By, Dara Wilson

When you think of chocolate-covered pineapple, what season comes to mind?

Every season has its token fruit. Fall is apple. Winter is cranberry. Spring is apricots. Summer is the most eclectic and fun with a wide array of in-season berries, melons, cherries, peaches, and more. Yes, chocolate-covered apples and bananas are always a delicious, good time. Although, when summer hits, you want to devour as much pineapple as you can. Am I right?

Pineapple gelato, crushed pineapple on ice cream, pineapple smoothies, pina coladas, pineapple freeze pops; where does the fun end? Oh yeah, with chocolate. The answer is ALWAYS, chocolate. Here is the secret to the juiciest, most decadent chocolate-dipped pineapple, summer’s easiest and most flavorful dessert.

Fresh Pineapple

Do you know the secret to ripe pineapple? We all know that ripened fruit will be slightly soft to the touch, but there is a secret trick for pineapple. Pick up the fruit by its prickly stems. If one falls off, the pineapple is ready to be cut up. Other hints are smelling the bottom of it and its color. The more yellow pineapple is, the riper it is, as well as it smells sweet from its bottom.

First, slice off the top and bottom. Then, place the pineapple on a cutting board and shave off the hard rind piece by piece. No brown spots should remain. You can smell a fresh pineapple by its sweetness. Finally, cut off huge sections around the core and cut them into slices or chunks. A pineapple’s core is hard and stringy. While it can be eaten, it’s not the most flavorful bite.

The Secret to the Best Chocolate-Covered Pineapple

Crunch

Except for apples, most fruit is soft. If you want more texture and a fun crunch, you can roll your chocolate-covered fruit in coconut flakes, nuts, seeds, and cacao nibs. We recommend unsweetened coconut flakes because no one needs added sugar to weigh them down on a hot summer day.

High-Quality Chocolate

Choose chocolate that works towards your wellness goals, and not one that is stuffed with sugar. Quality chocolate with no added sugar is possible with RED. Keto and Weight-Watchers friendly, gluten-free, Kosher, and non-GMO, RED has unmatched true cocoa flavor. Compared to leading chocolate brands, RED has fewer calories and less fat and is constantly improving its recipe for the better. Try RED now and you will never go back.

Chocolate-Covered Pineapple Recipe with RED Chocolate

Ingredients

• Cold, fresh pineapple slices or chunks (leave them in the fridge for an hour)
• Unsweetened and toasted shredded coconut (optional)
• 5 oz. RED chocolate bars of your choice

Steps

1. Take out a large baking sheet or plate and put a piece of parchment on top. Parchment paper is always your best bet for easy removal of anything that goes on it.
2. Melt your RED chocolate, anyway that you prefer. This could be with a double boiler, microwave, or stovetop pot. If you melt chocolate in the microwave, only heat it for 30 seconds, and then 15-second intervals, stirring in-between, to not burn the chocolate. As soon as it looks almost melted, remove it from the microwave or stovetop.
3. Using a toothpick, dunk your pineapple slices into the melted chocolate. (For extra fun and a yummy crunch, dip the chocolate pineapple in coconut flakes! These can be unsweetened or sweetened, toasted or not toasted.
4. Place them on the parchment paper and put them in the fridge to harden and cool.

Find RED at a store near you with our online store finder, or shop online. Impress your friends with this easy summer treat that takes no time at all. Chocolate-covered pineapple is where it’s at.