Delicious Chocolate Fondue is a classic dessert and perfect for parties. It can even be used as a New Year’s Eve showstopper!
This recipe uses high-quality chocolate and heavy whipping cream for a silky smooth result. You can experiment with other ingredients for different flavor variations. For example, a spoonful of peanut butter or a splash of espresso powder will make it a mocha chocolate fondue.
Ingredients
Delicious Chocolate Fondue is an easy dessert to make at home, and it requires just two simple ingredients: chocolate and cream. Unlike chocolate fountains that can cost hundreds of dollars, this recipe is affordable and will delight your guests with its decadent chocolate taste and variety of dippers.
Typically, Delicious Chocolate Fondue is made with semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, but this recipe uses half milk and half dark chocolate for a richer flavor and a smooth texture. For a different flavor, you can switch out the dark chocolate with white chocolate or a mix of both.
When melting the chocolate, keep in mind that you can easily burn the mixture if it is heated too quickly or at too high of a temperature. Heat the chocolate slowly on low, stirring constantly until it is completely melted and smooth. As the chocolate melts, stir in the milk and then the vanilla. The resulting mixture should be a thin ganache that will pour easily over the dippers. If the ganache is too thick, whisk in additional milk a few drops at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
Although fruit is the most popular choice, there are many other delicious dipping foods to try as well. Choose ripe and sweet fruits like strawberries, bananas, blackberries, or raspberries to complement the rich chocolate flavor; tropical fruits like pineapple or mango can also be a refreshing change from the usual dipping options. You can also serve the chocolate with marshmallows, graham crackers, or vanilla cookies for a more savory and salty treat. You could even make a few small Rice Krispie squares and then dip them for a bite of sweetness with a crunch!
Instructions
Delicious Chocolate Fondue is a great party appetizer or special occasion dessert, but it’s also easy to make at home. This recipe uses just two ingredients: chopped high-quality chocolate and heavy cream (plus a pinch of salt) to create luscious, smooth chocolate for dipping. You can use dark, milk, or white chocolate and mix in your favorite flavors to create fun variations such as a Chocolate S’mores Fondue with milk and chocolate mixed with marshmallow creme and graham crackers or a Flaming Turtle Fondue with milk, caramel, and rum topped with pecans.
In a medium saucepan, combine the chocolate and 3/4 cup heavy cream. Heat over medium-low temperature, whisking constantly, until melted and well combined. Don’t overheat or you will scorch the chocolate. If the chocolate is not completely melt after 10 minutes of heating, whisk in additional cream or milk in small increments. If desired, stir in a pinch of salt to enhance the flavor and reduce bitterness.
The choice is really up to you, but I recommend using only quality chocolate such as Guittard or Ghirardelli’s. Cheaper brands tend to burn or become grainy while the higher-end chocolates melt beautifully, are smooth, and have an intense flavor.
For this recipe, you can serve the fondue immediately while warm with your dipping items or transfer to a slow cooker kept on LOW to keep it warm for dipping later. It will be kept in the refrigerator for up to three days in an airtight container. To rewarm, transfer to the microwave for a few seconds or heat on the stove over low heat, stirring often.
Variations
Chocolate fondue is one of those dishes that can seem intimidating or overly fancy, but it’s really quite simple. A basic recipe involves only two ingredients: chopped high-quality chocolate and heavy cream. For even more flavor and dipping options, you can add your favorite liqueur or extract to the mix for a fun twist.
This chocolate fondue can serve with just about any sweet food that can be dipp in it. Some favorites are fruit (strawberries, bananas, raspberries, blackberries, peaches, apples, and more), baked goods like cookies, brownies, or doughnuts, and savory treats such as pretzels, potato chips, bacon, or graham crackers. The key is to have a variety of flavors and textures on hand so that everyone can find something they enjoy.
To take your chocolate fondue to the next level, try adding a pinch of espresso powder or a splash of your favorite liqueur. Both enhance the chocolate’s flavor and are a nice change from plain old vanilla.
When your chocolate fondue is ready to serve, transfer it to a shallow ceramic serving dish and set out a plate of prepared dipping foods. Guests can use fondue forks or skewers to dip their chosen dipping items.
Whether you make your chocolate fondue with dark, milk, or white chocolate, it will taste delicious! You can also vary the flavor by adding a teaspoon of a flavored liqueur or extract. Try a shot of coffee, mint, orange, or peppermint to the chocolate for a new spin on an old favorite. If you don’t have a fondue pot, a saucepan and an electric hot plate will work just fine. Just be sure the saucepan isn’t too hot and that the utensils used for dipping are completely dry. If they’re wet, the chocolate will seize and become grainy.
Serving
Chocolate fondue is very easy to prepare, even for a large group. Make it up to a day or two ahead and refrigerate it, then just rewarm the mixture before serving. You can do this very gently in the microwave (on medium power, in 30-second bursts, stirring after each) or by placing the mix in a heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water on the stove. Keeping it warm on the stove gives you more control over the temperature and allows you to adjust the consistency if needed.
You will want to use high-quality chocolate for this recipe. A few blocks of the bar chocolate in the candy aisle will work fine, but if you want to really splurge, you should look for quality chocolate that contains at least 50% cocoa solids. This will give you the best flavor and texture, as opposed to candy melts, which can be a bit “gummy” and don’t have much flavor.
It’s important to stir the chocolate constantly while it’s melting. This will prevent lumps and clumps. The more you stir, the smoother and more quickly the chocolate will melt. Once it is fully melt, remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and a pinch of salt.
For a delicious and healthy dessert, you will want to serve this chocolate with lots of fresh fruit. Strawberries, kiwi, pineapple, raspberries, and blackberries are all great choices. You can also dip in halved apricots and large cubes of peaches. Other good choices are bananas, peanut butter chips, and fudgy brownies or cookies (chocolate chip or Oreos). There is no limit to what you can serve with chocolate fondue!
