Chocolate-Painted Sugar Cones with Summer Fruit

It’s a happy day any time simplicity collides with oh-my-gosh-these-are-amazing, and it’s made better when I can get my girl in on the fun, too. Eowyn loves to paint; she gladly dips her paintbrush in the rainbow of colors squeezed onto leftover party plates, smearing them across the page and displaying her work with pride once it’s complete. “Woooow!” she says to me with bright eyes, and instantly I know those few moments playing together equaled time well spent.

If painting is enjoyable with non-edible (yet also, thankfully, non-toxic!) matter, how much more so with chocolate. The idea for this simple treat entered my mind after seeing this pin, but I wondered how one could fill an ice cream cone with cut fruit and it not become soggy. Chocolate is a cure for many ills, and in this instance, it works beautifully to preserve the crunch of the cones, not to mention the fact that it elevates everything to which it is added.

It came as no surprise that this process would be a little messy, but what I didn’t anticipate was the focus with which Eowyn completed her task. Of course, the first thing she did was dip the brush into the melted chocolate, then swiftly smothered it against her lips before I could prevent it, but once we started working, she became very meticulous and intentional with her actions. We developed an assembly line in which she painted first, and I followed, filling in any sections she missed. Our results were perfectly imperfect, and Eowyn’s words (“Again! Again!”) assured me that this is an activity we are likely to repeat.

The sweet, crisp cones, combined with the slightly bitter chocolate and sugared fruit, are full of whimsy and fitting for both toddlers and adults alike. I could see this being an ideal interactive activity for a kids’ play date, though it would be equally appropriate to prepare the desserts ahead of time and arrange them elegantly for a dinner party. However you decide to serve them, I don’t expect you’ll be disappointed.

Tips and Tidbits

• The options for variation here are endless! For me, the darker the chocolate the better, but if you like something more mild, I say go for it. Milk or white chocolate would work beautifully, and I’m even thinking this peanut butter magic shell might be a fun way to mix things up (though the cones might need to go in the freezer for just a minute after applying the mixture in order for it to firm up properly).
• Likewise, feel free to vary the fruit filling to suit your palate and availability. Stawberries, kiwi, raspberries, sauteed apples – it’s completely up to you! One thought that I had was that it would be fun to put the tiniest dollop of whipped cream at the very bottom of each cone as a little surprise ending to the dessert.
• Lastly, these chocolate-painted cones are versatile and can be used for a number of applications. It’s quick and easy to make up a batch, then just store them in an airtight container at room temperature until your next ice cream craving strikes (or pudding craving or mousse craving or…you get the idea). They are perfect for portion control without the feeling of deprivation.

ENJOY!