Did you know February is National Fondue Month?
Americans first enjoyed fondue of the Swiss variety, which is the classic cheese fondue served with crusty bread. The French name fondue is derived from the verb "fondre," which means "to melt" or "to dissolve." In the 1950s, Swiss cheese fondue became extremely popular in the United States, giving rise to "fondue parties" and plenty of variations. Chocolate fondue shortly followed, and is now considered the most romantic & fun dessert across the country. So YUM for February! Follow our recipe for the perfect chocolate fondue. Do you have other favorites? Tell us in the comments!
Ingredients
- 12 ounces of dark chocolate (chips or roughly chopped if from a block)
- 8 ounces of heavy cream
- A pinch of salt
- Dippables such as strawberries, banana pieces cut into 1-inch chunks, dried appricots, candied ginger, apple pieces
Directions
- Warm the cream over moderate heat until tiny bubbles show and begins to lightly and slowly boil. Add the chocolate and whisk until smooth and full incorporated.
- Immediately transfer to a fondue pot heated at low or with a low flame, or serve straight from the pot.
- Arrange the dippables 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 dippables into the hot melted cream 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.
- Add a tablespoon or two of Bailey's Irish Cream to the chocolate. Other liquors such as Grand Marnier, Amaretto, or Kirsch are equally yummy.
- Add a 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and ancho chili pepper for a nice Mexican Chocolate.
- The contents of a vanilla pod or some vanilla extract are always a decadent touch to chocolate.
- A good pinch of espresso powder can do wonders!
- Orange zest or grapefruit zest is nice way to create a slightly fruity chocolate.
- A few tablespoons of Torani flavoring syrups (the kind used for coffee or Italian sodas) can add a nice dimension of flavor as well.
- White chocolate is always a nice change, and spiked with a little liquor or citrus zest becomes heavenly.
- Steeping the cream for an hour beforehand and while heating it can add a nice subtle flavor, lemongrass for white chocolate or a bag of Earl Grey tea for dark chocolate are particularly stylish and contemporary.
