Chocolate fondue: an easy recipe and what to dip

Chocolate fondue is one of the simplest desserts there is, and one of the cosiest. All you need is good chocolate, a little cream and something to dip. Here is an easy recipe for two, ideas for what to dip, and how to keep the chocolate glossy and smooth all evening.

Recipe: chocolate fondue for two

• 100 g dark chocolate (50–70% cocoa)
• 50 ml thickened cream
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1 tsp butter, if you want extra glossy chocolate

1. Chop the chocolate into small pieces. Small pieces melt more evenly.
2. Heat the cream until it steams, but don't let it boil. The microwave on low power works fine.
3. Pour the cream over the chocolate, wait half a minute and stir until glossy. Stir in the salt and butter.
4. Pour the chocolate into the fondue mug and keep it warm with a tealight underneath.

If you use milk chocolate, you can use a little less cream, as it melts softer. White chocolate burns more easily and should be melted gently.

What can you dip in chocolate fondue?

• Fruit: strawberries, banana, pineapple, grapes, apple wedges and mandarin segments
• Baked treats: pieces of brownie, waffles, biscuits or cinnamon scrolls
• Christmas: gingerbread or shortbread, and marshmallows
• Sweet and salty: pretzels and potato chips

Variation: caramel fondue

Melt 100 g soft caramels with 50 ml cream and a pinch of salt, and stir until smooth. Caramel fondue goes well with apple, pear and banana.

Easy cheese fondue in a small serve

Cheese needs more heat than chocolate to melt. So melt the cheese in a small saucepan first, and use the fondue mug to keep it warm at the table.

• 100 g grated cheese that melts well, such as gruyère, a mild melting cheese like Swiss or Jarlsberg, or a mix
• 50 ml white wine or milk
• 1 tsp cornflour
• A little garlic and pepper

Toss the cornflour through the cheese. Warm the wine with the garlic, then stir in the cheese a little at a time over low heat until smooth. Dip cubes of bread, small boiled potatoes, cherry tomatoes or prosciutto.

Fondue mug or fondue pot?

For a crowd, a big fondue pot is handy. For two, or as dessert after dinner, a small fondue mug with a tealight is easier: little washing up and no burner fuel. The Dippi™ chocolate fondue mug holds 130 ml, and the XL version holds 280 ml and suits two or more.

Checklist before fondue night

• Chop the chocolate finely.
• Cut the fruit just before serving so it doesn't go brown.
• Dry the fruit well. Water makes the chocolate lumpy.
• Keep spare tealights ready.
• Put the fondue mug on a steady, heatproof surface, and never leave the tealight burning unattended.

Frequently asked questions

Why does the chocolate go lumpy?

Usually because water has got into it or it has become too hot. Stir in a splash of warm cream and it will often turn smooth again.

How much chocolate do we need per person?

Allow about 50 g of chocolate per person when the fondue is dessert.

Can I use filled chocolate?

It often turns out uneven. Plain chocolate or cooking chocolate gives the best result.

Will a tealight keep the chocolate warm for long enough?

A standard tealight burns for several hours. Give the chocolate a stir now and then, and swap the tealight if it turns into a long evening.