Make a Show-Stopping Chocolate Fondue In Just 10 Minutes (2024)

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Chocolate fondue is more than a dessert, it's an experience! Here's everything you need to know to do it at home.

Elise Bauer

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

Learn about Simply Recipes'Editorial Process

Updated June 03, 2024

6 Ratings

In This Recipe

Fondue Pot, or Not?
See Also
Fun Fondue Facts (say that 5x fast) | Purdys Chocolatier Fondue | History | Tradition Cheese Fondue | Wisconsin Cheese The best nibbles and snacks to dip in a chocolate fountain
What to Dip
Making It Your Own
Keeping It Warm
Tips for Buying a Fondue Pot
Make It Ahead

Our Most Clicked Valentine’s Day Recipe of All TimeFEATURED IN:

Looking for a fun and easy chocolate dessert experience? Make chocolate fondue!

My friend Garrett taught me how to make this years ago. It's a great way to make dessert more interactive. Everyone gets to choose their own "dip-able"—whether it's strawberries, bananas, or marshmallows, and it's incredibly easy to make. Only needs three ingredients—chocolate, cream, and a pinch of salt.

You can add extra flavors to the chocolate too, like some peppermint extract for peppermint chocolate fondue, or cinnamon and chili for a Mexican spin, or Amaretto or Bailey's Irish cream for a more grown up version.

And if it's just the two of you, chocolate fondue is a great way to end a romantic meal at home. The dip-ables can be prepped in advance, and the chocolate sauce comes together in just a few minutes.

Make a Show-Stopping Chocolate Fondue In Just 10 Minutes (3)

Do You Need a Fondue Pot for Chocolate Fondue?

It does help to have a fondue pot, to keep the chocolate warm while everyone is dipping into the pot. That said, if you don't have that set-up, you could easily use a regular pot. Just put an oven mitt on the table and place the hot pot of melted chocolate on top of it to start dipping. Return it to the stove and stir in a little more hot cream if it starts to stiffen too much.

Make a Show-Stopping Chocolate Fondue In Just 10 Minutes (4)

What to Dip in Chocolate Fondue

Fruit is the obvious place to start—strawberries, bananas, chunks of pineapple, dried apricots, pears. Or you can go long on the sweet vector and dip brownies, pound cake, marshmallows, or even ladyfingers.

Make a Show-Stopping Chocolate Fondue In Just 10 Minutes (5)

Even More Chocolate Fondue Dipper Ideas

Marshmallows
Cherries
Pretzels
Nilla wafers, Oreos, animal crackers, or other cookies
Mini biscotti
Graham crackers
Rice Krispies treats
Orange or tangerine wedges
Kiwi fruit slices
Slices of peaches, plums, apricots
Dried fruits, like figs, pineapple, or mangos
Cubes of cake (cut and let sit out a few hours so it sticks on the skewers better)

Personalize Your Chocolate Fondue

Add a 1/2 teaspoon each cinnamon and ancho chile pepper for a Mexican hot chocolate spin.
A good pinch of espresso powder can do wonders!
Add orange zest to create a slightly fruity chocolate.
Add peppermint extract for peppermint chocolate fondue. Start with 1/4 teaspoon and increase according to taste.
White chocolate is always a nice change, and spiked with a little liquor or citrus zest becomes heavenly.
Steeping aromatics in the cream for an hour beforehand can add a nice subtle flavor. A bruised lemongrass stalk for white chocolate, or a bag of Earl Grey tea for dark chocolate are particularly stylish and contemporary.

How to Keep Chocolate Fondue Warm

If you don't have a fondue pot, you can use a tea candle, which produces less heat than canned Sterno fuel.

You can use Sterno, but remember that it can burn very hot, so keep an eye on it. When it gets too hot, turn it off or partially cover the can with the lid. If needed, add a little more cream to the chocolate fondue and put the Sterno back on for a minute or two to warm up again.

Another option is a small crockpot or a clean candle warmer.

Buying a Fondue Pot

There are essentially three types of fondue pots: metal, ceramic, and electric.

Metal fondue pots usually come in stainless steel or enameled cast iron. They are the sturdiest and can go directly from the stovetop to your table without having to transfer. They are usually a bit heavy and run larger than other options.
Ceramic fondue pots are great for holding the heat and easy to clean. They run in both smaller and larger sizes. They can be microwave safe. Some models, such as Emil Henry Flame ceramic, can be heated on the stovetop, too.
Electric fondue pots are safer and heat up the fastest, since they don't require an actual flame. They are easy to adjust, but run more expensive than other options. And keep in mind you'll need an outlet handy to plug the pot in.
Oh yes! And let us not forget the chocolate fondue fountain which is a fun addition to any party. Don't let the name fool you, since you can use it for nacho cheese as well.

Look for used fondue pots in thrift or vintage stores. We've seen fun fondue pot options (with forks and all!) at reasonable prices at our local Goodwill.

Preparing Chocolate Fondue in Advance

You can make the chocolate fondue up to a day or two ahead. Let the mixture cool, then refrigerate. When you're ready to enjoy it, warm the chocolate mixture gently in the microwave (on medium power in 30-second bursts, stirring after each) until smooth and warm. Or put the chocolate mix in a heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water and warm it that way.

You can re-warm it directly in your fondue pot, but the other options give you more control.

More Impressive Desserts for Parties

Chocolate Peppermint Swiss Roll
Berry Tart
Lemon Poppy Seed Bundt Cake
Old Fashioned Peach Pie
Chocolate Layer Cake

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Chocolate Fondue

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time10 mins

Total Time15 mins

Servings8 servings

Ingredients

For the dipping fondue chocolate:

1 cup (8 ounces) heavy cream
Pinch salt
12 ounces milk or dark chocolate (chips or roughly chopped bar)

For dipping:

Strawberries
Banana pieces cut into 1-inch chunks
Dried apricots
Apple slices
Candied ginger

Method

Heat the cream:
Heat the cream with a pinch of salt over medium heat in a small saucepan until tiny bubbles show and begins to lightly and slowly simmer.
Remove from heat and add the chocolate:
Remove from heat, add the chocolate, and whisk until smooth and fully incorporated.
Serve immediately:
Transfer the chocolate mix to a fondue pot heated at low or with a low flame, or serve straight from the pot.
Arrange the dip-ables on a platter or plates around the chocolate pot.
Use a fondue fork, bamboo skewer, seafood fork, or salad fork to dip the fruit pieces and other dip-ables into the hot melted chocolate mixture. Eat immediately.
If the fondue begins to feel a little stiff, add a tablespoon of heavy cream and stir. It will help it go a little longer. Eventually, it will cook down though, and you may need to start a new pot.
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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
41	Calories
3g	Fat
3g	Carbs
0g	Protein

Show Full Nutrition Label

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories	41
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 3g	4%
Saturated Fat 2g	9%
Cholesterol 5mg	2%
Sodium 75mg	3%
Total Carbohydrate 3g	1%
Dietary Fiber 0g	1%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg	0%
Calcium 5mg	0%
Iron 0mg	2%
Potassium 33mg	1%
*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.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.