An easy recipe for chocolate fondue, made with 70% dark chocolate and flavored with vanilla. Only three ingredients!
There's something incredibly pleasurable about dipping tasty morsels of food into melted chocolate. No wonder chocolate fountains at buffets are such a success - they are so much fun!
This easy recipe is made with just three ingredients: dark chocolate, half-and-half, and vanilla. It's one of my favorite desserts these days because it has this winning combination of a delicious recipe that's also very easy to make.
A better chocolate fondue
I enjoyed myself immensely at a fondue restaurant a couple of weeks ago (cheese fondue first, then chocolate fondue for dessert). It was so much fun to dip different fruit into the melted chocolate, and it was oh so tasty! So, of course, I just had to purchase my own fondue pot.
After some experimenting, I settled on this recipe. I use extra dark chocolate and I lighten up the recipe by using half and half instead of heavy cream. I also enhance its flavor it with vanilla.
I wrote this recipe specifically for the Cuisinart electric fondue pot, which I own (it's available on Amazon). But you can probably use it with any electric fondue pot.
The ingredients needed for this recipe
You'll only need three ingredients to make this tasty chocolate fondue, plus strawberries for dipping (the exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below):
Half-and-half: You can use heavy cream if you'd like for an even richer fondue. But the half-and-half works great, so that's what I use.
Dark chocolate, chopped: The darker you can go and still enjoy it, the better. I almost always use Lindt Excellence 70%, but sometimes I go as high as 85%.
Vanilla extract: Try to use the real thing - pure vanilla extract - and not the artificially flavored stuff. There's a difference.
Fresh strawberries: These are my favorite dippers to use, but they are certainly not the only ones. See the discussion below for more tasty options.
How to make chocolate fondue
It's really easy, which is nice and also a little surprising because it's such a fancy dessert. The detailed instructions are included in the recipe card below. Here are the basic steps:
1. Your first step is to pour the half-and-half into the fondue pot, then bring it to a simmer.
2. Next, you add the chopped chocolate and stir until it's melted. Once the chocolate has melted you can add the vanilla.
3. Your fondue is ready! Reduce the heat to low to keep it warm and serve it with fresh strawberries for dipping.
What dippers to use?
Many people like to use sweet dippers such as marshmallows or angel cake cubes. But I find that strawberries are not just better for you, but also best complement the melted chocolate in terms of flavor and texture.
They provide a nice contrast between the slight tartness of the fruit and the creamy sweetness of the chocolate.
I think that when you use sweet dippers in chocolate fondue you're actually missing out, because the whole thing just becomes cloyingly sweet (even when you use very dark chocolate).
It's also nice to dip halved apricots and large cubes of peaches in the melted chocolate. Or even apple slices - especially tart apples such as Granny Smith. Just try to resist the temptation to use junky sweet dippers. It's so not worth it!
Can I keep the leftovers?
I would only keep them if there was no double-dipping involved when enjoying the fondue. If you decide to keep the leftovers, you can keep them in the fridge, in a sealed container, for up to 4 days.
Reheat them very gently, covered, in the microwave on 50% power. Reheat in 30-second sessions and stir the mixture after each session until heated through. Take care not to overheat, as chocolate burns easily.
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Chocolate Fondue Recipe
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup half and half
- 4 oz dark chocolate, 70% cacao, chopped
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract (or Amaretto liqueur)
- 1 lb. fresh strawberries, halved
INSTRUCTIONS
- Pour the half-and-half into the fondue pot. Bring to a simmer at setting 4 (medium).
- When the half and half is bubbling lightly, lower heat to setting 3 (medium-low) and add the chopped chocolate, 2 oz at a time, whisking with a silicone whisk until smooth.
- When chocolate is completely melted, whisk the vanilla into the fondue.
- Reduce the temperature to setting 2 (low) and serve with fresh strawberries.
NOTES
More recipes to try
Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. 