Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 15 mins
Servings: 12 to 14 servings
Making fondue is surprisingly easy. It simply requires gently heating cream, chocolate, and some vanilla until melted and smooth, which takes less than 15 minutes. And you don't even need a fondue pot. Just pick your favorite brand of chocolate, as the flavor will be critical to the finished dip. Then grab your choice of dippers and dig in!
This crowd-pleasing recipe serves 12 to 14 people, but if you have a smaller group the recipe can easily be cut in half. And if you have an even larger group (and a large enough pot), you can certainly double it too.
The Best Chocolate for Fondue
Chocolate fondue can be made with chocolate chips, chopped bars or blocks of chocolate, or chocolate wafers or discs.
This recipe calls for semisweet chocolate, which contains least 35 percent cocoa solids. It’s the most versatile chocolate, and you’ll see it called for in all kinds of baking recipes. It's also great for just eating.
If you are looking for a more intense chocolate flavor, you can use bittersweet chocolate instead of semisweet. Bittersweet chocolate also has at least 35 percent cocoa solids. In Europe, it might be labeled dark chocolate. It’s usually (but not always) darker and less sweet than semisweet. It can also be used for baking and eating.
Fondue can also be made with milk chocolate or white chocolate if you prefer your fondue sweet and mild.
Tip: Watch the Heat
When you are melting the chocolate, make sure that the heat stays low—otherwise the chocolate can separate, get grainy, and burn easily.
What to Dip in Chocolate Fondue
As for dippers, you can dip all kinds of things into the fondue—you and and your kids or friends can have a pretty good time figuring out what to serve with your chocolate bliss. Here are just a few ideas:
- Sliced fresh fruit such as bananas, apples, and pears
- Orange segments
- Strawberries
- Dried fruit like pitted dates
- Marshmallows
- Savory snacks like pretzels and potato chips
- Cake or banana bread cubes
- Butter cookies, biscotti, or graham crackers
- Rice crispy treats
How to Serve Chocolate Fondue
If you have a fondue pot: Once you've made your fondue on the stovetop, transfer it to the fondue pot to keep it warm. If you have an electric fondue pot, you can prepare the fondue right in the same pot—no transferring required.
If you don't have a fondue pot: If you don't have a fondue pot, you can just put the pot you made the fondue in on a trivet on the table. Warn everyone, especially the kids, that the pot is hot. Rewarm it over very low heat as needed. You can also use a slow cooker on the "keep warm" setting to keep fondue warm.
For the dippers: Find some great platters or cake stands to present your dipper choices, and make sure you have skewers. If you have a fondue pot, it often comes with skewers in different colors so everyone can keep track of whose is whose—or just put out some disposable wooden skewers.
“This chocolate fondue is a dream! It’s amazing that such a luxurious treat is so easy to make. Just be sure to heed the recipe instructions and heat the chocolate very gently so it doesn’t separate.” — Megan O. Steintrager
A Note From Our Recipe Tester
Ingredients
For the Fondue:
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2 cups heavy cream
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24 ounces semisweet chocolate chips, or chopped semisweet chocolate bars (see Tips)
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1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
To Serve:
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Sliced bananas, apples, or pears
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Orange segments
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Strawberries
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Marshmallows
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Cake, or banana bread, cut into cubes
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Cookies or graham crackers
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
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If you have a fondue pot, prepare it according to the manufacturer's instructions and set it on the stand.
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In a large saucepan over medium-low heat, warm the cream until hot, but not simmering.
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Add the chocolate and stir just until melted and smooth.
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Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
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Pour the chocolate fondue into the fondue pot and set it up over the heat.
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Serve with your choice of dippers.
How to Store Leftover Fondue
Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to a week. Rewarm gently over very low heat.
Chocolate Fondue Variations
- Booze it up: If you're serving this fondue to adults, substitute a liqueur of your choice for the vanilla extract. Frangelico, Cointreau, and Chambord are perfect pairings for the chocolate.
- Steep it: You can add flavors to your ganache by steeping different ingredients in the hot cream. After warming the cream, add any of the following: Earl Grey tea bags, toasted guajillo chiles, whole spices such as cardamom pods, a big handful of fresh mint. Let steep for up to 1 hour, then strain and reheat the cream before stirring in the chocolate.
- Add extract: Instead of vanilla extract, stir in 1 teaspoon mint extract, orange extract, or rose water.
- Mix in nut butter: Stir a big spoonful of peanut butter or almond butter into the hot cream along with the chocolate. You may need to add a splash more cream to loosen the fondue.
- Make it a mocha: Stir 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder or 1 shot of espresso into the fondue.
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 12 to 14 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 530 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 33g | 42% |
| Saturated Fat 18g | 91% |
| Cholesterol 46mg | 15% |
| Sodium 99mg | 4% |
| Total Carbohydrate 63g | 23% |
| Dietary Fiber 5g | 16% |
| Total Sugars 47g | |
| Protein 5g | |
| Vitamin C 24mg | 120% |
| Calcium 58mg | 4% |
| Iron 3mg | 16% |
| Potassium 390mg | 8% |
| *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. | |
