Chocolate Fondue: No-Fondue Pot, Easy Homemade Treat

Chocolate fondue is a fun and easy dessert to make at home, and you don't even need a fondue pot! All you need is a saucepan or a microwave-safe bowl, some good quality chocolate, and cream. You can also add a pinch of salt, vanilla extract, or other flavourings like orange zest, cinnamon, or chilli powder. Simply melt the chocolate with the cream, stir until smooth, and serve with your favourite dippers like fruit, cake, cookies, or marshmallows. It's a great interactive dessert that everyone can enjoy and customise!

Chocolate fondue can be made in a microwave using a microwave-safe bowl

Ingredients:

• 100g Toblerone chocolate bars (2x 100g bars), finely chopped
• 100g 70% cocoa chocolate bar, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup Nutella
• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup whipping cream

Method:

• Combine the finely chopped chocolate bars, Nutella, butter, and whipping cream in a large microwave-safe bowl.
• Cook in the microwave on high power for 1 minute.
• Allow the mixture to rest for 1 minute, then stir delicately for 1 minute. The mixture will start to come together, but there may be lumps of unmelted chocolate.
• Repeat the process of cooking, resting, and stirring for 1 minute.
• If there are still lumps, repeat the process again but for no more than 20 seconds. Continue in 20-second intervals until the fondue is perfectly smooth and silky.
• Transfer the fondue to a clean bowl and serve immediately with your favourite fruits or cubed pound cake.

Tips:

• Cut fruits into bite-sized chunks before serving.
• For a romantic meal for two, set up a small selection of dippables and one larger pot of chocolate in the middle.
• If you have leftovers, cover the bowl and refrigerate. The fondue will turn into a delicious, fudgy chocolate treat!

You can use a small slow cooker to keep the fondue warm

If you don't have a fondue pot, you can use a small slow cooker to keep your chocolate fondue warm. This is a great option if you're making fondue for a party or large group, as it will keep the chocolate at the perfect temperature for dipping.

To use a slow cooker for chocolate fondue, first lightly grease the inside of the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. This will make cleanup easier and help ensure your fondue doesn't stick to the sides of the pot.

Next, add your fondue ingredients to the slow cooker and gently stir to combine. The exact ingredients you'll need will vary depending on the recipe you're following, but typically include chocolate, heavy cream or milk, butter, corn syrup, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. You can also add a small amount of alcohol, such as brandy, for extra flavour.

Once you've added all your ingredients, cover the slow cooker and cook on low heat for around an hour, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth. Then, turn the slow cooker to its "warm" setting and serve your fondue with a selection of dippers.

Some great dipping options for chocolate fondue include fresh fruit (such as strawberries, bananas, and pineapple), cookies, brownies, marshmallows, pretzels, and even savoury snacks like potato chips or bacon.

The fondue can be kept warm in a saucepan placed on a heating pad

If you don't have a fondue pot, you can still make chocolate fondue at home and keep it warm in a saucepan placed on a heating pad.

Fondue was traditionally nothing more than melted chocolate kept warm in a pot called a Caquelon, which was set over a sterno or other source of fire. If you don't have a fondue pot, you can use a regular saucepan and keep it warm in several different ways.

One way to keep your chocolate fondue warm is to place the saucepan on a heating pad. You can also use a small slow cooker, or place the saucepan over a bowl of very hot, just-boiled water. If you want to use a candle, a tea candle produces less heat than canned Sterno fuel. However, you will need to keep an eye on it and adjust the heat as needed.

Another option is to use a small crockpot or a clean candle warmer. You can also use an oven mitt and place the hot pot of melted chocolate on top of it. If the fondue starts to stiffen, return it to the stove and stir in some hot cream.

A tea candle can be used to keep the fondue warm

If you don't have a fondue pot, you can use a tea candle to keep your chocolate fondue warm. Tea candles produce less heat than canned Sterno fuel, so you can keep your fondue warm without worrying about it getting too hot.

You can place your tea candle on a trivet and put an enameled cast iron pot on top of it to keep your fondue warm. If you're using a small pot, one or two candles should be enough, but if you're using a larger pot, you may need four candles to keep the fondue at the right temperature.

Cast iron pots are ideal for this purpose because they retain heat well. To ensure that your fondue stays warm for longer, you can preheat the pot in the oven before transferring your fondue to it.

Another option for keeping your fondue warm is to use a small crockpot or a clean candle warmer.

The fondue can be kept warm using a small crockpot

If you are making the fondue in a crockpot, grease the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray first. Then, add the chocolate, heavy cream, milk, butter, corn syrup, vanilla extract, and salt. Gently stir the ingredients, cover the crockpot, and cook on low heat for an hour, stirring occasionally. The fondue is ready when the chocolate is completely melted and smooth. At this point, you can turn the slow cooker to warm and serve the fondue with your chosen dippers.

If you are making the fondue in a saucepan, combine the chocolate, milk, and cream in the pan. Heat on low, stirring often, until the chocolate is completely melted and the mixture is glossy and smooth. Be careful not to let the fondue come to a boil. Once the chocolate is melted, stir in the vanilla extract. If you want a thinner consistency, whisk in some heavy cream or milk a little at a time until you reach the desired consistency. Then, pour the fondue into a small crockpot to keep it warm while serving.

Keeping the fondue warm in a crockpot ensures that it stays silky smooth and easy to dip into. It is a simple and effective way to enjoy chocolate fondue without a fondue pot.

Frequently asked questions