Easy Chocolate Fondue
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Chocolate fondue is the easiest dessert in the world to prepare—only 4 ingredients and you can make it in microwave!
Chocolate fondue is not just a romantic dessert for grown-ups; it’s the ultimate family-style dessert. There is nothing like a bowl of melted chocolate surrounded by cookies and marshmallows to keep antsy children, who inhale lovingly prepared meals in a matter of minutes, lingering at the dinner table for a very long time. It also happens to be the easiest thing in the world to prepare—only four ingredients and you can make it in the microwave!
As for what to serve with chocolate fondue, sky’s the limit. We love almond biscotti, shortbread or European biscuit cookies (look for the Petit Lu or Walker’s brands in the gourmet cookie section in your supermarket), strawberries, pound cake cubes, pretzel rods, madeleines, graham crackers, and marshmallows.
Table of Contents
What You’ll Need To Make Chocolate Fondue
- Heavy cream: Adds richness and creaminess to the fondue.
- Semi-sweet chocolate: Semi-sweet chocolate is the best choice for fondue due to its balanced flavor, ensuring the fondue is neither too sweet nor too bitter. Bittersweet chocolate can be substituted.
- Sugar: Just a bit sweetens the fondue and enhances the chocolate’s flavor.
- Butter: Adds a silky texture and richness to the fondue.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-by-Step Instructions
Place the chocolate, cream, butter, and sugar in a medium microwave-safe bowl.
Cook on medium power until about three-quarters of the way melted, 30 to 60 seconds more. Stir, allowing the residual heat in the bowl to melt the remaining chocolate completely. (If necessary, place the chocolate back in microwave for a few seconds.)
Transfer the mixture to a fondue pot or bowl and serve with assorted dippers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can easily adapt microwave chocolate fondue for the stovetop. Use a double boiler or make your own by placing a heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water. Ensure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. Add all of the ingredients to the double boiler and stir until the chocolate melts smoothly. This method allows for more control over the temperature, reducing the risk of overheating the chocolate.
Leftover fondue can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up 4 days. To reheat, transfer the fondue to a microwave-safe bowl and heat it in short, 15-second intervals, stirring between each interval to ensure even heating. Alternatively, you can reheat the fondue on the stovetop using a double boiler or a similar setup to gently melt the chocolate. Reheat only the amount you plan to use, as repeated reheating may affect the fondue’s texture.
Chocolate is sensitive to high temperatures, which can cause it to burn, seize, or become grainy. When chocolate is heated too quickly or over too high a temperature, the cocoa butter can separate from the solids. Gently heating chocolate, either in short intervals in the microwave or over a double boiler on the stovetop, ensures that it melts evenly and retains a smooth, silky consistency.
If you don’t have a fondue pot, you can serve the fondue in a ceramic or glass bowl. It will stay “dippable” for a while, and you can rewarm it in short-bursts in the microwave if necessary. A small slow cooker set on low will also keep the fondue warm and smooth; just be sure to stir it occasionally.
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Chocolate Fondue
Chocolate fondue is the easiest dessert in the world to prepare—only 4 ingredients and you can make it in microwave!
Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Instructions
- Place the cream, chocolate, sugar, and butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Cook in the microwave on medium power (50%) for 1½ minutes. Take out and stir. Cook on medium power until about three-quarters of the way melted, 30 to 60 seconds more. Stir, allowing the residual heat in the bowl to melt the remaining chocolate completely. (If necessary, place the chocolate back in microwave for a few seconds.)
- Transfer the mixture to a fondue pot or bowl and serve with assorted dippers.
- Note: It's a good idea to stir the fondue occasionally to avoid scorching. If you're not serving the fondue in a fondue pot, you can re-warm the fondue in short bursts on medium heat in the microwave, if necessary.
- Note: The nutritional information is for the chocolate mix only; it does not include any options you choose to dip in the chocolate.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (4 servings)
- Calories: 514
- Fat: 42 g
- Saturated fat: 26 g
- Carbohydrates: 41 g
- Sugar: 36 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Sodium: 29 mg
- Cholesterol: 89 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Gluten-Free Adaptable Note
To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.
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So yummy and easy!
Can I just do this in the fondue pot from the beginning? We have an electric fondue pot whose temperature is fairly easy to control. And if I wanted to add maybe Cointreau or Kahlua, how much would you recommend?
Yes, you can put the chocolate directly into the fondue pot. And if you’d like to add liqueur, I’d start with 1 to 2 tablespoons and taste to see if it needs any tweaking. Hope that helps and that you enjoy!
Is it ok to use bittersweet chocolate instead of semisweet?
Yep 👍
Hi Jen,
I’m planning to make this chocolate fondue for New Years Eve. My question is can I make it in advance and reheat it When it’s time to serve? We are doing a progressive dinner with friends and the last stop is my house for desserts (I’m also making your rum cake). Since it’s a large crowd (about 20 people), I want to have everything ready to go before we start at the first house so when I get back to my house I can quickly put the desserts out. Also, once it is reheated would you suggest putting it in a “Little Dipper “ crock pot on low to keep it warm?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Hi Vivian, I wouldn’t make this ahead since it only takes a few minutes to cook but yes on the little dipper crock pot. Have fun!
Thanks, Jenn
I’ll let you know how it comes out
Fondue provides a wonderful ambience to a gathering of friends.