Chocolate fondue is among my best desserts. It brings a feeling of fun even when I serve it for my guests. Watching them dipping their strawberries and marshmallows in the flowing chocolate tumbling down over the tiers brings this mysterious fascination.
However, to bring out the best in your fountain, you need to prepare the chocolate fondue with specially formulated fountain chocolate. Don’t think that you will walk to the supermarket and grab just any type of chocolate. But if so, you will require to add some vegetable oil into the chocolate. Be warned, however, that you might notice a change in the taste and smell of your fondue.
This article will guide you on the process of making chocolate and the ideal chocolate for your fountain. Let us begin!
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Easy Chocolate Fountain Recipe
Follow this recipe to make the best chocolate fondue.
- Serves: 8-12
- Prep time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
- 6 ounces chopped semisweet chocolate
- 4 ounces chopped milk chocolate
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract-pure
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/2 tablespoons butter(unsalted)
- 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
What you will need:
- Spoon
- Bowl
- microwave
Dipping:
- Fruits: banana, raspberries, blackberries, clementines
- Cookies: Oreo, milanos, pirouettes, or homemade toffee pecan cookies
- Other accompaniments: pound cake, brownie bites, marshmallows, Rice Krispies treat
How to prepare Chocolate Fountain
prepare your dipping items and set the skewers, toothpicks ready.
Add your chocolate, milk, and butter in a microwave-safe bowl or zip-lock bag and place it in the microwave for 2 minutes till well melted. Note that butter is an optional ingredient.
Ensure that the zip-lock bag is of good quality, and if you purchased lower quality, you could use two bags to melt the chocolate. Close these bags well before placing them in the microwave.
Check if the mixture is smooth and if not, use a spoon to stir it till you attain a silky soft flowing texture. With the zip-lock option, you can partially knead the melting chocolate.
Remove the bowl or the bag from the microwave and add the vanilla extract and salt into it.
Ensure that the chocolate fondue is free from any chunks, and you have smooth chocolate fondue.
Preheat your fountain and let it run for up to 2 minutes to eliminate any air gaps in it.
Pour the chocolate fondue into the fountain and set the right amount of heat, so the fondue doesn’t cool or overheat.
Serve with your dipping and enjoy.
Tip: Use high-quality chocolate bars
Make sure the fountain is completely free of any moisture as the water may ruin the fondue.
You can experiment with different chocolate flavors.
How to make a chocolate fountain run smoothly
Many factors can make chocolate run unevenly. But how do you ensure that it flows really well? Below are some ways you can smoothly run your fountain.
Keep your fountain away from air conditioning vents, traffic flow, reach by pet or children. Be also careful to keep the electrical cords so someone doesn’t trip over and ruin the moment.
Chocolate fountains are great enemies of the wind. Ensure the place you station the fountain is wind-free and keep away from outdoors as much as possible.
The foundation where your fountain lies should be sturdy and not shaky to prevent the chocolate on the fountain bowl from spilling.
If you are not using fountain chocolate, then ensure you add some oil to your chocolate to avoid it getting too thick.
Do not add chocolate that has not melted into the fountain. You must first melt it.
The fountain should be preheated before adding the chocolate fondue to eliminate any air bubbles in the auger system.
Lastly, there can never be a chocolate fountain without dipping. Add strawberries, bananas, marshmallows, etc.
After everything, do not store away a dirty fountain. Clean it up before the chocolate hardens and never let it sit overnight.
Best chocolates for chocolate fountains.
Belgian chocolates make the best chocolate fountain. It is rich in flavor, very smooth, and has a velvety texture that’s perfect for fountains. Below are some chocolates you can purchase for your fondue.
1. Sephra milk fondue chocolate
Sephra chocolate aroma makes it stand out among many fountain chocolates. It melts easily and has a light texture that makes it flow freely over the fountain’s tiers. The Sephra chocolate is suitable for vegetarians and those on a gluten-free diet.
Its intense flavor, with a 37.2% cocoa solid, goes well with marshmallows and tangy fruits. The good thing with this Sephra chocolate is that it can be used in baking biscuits and cakes.
2. Milk fondue chocolate
Milk fondue chocolate melts easily but might take longer when melting with the hob. It is creamy with a fluid texture to easily coat any fruit. This milk fondue chocolate comes in a 450g pack ideal for small parties or even a romantic dip for couples. Its cocoa content is 37.2%, with a great chocolate flavor.
3. Dark or white Belgian fondue chocolate- JM Posner
Did you know that a daily dose of dark chocolate a day controls high blood pressure? Why not incorporate this superiorly dark, aroma-filled chocolate in your dessert? It’s also good for vegans as it has no additional dairy products in them. It is easily molten, yielding a sharp, bitter taste of the dark chocolate and the vanilla taste that’s just irresistible.
On the other hand, the white chocolate has plentiful cocoa butter but not the usual solid one that gives it a special aroma. Be aware that this chocolate is too sweet that one cannot have a lot of it. It melts easily and with a thin silky texture. It’s good for marshmallows and coats your strawberries really well. The chocolate, however, is not suitable for vegans as it contains high levels of whey powder.
Heating instructions on your chocolate fondue
Before pouring chocolate on the fountain, it ought to be well melted. There are several ways you can heat the chocolate to attain a creamy mixture. They are:
1. Microwave option
Here, you will pour your chocolate callets into a microwave-safe bowl and set the heat to 1-minute spurts for an 800W oven. Then stir the mixture and return it to the microwave for 1 more minute. Keep checking the chocolate until it is well melted.
The chocolate should not stick onto the bowl or burn whatsoever. If you use the Callebaut chocolate, don’t forget to pour in some cocoa butter callets before placing the bowl into the microwave.
2. Using the hob
Here, you will place your chocolate in a heat-resistant bowl, then place the bowl into a saucepan of hot water. The water should not boil but be on low heat. Keep stirring the chocolate until it melts properly, and take care, so it doesn’t stick or burn.
Note: do not let any water get into the chocolate mixture, as this will harden the fondue.
The last thing to note on heating the chocolate is when pouring it onto the fountain. The fountain should be turned on before pouring in the chocolate. The chocolate will remain warm in the fountain as the guests enjoy it.
Easy Chocolate Fountain Recipe in Video
Final word
Follow this guide to help you prepare the most delicious chocolate fountain. With the list of the best fountain chocolate you can use and the melting options available, I guess the process will be much easier.
Rita C. Donnell (Jennifer) has spent the last 26 years studying and practicing nutrition science. She has used a larger part of this time in improving people’s livelihoods. She has done so by coming up with unquestionable ideas on how to tackle food problems in her community. Readmore