Chocolate Fondue Recipe

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This classic Chocolate Fondue recipe is simple, delicious, and beautiful. It only takes 10 minutes, 4 ingredients, and all your favorite things to dip: fresh fruit, cake, marshmallows, all of it!

A platter of chocolate fondue and colorful dippers like fruit and sweets.


 

This easy chocolate fondue recipe is a gorgeous centerpiece for parties and bridal showers, or scale it down for an intimate celebration for two. It’s a fun way for friends and family to engage with their food in a unique way, and everyone can customize their own experience.

There are so many potential dippers including fruit (especially orange segments and strawberries), cakes, candy, brownies, and marshmallows. This version is made with pure vanilla extract, but you can substitute your favorite liqueur or other extract. Just cut everything down into perfectly-portioned, skewer-able pieces and let guests help themselves.

Recipe ingredients

Labeled ingredients for chocolate fondue.

At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.

Equipment and ingredient notes

  • Fondue pot: I have and love this Cuisinart electric fondue pot. It’s easy to use, a breeze to clean, and it works really well! It’s the same one you see in the photos, and it comes with 8 skewers. The recipe is written for a stove-top version of fondue so anyone can make it.
  • Chocolate: For deep chocolate flavor, use bittersweet chocolate with at least 60% cacao. Or, substitute semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Do you need a fondue pot?

You can make chocolate (or cheese) fondue without a fondue pot by using any heavy-bottom saucepan set over a gas or electric stove. This solution can work for a small setting where the fondue is the focus and you’ll be eating right away.

But, if you see yourself fonduing on the regular, or if you want to set it out as part of a party spread, investing in a good fondue pot will make it easier and more enjoyable. After all, these devices are designed to help the creation, and serving, of fondue as simple as possible.

I like using my Cuisinart Fondue Pot to make fondue, and it’s $69.95 at Amazon and comes with 8 fondue forks for serving! We researched the best fondue pots around so you don’t have to. There are a variety of sizes, materials, and heat sources to choose from. See all our findings in The Best Fondue Pots.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. Bring a small saucepan of water to a gentle simmer over medium heat and set a glass or metal bowl over the top to create a double boiler (do not let the water touch the bowl).
Making fondue on the stove.
  1. Add chocolate to melt and stir until smooth. Whisk in vanilla. Add salt to taste if desired.
Mixing chocolate into fondue.
  1. Transfer to a fondue pot and heat the fuel underneath to keep warm over medium-low heat. Serve with fresh fruit, pound cake, brownies, cookies, marshmallows, pretzels, all your favorites.
A platter of chocolate fondue and colorful dippers like fruit and sweets.

Recipe tips and variations

  • Yield: This recipe makes about 4 cups (1 quart) of chocolate fondue, enough for 16 servings, ¼ cup each.
  • White chocolate fondue: Substitute a pound of high-quality white chocolate chips or baking chocolate for a creamy white, delicious alternative.
  • Citrus: Break apart citrus fruit (tangerine, orange, grapefruit) into segments carefully without breaking the inner membranes. Place the segments on a baking rack in a warm, oven (preheated to 200 and turned off) for several hours. The membranes will turn crisp so the juicy segments will burst in your mouth.
  • Fruit: banana slices, chunks of pineapple, mango, papaya, strawberries, raspberries, apples, pears, or dried apricots.
  • Crunchy: Dip salty pretzels or try sprinkling toasted coconut, slivered almonds, and crushed hazelnuts on your goodies after dipping.
  • Cake and bars: Cubes of pound cake, Angel food cake, brownies, blondies, Rice Krispie treats, or Biscotti.
  • Cookies and candy: Ginger snaps, Pizzelle, graham crackers, red velvet cookies, peanut butter cookies, marshmallows.
  • Spices: Dust the chocolate fondue with cinnamon, chili powder, or crunchy sea salt.
  • Spiked: For the 21+ crowd, stir in a high-quality liqueur such as Grand Marnier (orange liqueur) or amaretto (almond/cherry flavor).
  • Cheese Fondue: Is this the Melting Pot? For an appetizer-style fondue, make a delicious, creamy cheese fondue with gruyere or other alpine-style cheeses, garlic, dried mustard, white wine, and crusty bread chunks for dipping.
A piece of bread being dipped in cheese fondue.
Cheese Fondue is part snack, part entertainment, and 100% cheesy retro fun. This fondue recipe makes it easy to prepare and serve with confidence. All that’s left is choosing your dippers. (Hint: You can’t go wrong with crusty bread!)

Frequently Asked Questions

What brand of chocolate is best for fondue?

Create deep flavors in your chocolate fondue by using more than one kind. I love dark bittersweet chocolate (at least 60% cocoa) paired with high-quality milk chocolate.

What can be dipped in chocolate fondue?

Serve a variety of dippers like cakes, cookies, candy, fruits, nuts, and bread. Some classics are strawberries, pound cake, brownies, rice krispies and marshmallows.

How do you keep chocolate fondue in liquid form?

If the chocolate fondue is made properly, it should maintain its liquid state over low or medium-low heat. A fondue pot can help keep it at the right temperature.

Favorite dippers for Fondue

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Chocolate fondue served with candy, cookies, cake, and fresh fruit.

Chocolate Fondue

This classic Chocolate Fondue recipe is simple, delicious, and beautiful. It only takes 10 minutes, 4 ingredients, and all your favorite things to dip: fresh fruit, cake, marshmallows, all of it!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 16 servings (¼ cup each)
Course Dessert
Cuisine French
Calories 260
5 from 28 votes

Equipment

  • Fondue pot (I've used this one for years and love it, see note 1)

Ingredients 

To make the fondue:

  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 8 ounces premium dark chocolate chopped or chips (at least 60% cacao, see note 2)
  • 8 ounces premium milk chocolate chopped or chips
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • Salt optional

For serving:

  • Fresh fruit: Strawberries, oranges, bananas, pineapple, cherries
  • Baked goods: Brownies, rice krispie treats, cookies, Angel food cake, pound cake
  • Candy: Marshmallows, caramels, peanut brittle

Instructions 

  • Bring a saucepan of water to a gentle simmer and set a glass or metal bowl over the top to create a double boiler (do not let the water touch the bowl).
  • Add heavy cream to bowl and heat until the cream feels hot to the touch (140 to 150 degrees). Add chocolate and whisk until smooth.
  • Whisk in vanilla. Add salt to taste if desired. Transfer to a fondue pot and heat the fuel underneath to keep warm (keep the flame low). Serve with fruit or other sweets.

Recipe Video

Notes

  1. Fondue pot: I have and love this Cuisinart electric fondue pot. It’s easy to use, a breeze to clean, and it works really well! It’s the same one you see in the photos, and it comes with 8 skewers. The recipe is written for a stove-top version of fondue so anyone can make it.
  2. Chocolate: For deep chocolate flavor, use a premium chocolate with at least 60% cacao. Or, substitute semi-sweet chocolate chips.
  3. Yield: This recipe makes about 4 cups (1 quart) chocolate fondue, enough for 16 servings, ¼ cup each.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25 cupCalories: 260kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 3gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.004gCholesterol: 34mgSodium: 13mgPotassium: 172mgFiber: 2gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 443IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 33mgIron: 2mg
Did you make this recipe?Tag @culinaryhill on Instagram so we can admire your masterpiece! #culinaryhill
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Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.

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