Experience the tropical notes of chocolate and pineapple this International Pineapple Day

Celebrate the unsung hero of tropical fruit with chocolate-infused pineapple recipes this International Pineapple Day.

With its unique blend of tropical sweetness and juicy tang, pineapple is a flavoursome fruit, ready to awaken your senses. And in our humble opinion, it’s rather underrated here in the UK. Did you know it pairs beautifully with cacao-rich chocolate, too? This combination might be a little more unusual than the classic chocolate-orange or chocolate-strawberry partnerships but, trust us, it works.

Fortunately, this spiky fruit has its very own day of appreciation just around the corner: International Pineapple Day, which takes place on the 27th of June. What better time to celebrate such a lively flavour than summer? With this in mind, we’ve put together some of our favourite pineapple and chocolate recipes so our guests can experience the harmonious magic of these ingredients.

Which chocolate pairs best with pineapple?

Pineapple showcases a bold flavour profile, so it’s important to find a chocolate variety that holds its own while complementing the fruity tartness. Our chocolatiers have thought carefully about how to strike the perfect balance and we’ve been pleased to find that pineapple is surprisingly versatile. The key factor when finding the ideal chocolate accompaniment? A high cacao or cocoa butter content.

Dark chocolate

We’ve combined a fruity yet soothing pineapple ganache with a 70% dark chocolate cup in our Pineapple & Yuzu Chocolate Selector. The fruit’s light and floral notes contrast our dark chocolate’s rich and earthy tones — further complemented by citrusy yuzu.

White chocolate

However, we’ve also blended real pineapple with white chocolate to add the crowning layer to these Pineapple & Yuzu Selector chocolates. A high percentage of cocoa butter ensures our white chocolate melts in the mouth, releasing those juicy pineapple aromas and flavours. The result of all these layers is a sumptuous mouthful that highlights both cacao and pineapple’s nuanced flavour profiles.

Milk chocolate

While dark chocolate contrasts pineapple’s sweetness and white chocolate adds a light creaminess to the fruit’s tang, milk chocolate is also a worthy contender.

At Hotel Chocolat, we pride ourselves on “more cacao, less sugar”, meaning our milk chocolate features a minimum of 40% cacao to retain a depth of flavour while bringing a sense of mellow smoothness. Our Caramelised Pineapple Hot Chocolate Sachets capture the essence of real pineapple while showcasing the malty profile of our caramel-milk chocolate. These flavours are made for one another.

Every sip is sure to transport you to the tropical isles of Saint Lucia, where we grow some of our very own cacao beans.

Celebrate International Pineapple Day with chocolate and pineapple recipes

The best way to celebrate International Pineapple Day in 2024 has to be to sample this summery fruit. Taking inspiration from our creative chocolatiers, we’ve come up with some fast yet satisfying ideas to whip up and enjoy on International Pineapple Day.

Chocolate-dipped pineapple

An easy way to enjoy refreshing pineapple is to coat it in high-quality chocolate. Combining a crisp shell of chocolate with juicy pineapple pieces provides a delightful texture variation and makes a wonderful snack to nibble on throughout the day.

All you need to do is:

1. Cut your pineapple into chunks and pierce them with cocktail sticks or skewers.
   
2. Melt your favourite chocolate over a bain-marie (we recommend our 70% Dark Chocolate Slab).
   
3. Dip your pineapple pieces in the silky melted chocolate.
   
4. Leave them to cool then place them in the fridge until the chocolate layer has hardened.

Chocolate-dipped treats can be a fun way to get the little ones involved with dessert preparation, too. You could always experiment with different fruit skewer combinations, layering your pineapple with mango, strawberries, and kiwi, then dipping the whole lot into melted chocolate.

Pineapple upside-down cake with chocolate drizzle

A classic dish from the American South, pineapple upside-down cake is a decadent and comforting dessert that’s perfect for International Pineapple Day. The best part is that you can use tinned pineapple rings which can sometimes be easier to get hold of than fresh pineapple.

There is also something charming about the upside-down nature of this bake. After it’s out of the oven and cooled, you can flip it over to reveal the golden pineapple.

We particularly like this pineapple upside-down cake recipe from BBC Good Food. It embraces soft brown sugar to caramelise the pineapple pieces and golden caster sugar within the cake batter, releasing an irresistible combination of aromas as your cake bakes.

For an extra touch of opulence, we recommend drizzling melted dark chocolate over the top of your pineapple pieces. Try our 85% Dark Chocolate Batons for a multi-layered and rounded flavour profile that will contrast wonderfully with the cake’s sweetness.

Iced pineapple drinking chocolate

There’s nothing more refreshing than sipping a velvety-smooth iced drinking chocolate on a sunny June afternoon. Or perhaps there is — sipping a velvety-smooth iced drinking chocolate packed with malted caramel notes and a hint of revitalising pineapple.

While our Caramelised Pineapple Hot chocolate Sachets make soothing hot drinks to enjoy on a cool evening, they can also transform a chilled chocolate drink into something remarkable.

This International Pineapple Day, let the Velvetiser, our signature hot chocolate maker, whip up a fresh, fruity, and satisfying iced drinking chocolate.

To prepare your drink, you’ll need:

• The Velvetiser
• One Caramelised Pineapple Hot chocolate Sachet
• 220 ml of milk (dairy or plant-based)
• Ice
• A glass

The method:

1. Pour 120ml of milk into your Velvetiser
   
2. Sprinkle your Caramelised Pineapple Hot chocolate flakes into the Velvetiser, too.
   
3. Press the button and let the hot chocolate machine work its magic for 2.5 minutes.
   
4. While the Velvetiser is whipping, warming, and mixing your drinking chocolate, add the remaining 100ml of milk to your glass along with several ice cubes.
   
5. Once the Velvetised drink is ready, pour the glossy mixture into the glass of milk.
   
6. Top up with a couple of extra ice cubes, then sip and savour.

For more inspiration on creating cooling chocolate drinks, explore The Pod, where you can find iced chocolate recipes, chocolate milkshake recommendations, and Velvetised chilled cocktail ideas.

Celebrate International Pineapple Day 2024 with Hotel Chocolat

Chocolate and pineapple are a match made in heaven. So however you celebrate International Pineapple Day on the 27th of June, add a hint of cacao-rich chocolate to enhance the fruit’s vibrant flavour profile.
Try our Pineapple & Yuzu Chocolate Selectors and Caramelised Pineapple Hot Chocolate Sachets or peruse our entire fruity chocolate collection for more summer delights.

By Rhian Wood