The Best Chocolate Fondue: Decadent, Delicious, And Indulgent

Chocolate fondue is a fun and easy dessert to make for a party or get-together. It's also a great way to get creative with different types of chocolate and dippers. But what kind of chocolate is best for fondue?

The best chocolate for fondue is a matter of personal preference, but in general, it's important to use high-quality chocolate. Bars of chocolate are recommended over chocolate chips as they melt better and don't harden as quickly. Semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate with at least 60% cacao is a popular choice, but milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and white chocolate can also be used. It's even possible to combine different types of chocolate to create a unique flavour.

When making chocolate fondue, it's important to avoid overheating the chocolate, as this can cause it to scorch and become grainy. Heavy cream is typically added to the chocolate to create a smooth and creamy texture. Other ingredients such as vanilla extract, peanut butter, or marshmallow fluff can also be added to enhance the flavour and texture.

Chocolate types and combinations

The best chocolate fondue is made with good-quality chocolate. You can use chocolate bars, chips, or chunks, but bars tend to melt better than chips and create a smoother fondue. It's best to avoid chocolate chips and go for chopped chocolate or good-quality chocolate chips instead.

When it comes to the type of chocolate, you have a few options:

• Semi-sweet chocolate: This is a popular choice for fondue as it has a good balance of sweetness and bitterness.
• Bittersweet chocolate: This type of chocolate has a deeper, less sweet flavour and is often paired with high-quality milk chocolate for a creamy, shiny fondue.
• Milk chocolate: This can be a bit too sweet for some people, but you can combine it with a more bitter chocolate to balance it out.
• Dark chocolate: This type of chocolate has a rich, intense flavour that can be enhanced by adding a touch of cream.
• White chocolate: This creates a creamy, shiny fondue and can be combined with dark or milk chocolate for a perfect balance.

You can also get creative and experiment with different combinations of chocolates to find your favourite. For example, you could try:

• Half dark chocolate and half white chocolate
• All bittersweet chocolate
• Milk chocolate with a touch of white chocolate

If you want to add a little extra flavour to your fondue, you can try using different extracts such as vanilla, orange, peppermint, or coconut. You can also add a splash of liqueur such as Grand Marnier or amaretto.

Some popular chocolate brands for fondue include:

• Ghirardelli
• Guittard
• Dove
• Godiva
• Toblerone
• Trader Joe's Belgian Pound Plus bars
• Guittard or Ghirardelli white chocolate

Fondue pots and preparation

Fondue pots come in a variety of sizes, materials, and heat sources. Here are some options to consider:

Electric Fondue Pots:

• The Cuisinart Electric Fondue Pot is a popular choice, known for its ease of use, accurate temperature control, and easy cleanup. It offers eight heat settings, a non-stick insert, and colour-coded forks.
• The Dash Deluxe Stainless Steel Fondue Maker is another electric option that includes eight colour-coded forks, attachable ingredient cups, and a precise temperature dial.
• The Nostalgia 1.5-Quart Stainless Steel Electric Fondue Pot is a budget-friendly choice with eleven heat settings and six colour-coded forks.

Traditional Fondue Pots:

• The Swissmar Lugano 9-Piece Cheese Fondue Set is a traditional-style fondue pot with a cast iron construction and a wrought iron base. It uses gel fuel and includes six fondue forks.
• The All-Clad Cast Aluminum Fondue Pot is a splurge option that can be used with either a candle or chafing fuel. It includes an oven and stovetop-safe insert, making it very versatile.
• The Cuisinart 13-Piece Cast Iron Fondue Set is an attractive and versatile option that can be used with gel fuel or placed on a stovetop. It includes six fondue forks and has excellent heat retention.

When choosing a fondue pot, consider your budget, the number of people you plan to serve, and your preferred heat source. Electric fondue pots offer convenience and accurate temperature control, while traditional pots may be more affordable and suitable for creating a rustic atmosphere.

Fondue Preparation:

Preparing chocolate fondue is simple and only requires a few basic ingredients:

• Chocolate: Use good-quality chocolate chips or chopped chocolate, preferably with a higher cacao percentage for deeper flavour.
• Cream/Milk: Heavy cream and/or whole milk are commonly used to create a creamy texture.
• Vanilla Extract: This adds flavour and can be adjusted to suit your taste preferences.
• Dippers: Prepare a variety of dippers such as fresh fruit (strawberries, bananas, oranges), baked goods (brownies, cookies, pound cake), and candy (marshmallows, caramels).

To make the fondue, combine the chocolate, cream/milk, and vanilla extract in a fondue pot or a saucepan over low heat. Stir occasionally until the chocolate is completely melted and the mixture is smooth. Do not let it boil. Once melted, you can adjust the consistency by adding more cream or milk if needed. Serve the fondue warm with your chosen dippers.

Dippers

When it comes to dippers, the options are endless! Here are some ideas to get you started:

Fruits

• Strawberries
• Banana slices
• Pineapple chunks
• Mango
• Papaya
• Raspberries
• Apples
• Pears
• Cherries
• Dried apricots, mango, and papaya
• Orange segments
• Tangerine segments
• Grapefruit segments

Baked Goods

• Brownies
• Rice Krispie treats
• Cookies (ginger snaps, graham crackers, peanut butter cookies, Oreos, vanilla wafers, etc.)
• Angel food cake
• Pound cake
• Blondies
• Biscotti
• Marshmallows
• Pretzels
• Bread

Sweet Treats

• Marshmallows
• Candy (peanut brittle, caramels, etc.)
• Red licorice
• Jelly beans
• Cinnamon bears
• Chocolate-covered foods

Savoury Options

• Potato chips
• Salty pretzels
• Toasted coconut
• Slivered almonds
• Crushed hazelnuts

Get creative and choose a variety of dippers to suit different tastes!

Flavour additions

There are many ways to add flavour to your chocolate fondue and make it even more delicious. Here are some ideas:

• Extracts: You can add a few drops of your favourite extract to the fondue. Popular options include vanilla, orange, peppermint, almond, and coconut.
• Liqueurs: For adult-only fondue, you can add a splash of liqueur such as Grand Marnier, amaretto, Kahlua, Bailey's Irish Cream, brandy, or whiskey.
• Nut Butters: Adding a couple of spoonfuls of peanut butter or Nutella to the fondue can create a delicious swirl of flavour.
• Candy Bars: Melting candy bars into the fondue can add extra flavour and crunch. Try using bars with nuts or toffee bits.
• Spices: A sprinkle of cinnamon, chilli powder, or crunchy sea salt on top of the fondue can enhance its flavour.
• Fruits: Besides the typical dippers, you can also add small pieces of fruit directly to the fondue. Try using oranges, tangerines, grapefruit, or dried apricots.

Reheating and fixing fondue

Microwave Reheating Directions:

• Remove the lid from the plastic to-go container and microwave for 30 seconds.
• Carefully remove from the microwave and gently stir the fondue.
• Return to the microwave and continue to reheat in 30-second increments until the fondue is heated through and smooth in consistency.
• Enjoy immediately.

Stove-Top Reheating Directions:

• In the top section of a double boiler, add the chocolate fondue. Add water to the bottom pot and turn the stove top to medium-high until the bottom pot begins to steam.
• Stir the fondue intermittently while the water in the bottom pot simmers. Turn the stove top down once a simmer is achieved.
• Stir the chocolate fondue until you get a smooth, creamy consistency.
• Transfer to your serving dish and enjoy immediately.

Fondue can be kept warm in a slow cooker, set to the keep-warm function, or in a chocolate fountain. It can also be kept warm over a low flame, but if the melted chocolate gets too hot, it can seize and turn grainy.

Frequently asked questions