Spicy Dried Fruit Dessert Sauce Recipes

Steps:

• Place the vin santo, sugar, cinnamon, cloves, vanilla bean, and zests in a large, shallow saucepan with 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Peel the pears, leaving the stems intact, and scoop out the seeds from the bottom with an apple corer or melon baller. Lay half the pears on their sides in the poaching liquid and simmer for 20 minutes, carefully turning the pears once with a spoon. Remove with a slotted spoon. Poach the remaining pears in the same liquid. Snip off the hard stems from the figs with scissors. Add the figs, apricots, prunes, and the first batch of poached pears and simmer 5 to 10 more minutes, until the pears and the dried fruit are all tender.
• Chill the pears, dried fruit, zests, and poaching liquid. Remove the cinnamon, cloves, and vanilla bean before serving if you like.

Steps:

• Combine 2 cups water, sugar and dried apricots in heavy medium saucepan. Bring mixture to boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until apricots are tender, about 25 minutes. Remove from heat. Cool 15 minutes. Transfer apricot mixture to blender and puree, adding more water by tablespoonfuls if needed to form smooth sauce. Add vanilla extract and blend well. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)

Steps:

• Stir 1 finely chopped shallot, 1 tablespoon coriander seeds, 1 tablespoon finely chopped peeled ginger, and 1 teaspoon vegetable oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add 1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped dried apricots, 1 cup apple cider vinegar, 1/4 cup coarsely chopped dried figs, 1/4 cup coarsely chopped prunes, 1/4 cup golden raisins, 1/4 cup robust-flavored (dark) molasses, and 1 1/2 cups water; season with salt and pepper.
• Bring to a simmer and cook, adding more water if too thick, until fruit is soft and liquid is almost completely evaporated. Let cool.