Melting Pot Chocolate Fondue Recipe

Looking for a fun and easy chocolate dessert experience? Make chocolate fondue!

My friend Garrett taught me how to make this years ago. It's a great way to make dessert more interactive. Everyone gets to choose their own "dip-able"—whether it's strawberries, bananas, or marshmallows, and it's incredibly easy to make. Only needs three ingredients—chocolate, cream, and a pinch of salt.

You can add extra flavors to the chocolate too, like some peppermint extract for peppermint chocolate fondue, or cinnamon and chili for a Mexican spin, or Amaretto or Bailey's Irish cream for a more grown up version.

And if it's just the two of you, chocolate fondue is a great way to end a romantic meal at home. The dip-ables can be prepped in advance, and the chocolate sauce comes together in just a few minutes.

Elise Bauer

Do You Need a Fondue Pot for Chocolate Fondue?

It does help to have a fondue pot, to keep the chocolate warm while everyone is dipping into the pot. That said, if you don't have that set-up, you could easily use a regular pot. Just put an oven mitt on the table and place the hot pot of melted chocolate on top of it to start dipping. Return it to the stove and stir in a little more hot cream if it starts to stiffen too much.

What to Dip in Chocolate Fondue?

What to dip in your chocolate fondue? Fruit is the obvious place to start—strawberries, bananas, chunks of pineapple, dried apricots, pears. Or you can go long on the sweet vector and dip brownies, pound cake, marshmallows, or even ladyfingers.

Even More Chocolate Fondue Dipper Ideas

Marshmallows
Cherries
Pretzels
Nilla wafers, Oreos, animal crackers, or other cookies
Mini biscotti
Graham crackers
Rice krispy treats
Orange or tangerine wedges
Other berries
Kiwi fruit slices
Slices of peaches, plums, apricots
Dried fruits, like figs, pineapple, or mangos
Cubes of cake

Personalize Your Chocolate Fondue

Add a tablespoon or two of Bailey's Irish Cream to the chocolate.
Other liquors such as Grand Marnier, Amaretto, or Kirsch are equally yummy.
Add a 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and ancho chili pepper for a nice Mexican Chocolate.
Scrape a vanilla pod or add vanilla extract for a decadent touch
A good pinch of espresso powder can do wonders!
Orange zest or grapefruit zest is nice way to create a slightly fruity chocolate.
A few tablespoons of Torani flavoring syrups (the kind used for coffee or Italian sodas) can add a nice dimension of flavor as well.
Add a teaspoon of peppermint extract for peppermint chocolate fondue.
White chocolate is always a nice change, and spiked with a little liquor or citrus zest becomes heavenly.
Steeping the cream for an hour beforehand and while heating it can add a nice subtle flavor, lemongrass for white chocolate or a bag of Earl Grey tea for dark chocolate are particularly stylish and contemporary.

How to Keep Chocolate Fondue Warm

If you don't have a fondue pot, you can use a tea candle, which produces less heat than sterno.

You can use sterno, but remember that it can burn very hot. You can use it, but keep an eye on it. When it gets too hot, turn it off. Then, added some cream and put the sterno back on for a minute or two to warm up again.

Another option is a small crockpot or a clean candle warmer.

Buying a Fondue Pot

There are essentially three types of fondue pots: metal, ceramic, and electric.

Metal fondue pots usually come in stainless steel or enameled cast iron. They are the sturdiest and can go directly from the stove-top to your table without having to transfer. They are usually a bit heavy and run larger than other options.
Ceramic fondue pots are great for holding the heat and easy to clean. They run in both smaller and larger sizes. They can be microwave safe.
Electric fondue pots are safer and heat up the fastest, since they don't require an actual flame. They are easy to adjust, but run more expensive than other options.
Oh yes! And let us not forget the chocolate fondue fountain which is a fun addition to any party. Don't let the name fool you, since you can use it for nacho cheese as well.

Look for used fondue pots in thrift or vintage stores. We've seen fun fondue pot options (with forks and all!) at reasonable prices at our local Goodwill.

Preparing Chocolate Fondue in Advance

You can make the chocolate fondue up to a day or two ahead. Let the mixture cool, then refrigerate. When you're ready to enjoy it, warm the chocolate mixture gently in the microwave (on medium power in 30-second bursts, stirring after each) until smooth and warm. Or put the chocolate mix in a heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water and warm it that way.

You can re-warm it directly in your fondue pot, but the other options give you more control.

More Impressive Desserts for Parties

Chocolate Peppermint Swiss Roll
Berry Tart
Lemon Poppy Seed Bundt Cake
Old Fashioned Peach Pie
Chocolate Layer Cake

For the dipping fondue chocolate:

1 cup (8 ounces) heavy cream
Pinch salt
12 ounces milk or dark chocolate (chips or roughly chopped bar)

For dipping:

Strawberries
Banana pieces cut into 1-inch chunks
Dried apricots
Apple slices
Candied ginger

Heat the cream:

Heat the cream with a pinch of salt over medium heat in a small saucepan until tiny bubbles show and begins to lightly and slowly simmer.
Remove from heat and add the chocolate:

Remove from heat, add the chocolate, and whisk until smooth and fully incorporated.
Serve immediately:

Transfer the chocolate mix to a fondue pot heated at low or with a low flame, or serve straight from the pot.

Arrange the dip-ables on a platter or plates around the chocolate pot.

Use a fondue fork, bamboo skewer, seafood fork, or salad fork to dip the fruit pieces and other dip-ables into the hot melted chocolate mixture. Eat immediately.

If the fondue begins to feel a little stiff, add a tablespoon of heavy cream and stir. It will help it go a little longer. Eventually, it will cook down though, and you may need to start a new pot.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
333	Calories
24g	Fat
27g	Carbs
3g	Protein

Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories	333
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 24g	31%
Saturated Fat 15g	74%
Cholesterol 37mg	12%
Sodium 35mg	2%
Total Carbohydrate 27g	10%
Dietary Fiber 3g	11%
Total Sugars 21g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 0mg	1%
Calcium 43mg	3%
Iron 3mg	19%
Potassium 266mg	6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

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