just roll the berries in sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, nuts, or edible glitter before the chocolate sets.
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Antioxidant-rich pomegranates are in season during winter. They taste amazing when drizzled with your favorite melted chocolate. Don’t stress about extracting the seeds—it’s actually very easy to deseed a pomegranate.
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Originally Published: January 21, 2022