Fondue Cake: A Step-By-Step Guide To Melting Success

Fondue is a fun and simple dessert that is perfect for parties or a low-key evening at home. To make a chocolate fondue, you will need chocolate chips, heavy cream, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Place the chocolate chips in a medium heat-proof bowl and heat the heavy cream, vanilla, and salt in a small pot over medium heat until simmering. Pour the cream over the chocolate and let it sit for 5 minutes before whisking until smooth. You can serve your fondue with a variety of dippers such as fruit, cake, marshmallows, pretzels, and cookies. If you want to make a fondue cake, you can hollow out the middle of a pound cake, being careful not to cut through the bottom, and pour the ganache into it. Serve the fondue-filled cake with the desired dippers and enjoy!

Choosing the right chocolate

For a more premium fondue, opt for a mix of dark and milk chocolate. Dark bittersweet chocolate (at least 60% cocoa) can be paired with high-quality milk chocolate to create a smooth and rich fondue. If you want to experiment with flavours, you can try adding orange or peppermint extract.

When melting the chocolate, it's important to stir it occasionally and avoid letting it simmer or boil, as this can affect the texture and cause it to become grainy. You can melt the chocolate in a double boiler or directly in a saucepan, but be careful not to overheat it. Once melted, you can add in the milk or cream and any desired flavourings, such as vanilla extract.

Preparing the pound cake

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 eggs

Method:

• Beat the butter at medium speed with an electric mixer for 2 minutes or until creamy.
• Gradually add the sugar, beating for 5 to 7 minutes.
• Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• In a separate bowl, combine the flour and a pinch of salt. Add this to the butter mixture, alternating with milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture.
• Mix at low speed after each addition, just until the mixture is blended.
• Stir in the vanilla.
• Spoon the batter into a greased and floured 8 or 9-inch loaf pan.
• Bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 45-60 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the centre comes out clean.
• Cool the cake in the pan on a wire rack for 10 to 15 minutes, then remove the cake from the pan and cool completely on a wire rack.
• Once cool, cut the cake into thick, 1-inch cubes.

Making the fondue

Start by placing the chocolate chips in the bowl. Next, heat the heavy cream, vanilla, and salt in the pot over medium heat until it reaches a simmer. Then, pour the hot cream mixture over the chocolate chips and let it sit for about 5 minutes. After this, whisk the mixture until it becomes smooth.

At this point, you can add a range of dippers to the fondue, such as fruit, marshmallows, pretzels, and, of course, cake. If you're using a pound cake, it's recommended to cut it into bite-sized cubes before dipping. You can also hollow out the middle of the cake, being careful not to cut through the bottom, and pour the fondue into it to create a unique presentation.

Selecting dippers

Fruits

Fresh fruits are a great option for cake fondue. They provide a contrast in texture and temperature to the warm, soft cake, and they also add a healthy element to your dessert. Strawberries, raspberries, pineapple chunks, blackberries, bananas, apples, mangoes, grapes, and fresh pineapple are all excellent choices.

Cookies and sweets

Cookies and other sweet treats can also be used as dippers. Sugar cookies, shortbread cookies, gingerbread cookies, and brownie squares are all good options. Large marshmallows and Rice Krispies treats are also fun choices that will appeal to those with a sweet tooth.

Salty, crunchy options

Salty, crunchy dippers such as pretzels, pretzel sticks, pretzel crisps, and crackers provide a nice contrast to the sweetness of the cake and fondue. They also add a bit of texture and variety to your dipping options.

Cake

Of course, the star of the show is the cake itself. Pound cake is a popular choice for cake fondue as it has a firm texture that holds up well to dipping. Cut the cake into thick, 1-inch cubes to provide a sturdy base for dipping. You can also hollow out the middle of the cake, being careful not to cut through the bottom, and pour the fondue into the cake itself for a dramatic presentation.

Other ideas

Other possibilities for dippers include Nilla Wafers, large and mini marshmallows, and even metal barbecue skewers for a unique and elegant touch. Get creative and choose dippers that appeal to your taste preferences and dipping desires!

Serving and storing

Once you've made your cake fondue, it's important to know how to serve and store it properly to ensure it stays fresh and delicious. Here are some detailed tips for serving and storing your cake fondue:

Serving

• If you've made a hollowed-out cake fondue, pour the ganache or hot fudge sauce into the hollowed-out centre of the cake and serve with the reserved cake pieces and other desired dippers.
• For dippers, you can use fresh fruit (such as bananas, grapes, and pineapple), large and mini marshmallows, pretzel sticks, cubed pound cake, wafers, or anything else you desire.
• If you're using a fondue pot, keep the heat low to prevent the fondue from burning or becoming too thick.

Storing

• Fondue can be stored in the refrigerator for quite a while. However, it's best to consume it within 2-3 days for optimal freshness and taste.
• If you have leftover cake, you can store it at room temperature for 1-2 days. Wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out.
• If you want to store the cake for a more extended period, consider freezing it. Wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap, then cover it with aluminium foil. Place the wrapped cake in a large freezer bag or airtight container and store it in the freezer for up to 1 year.
• To thaw a frozen cake, transfer it to the refrigerator a few days before you plan to eat it. Once it's thawed, move it to room temperature, unwrap it, and enjoy!

Frequently asked questions