Creating A Sweet Fruit Fondue Spread

Fruit fondue is a fun and easy dessert to make, and it's a great way to get kids to eat their fruit. It can be made with fresh or frozen fruit, and there are endless combinations of fruit, dips, and toppings to choose from. The basic idea is to cut up fruit into bite-sized pieces or small skewers and provide a variety of sweet dips like chocolate, caramel, or yogurt for guests to dunk their fruit into. It's a perfect dessert for parties, game nights, or as a romantic treat for two.

Choosing your fruit

Variety is the Spice of Life

Offer a colourful array of fruits to your guests to make your fondue visually appealing and exciting. A variety of fruits will also provide a range of nutrients and flavours for a well-rounded dessert experience. Include classic options like strawberries, bananas, and apples, but don't be afraid to branch out and offer something unique, like starfruit, kiwi, or mango. This can be a great way to introduce your guests to new and interesting fruits.

Consider Texture

When choosing your fruit, think about the different textures you can offer. Soft fruits like bananas, strawberries, and kiwi provide a creamy, melt-in-your-mouth experience when dipped in fondue. On the other hand, firmer fruits like apples, pears, and melon chunks can provide a satisfying crunch. A mix of textures will add interest and keep your guests coming back for more.

Preparation Tips

Most fruits can be simply washed, dried, and cut into bite-sized pieces or skewered. However, keep in mind that some fruits like apples, pears, peaches, and bananas tend to brown quickly. To prevent this, sprinkle them with lemon juice or soak them in a lemon-lime soft drink before serving. If you're preparing your fruit in advance, consider freezing it. Bananas, kiwi, grapes, and berries work well for this, and frozen fruit can provide a refreshing contrast to the warm fondue.

Amount and Presentation

When planning your fruit fondue, make sure to provide enough fruit for your guests. As a guide, a single serving of fruit is typically considered to be about a cup. You can present the fruit in a variety of ways, such as skewering them on bamboo skewers or arranging them on a platter or in individual tumblers.

Making the fondue

Fruit fondue is a fun and easy dessert to make, and it's a great way to get your guests involved in the cooking process. The basic ingredients for a fruit fondue are fruit, a dipping sauce, and items to dip the fruit into.

For the fruit, you can use any combination of fresh berries, apples, pears, melons, figs, strawberries, bananas, pineapple, peaches, kiwi, mango, grapes, or any other fruit that is in season. Wash and dry the fruit, and cut it into bite-sized pieces or chunks. If you're using apples, pears, peaches, or bananas, it's a good idea to sprinkle some lemon juice over them to prevent browning. You can also freeze the fruit for a fun twist, especially in hot weather. Bananas, kiwi, grapes, and berries work well for this.

The dipping sauce for a fruit fondue can be as simple as melted chocolate or a more complex recipe. A basic chocolate fondue sauce can be made by heating heavy cream with a pinch of salt in a small saucepan over medium heat until it starts to simmer. Then, remove it from the heat and add milk or dark chocolate chips or chopped bars. Whisk until smooth and fully incorporated. You can also add extra flavours to the chocolate, such as peppermint extract, cinnamon and chilli, or a liquor like Amaretto or Bailey's Irish Cream. If you want to make a fruity sauce, you can puree fresh or frozen berries in a blender or food processor and heat them with cornstarch and a liqueur or water until thickened.

Finally, you'll need items to dip the fruit into the sauce. Pound cake, angel food cake, small cookies, marshmallows, pretzels, or biscotti are all great options. You can also add some fun toppings like sprinkles, chopped nuts, or mini chocolate chips.

To serve the fondue, arrange the fruit and dipables on a platter or plates around the fondue pot. Provide your guests with fondue forks, bamboo skewers, or toothpicks for dipping. Enjoy!

Dippers and dippers

When it comes to dippers for your fruit fondue, the sky's the limit! You can use any fruit that is in season and readily available at your local market. Aim for a variety of colours, textures and flavours to make your fondue visually appealing and exciting. Here are some specific ideas:

Fresh Fruit

Almost any fruit can be used for fruit fondue. Include as many types as possible, such as:

• Strawberries
• Raspberries
• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Grapes
• Pineapple
• Mango
• Melon
• Kiwi
• Apples
• Pears
• Peaches
• Bananas
• Figs
• Cherries
• Apricots
• Plums
• Starfruit

If using apples, pears, peaches or bananas, sprinkle them with lemon juice to prevent browning. For a fun presentation, thread the fruit onto skewers or popsicle sticks, or freeze the fruit beforehand for a refreshing treat.

Baked Goods

In addition to fresh fruit, you can also dip baked goods into your fondue. Some options include:

• Pound cake
• Angel food cake
• Brownies
• Cookies (such as Oreos, Nilla wafers, or animal crackers)
• Marshmallows
• Ladyfingers
• Rice Krispies treats
• Biscotti
• Macaroons
• Pretzels

Prepping the fruit

Fruit fondue is a fun and healthy dessert that's perfect for parties, game nights, or even a romantic evening for two. The great thing about fruit fondue is that you can use almost any fruit, so feel free to get creative! Here are some tips for prepping the fruit to ensure a delicious and visually appealing fondue experience:

Wash and Dry Your Fruit

Give all your fruit a good wash to remove any dirt or residue. This is especially important for fruits like strawberries, which tend to have a lot of dirt on their surfaces. After washing, make sure to dry the fruit thoroughly to prevent excess moisture from affecting your fondue sauce.

Choose a Variety of Fruits

The key to an exciting fruit fondue is variety. Include a mix of popular fruits like strawberries, bananas, and apples, along with more exotic options like starfruit, kiwi, or mango. This will create a colourful and tempting display for your guests.

Cut Fruit into Bite-Sized Pieces

Cut larger fruits like melons, pineapples, and mangoes into bite-sized chunks. This makes them easier to skewer and ensures that each piece will have a good amount of fondue sauce. You can leave smaller fruits like grapes and berries whole.

Use Skewers, Toothpicks, or Forks

Thread your fruit onto skewers or toothpicks to make it easier for your guests to dip. If you're using wooden skewers, consider snipping off the sharp pointed ends, especially if children will be present. Alternatively, you can use small forks for a more elegant presentation.

Prevent Browning with Lemon Juice

If you're using fruits like apples, pears, peaches, or bananas that tend to brown quickly, sprinkle them with lemon juice. This will help slow down the browning process and keep your fruit looking fresh. Alternatively, you can soak apple slices in a lemon-lime soft drink like 7-Up to achieve the same effect.

Freeze Fruit for a Fun Twist

In hot weather, consider freezing your fruit before serving. Wash and dry your fruit, then create your skewers and lay them on a baking sheet. Place the sheet in the freezer until the fruit is firm. Frozen fruit is a fun and refreshing twist on traditional fondue, especially for kids!

Arrange Fruit Around the Fondue

When it's time to serve your fondue, arrange the fruit attractively around the fondue pot. This ensures all your guests have easy access to the fruit and creates a visually appealing display. If you're hosting a large party, consider setting up multiple "fondue stations" with different varieties of fondue dips.

Serving suggestions

Fruit fondue is a fun and interactive dessert that can be served at parties, get-togethers, or even as a romantic treat for two. It's also a great way to get kids excited about eating fruit! Here are some tips and ideas for serving fruit fondue:

• Preparation: Wash and dry the fruit, and cut it into bite-sized pieces or chunks. Small fruits like grapes and berries can be left whole. Thread the fruit onto skewers, popsicle sticks, or toothpicks. If serving to children, consider snipping off the sharp points from the skewers for safety.
• Fruit choices: The sky's the limit when it comes to fruit selection! Strawberries, bananas, pineapple, apples, pears, melons, figs, peaches, kiwi, mango, raspberries, and grapes are all great options. You can also introduce kids to new and unusual fruits like starfruit, kiwi, or mango.
• Dip choices: In addition to fruit, you can offer a variety of other dippables such as pound cake, angel food cake, small cookies, marshmallows, pretzels, or macaroons.
• Toppings: Add some extra fun with toppings such as sprinkles, chopped nuts, mini chocolate chips, or chocolate-coated sunflower seeds.
• Freezing fruit: In hot weather, consider freezing the fruit before serving. Bananas, kiwi, grapes, and berries work well for this. Wash and dry the fruit, then create your skewers and lay them on a baking sheet. Freeze until firm, then bring them out just before serving.
• Individual servings: For a portable option, spoon the chocolate dip into small plastic tumblers and place a few skewers of fruit inside. You can cut the skewers down to a smaller size if needed.
• Preventing browning: If using apples, pears, peaches, or bananas, sprinkle them with lemon juice to prevent them from browning. Alternatively, you can soak apple slices in a lemon-lime soft drink like 7-Up or Sprite to achieve the same effect.
• Fondue setup: Transfer the chocolate dip to a fondue pot or a small serving bowl. If using a fondue pot, keep it heated at a low temperature. Arrange the fruit and other dippables on a platter or plates around the chocolate pot. Provide fondue forks, bamboo skewers, or toothpicks for dipping.
• Fondue for a crowd: If you're hosting a large party, consider setting up multiple "fondue stations" with different varieties of fondue dips. Fresh fruit should be arranged around each fondue station to ensure all guests have access. A buffet-style setup can also work well and encourage mingling.

Frequently asked questions