This Dark Chocolate Fondue is made of three simple ingredients: semi-sweet chocolate, milk and cream. It has a deep, rich flavor and the perfect texture for dipping.
An easy holiday dessert
Today I’m bringing you an easy but spectacular holiday dessert: Dark Chocolate Fondue!
It is a sad fact of life that the busiest time of year is also the time when I most want to unplug, unwind, and surround myself with family, friends, and food. It’s not quite Alanis Morissette-levels of ironic, but it is a shame that the holidays keep me—and, I assume, many of you—totally frantic, when what I really want is to just have a week of endless feasting, good conversation, and reconnecting with my faves. What’s the December version of “Netflix and chill”? Elf and eat? That’s what I want to be doing 24/7.
Chocolate Dip Options
Looking for an allergy-friendly way to enjoy a tray of your favorite treats? Check out my Nut-Free Chocolate Spread, Dairy-Free Coconut Chocolate Spread or Sugar-Free Chocolate Spread!
Table of Contents
A 3-Ingredient Treat
Part of the problem is that I always bite off more than I can chew. Rather than just having folks over for casual sandwiches, I typically go a little overboard with the menu planning and end up unshowered, stinky, and stressed when I should just be enjoying the get-together. (#overachieverproblems). I’m trying to do better, and this year I’m making a conscious effort to scale back and focus on the company, not the accoutrements.
Here’s one dessert idea for my fellow perfectionists: Dark Chocolate Fondue! The fondue is made with just 3 ingredients: semi-sweet chocolate, milk and heavy cream. It has a deep, intense flavor, and the texture is perfect for dipping – thick but not gloopy. It’s perfect for coating fresh fruit, cookies, or any other dipper your mind can dream up!
What to Dip
Speaking of dippers, here’s what I served with my fondue:
- Fresh strawberries
- Brownie bites
- Macaroons
- Peppermint marshmallows
- Gingerbread cookies
- Pretzel rods
- Pound cake pieces
- Peppermint sticks
- Candy Cane Joe-Joes (that’s Trader Joe talk for mint Oreos)
- Thick-cut potato chips
- Pizelle cookies
“But Elizabeth,” you might be thinking, “You are a dirty liar. You promised an easy dessert, then listed a bazillion different accompaniments. YOU FAIL AT SIMPLICITY.”
Shhhhhh, dear reader, shut your fondue hole. All but one of these dippers is store-bought. I had the marshmallows from another project, so I threw those on the plate, but everything else I either purchased or already had in my pantry. (And you could easily swap in store-bought marshmallows instead!) Part of the fun of this fondue project was rummaging through the cupboards and freezer, figuring out what would go well with fondue. Spoiler alert: EVERYTHING goes well with fondue!
In addition to the fondue staples like pound cake and fresh fruit, I got a little seasonal and tried dipping peppermint sticks and minty cookies. I think if you’re going to make this during the holidays, some sort of candy cane situation is a must! And don’t forget to have fun with the gingerbread men. I had to resist adding a tiny “Heeeelp meeeee!” word bubble coming out of his mouth…
My family couldn’t wait to tear into this fondue when I was done taking pictures, and they all loved trying out the different flavors and trying to decide what the best dippers were. (The potato chips and the berries were probably the favorites…no surprise there!)
Tips for Success
If you’re hosting a party this year, big or small, keep things simple and serve fondue for dessert! You could even make it a potluck affair and have everyone bring a dipper or two to contribute. If you don’t have a fondue pot, serve it in a small crockpot on the lowest setting to keep it smooth and fluid. Enjoy!
💓What will you dip?
Brownie Lava Bites
Salted Fudge Brownies
Dark Chocolate Fondue
Ingredients
For the Dark Chocolate Fondue:
- 1 lb semi-sweet chocolate
- 8 fl oz milk
- 8 fl oz heavy cream
Fondue Dippers, like:
- Marshmallows
- Cookies, like biscotti, macaroons, or sandwich cookies
- Pound cake squares
- Cheesecake squares
- Brownie squares
- Fresh berries, banana, or pineapple slices
- Pretzels
- Doughnut holes
- Potato chips
- Crispy bacon
- Peppermint sticks
Instructions
- Finely chop the semi-sweet chocolate, and put it in a medium bowl.
- Pour the milk and heavy cream into a saucepan, and heat it over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it reaches a simmer—no need to bring it to a boil.
- Pour the hot milk and heavy cream over the chopped chocolate, and let it sit and soften the chocolate for one minute. After a minute, gently whisk until the chocolate melts and you have a smooth, shiny, silky mixture.
- Transfer the fondue to a fondue pot or a crockpot set on the lowest setting, to keep it warm and liquid. Whisk occasionally to keep it smooth. Serve with dippers of your choice.
Recipe Notes
Measuring Tips
Our recipes are developed using weight measurements, and we highly recommend using a kitchen scale for baking whenever possible. However, if you prefer to use cups, volume measurements are provided as well. PLEASE NOTE: the adage “8 oz = 1 cup” is NOT true when speaking about weight, so don’t be concerned if the measurements don’t fit this formula.
Want to learn more about baking measurements and conversion?
Oh my gosh, what a FUN idea! And so many possibilities of things to dip with! This would be so fun for a holiday party – love it! 😀
Thanks Roxana! It kind of made me want to throw about 5 holiday parties next week! 😀
1Yum! what an amazing idea! I totally love all chocolate fondues!
Thanks Marcela! Anytime I can dip something in chocolate is fine by me. 😀
I LOVE fondue! This looks so good. Just love all the awesome dippers you have for your fondue – talk about a party! Meanwhile watching Elf and eating is exactly what I did on the weekend. Aren’t holidays the best?
So jealous–I still haven’t gotten a viewing of Elf in! New Year’s Eve Elf–can that be a thing?