Social gatherings or a romantic dinner for two, Chocolate Fondue is the perfect dessert for you!
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Chocolate fondue is great for parties and social settings but also makes for a romantic, intimate dessert for two. Fondue allows for a variety of dipping options, from fresh fruit and berries to mini cake squares, cookies, brownie bites, pretzels and graham crackers. Arranging these added extras around the melted chocolate to create a colorful display is a creative process in and of itself and so much fun to do. Ultimately the presentation can be as elaborate or as simple as you’d like, it all depends on the vibe, the number of guests, and the time you have on your hands to set it all up.
Is Chocolate Fondue Healthy?
It can be healthy, it just depends on what you are going for. The great thing about fondue in general is how versatile it is, allowing for different types of ingredients according to personal preference. Since this recipe is used with chocolate we will stick to the variations at hand that can be substituted to make it more nutritious. I like to use dark chocolate, and choose from different extracts to give it a hint of extra flavor. Vanilla is my usual choice, but orange extract or peppermint can be added for a sweet twist. I also suggest you hold on the assorted marshmallows and graham crackers and stick to the fresh fruit variety of strawberries, banana slices and apple wedges. You can also replace the heavy whipping cream with coconut whipping cream, it’s a great dairy-free and plant-based alternative, transforming this into a vegan dessert that is super high in antioxidants due to the dark chocolate and berries!
So Many ways to showcase…
It doesn’t matter if you are prepping this for two or 20 people, layering the display really makes for a fun process, almost as enjoyable as dipping and eating. You can get fancy with it and use a cake stand to create different levels with your assortments or mimic a cheese board display by placing your melted chocolate at the center of the board and scattering the dipping sides all around.
If you really want to level up, you can purchase a fondue pot, also called a caquelon, which is a cooking vessel (usually made of cast iron) that houses the melted cheese, chocolate or whatever dipping sauce you choose. Oftentimes, at the bottom of this pot is either a candle holder or gas flame that keeps the ingredients in the pot nice and warm so they remain smooth and melted. However, you DON’T need a professional fondue pot to make this recipe a reality. But what you will need are skewers of some sort. I recommend wooden skewers, because they make for an easy cleanup and are beautiful in presentation.
INGREDIENTS
- 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Assorted fruits (strawberries, banana slices, apple wedges)
- Assorted treats (marshmallows, pretzels, graham crackers)
INSTRUCTIONS
Melt
Combine and melt chocolate and cream.
Flavor
Stir in vanilla extract.
Serve
Enjoy with your favorite dippers.
Devour!
FAQs & Tips
To prep your fondue ahead of time, make your chocolate ganache up to 3-4 days in advance, and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Make sure to allow it to cool and chill before being reheated. Additionally, it can be frozen for up to 1 month but allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
If your fondue starts to get too thick as it cools down, gently reheat but do so without boiling! Boiling can change the texture and taste of your chocolate.
Leftover sauce keeps for several days in the refrigerator and is a delicious topping for ice cream or over a bowl of fruit. No waste, don’t throw it away. Save for a later date and reuse.
Serving Suggestions
Depending on the occasion, and how sweet you want to go, serve your chocolate fondue with dippers of your choice. Some of my personal favorites are small Rice Krispie squares, pound cake cubes and buttery shortbread cookies. I know it’s super sweet and decadent but it makes for the best treat. For a more nutritious spin pair with a colorful fruit assortment. Coconut, pineapple and frozen bananas are some of my most beloved!
For additional dessert inspiration take a peek at this Sugar Free Carrot Cake, these Greek Yogurt Brownies, and this Strawberry Cobbler.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces semisweet chocolate chopped
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Assorted fruits strawberries, banana slices, apple wedges
- Assorted treats marshmallows, pretzels, graham crackers
Instructions
- Combine the chocolate and heavy whipping cream in a saucepan over low heat, stirring frequently until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth.
- Stir in the vanilla extract and mix well.
- Transfer the chocolate mixture to a fondue pot or keep warm on the stove, and serve with assorted fruits and treats for dipping.
Nutrition Info:
Recipes written and produced on Food Faith Fitness are for informational purposes only.
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