Chocolate Bar Fondue Recipes

Steps:

• To make the sauce, in a small bowl, combine the chocolate and 1/2 cup milk or cream and melt gently in a barely simmering water bath or microwave on Medium (50 percent) power for about 2 minutes.
• Stir until smooth.
• Add more liquid if the sauce seems too thick or look curdled.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
• Use warm fondue immediately or set aside until needed and rewarm briefly.
• Have forks, skewers, or pretty (or goofy) swizzle sticks available for guests to dip with.
• If the fondue gets too thick or cool, reheat gently (without boiling) for 1 minute in the microwave on Medium (50percent) power or set in a pan of barely simmering water.
• Leftover sauce keeps several days in the refrigerator.
• It is a prefect topping for ice cream.
• Note: This is a versatile recipe that can be tailored to your taste and the type of chocolate you are using.
• For the most intense chocolate fondue, use milk, rather than half-and-half or cream, and omit the butter.
• For even greater intensity, choose a bittersweet chocolate labeled anywhere from 66 percent to 70 percent and use the greater amount of liquid called for.
• Butter or cream results in a softer, mellower chocolate flavor.
• Ideas for dipping: Kumquats or segments of seedless clementines, oranges, or ruby grapefruit- If possible, separate the citrus into segments without breaking the membrane.
• If you set the segments on a rack to dry in a warm place or in the oven, preheated to 200° F, then turned off for several hours, the membrane will dry like crisp paper and the juices will burst in your mouth when you take a bite.
• Chunks of pineapple Chunks of fresh coconut or large curls of dried coconut Chunks of banana Dried fruit such as apricot, mango, papaya, pineapple, or Bing cherries Strips of good-quality candied orange, grapefruit or lemon peel Cubes of pound cake or angel food cake, or toasted cubes of brioche or challah Cigarette cookies, fan wafers, graham crackers or digestive biscuits, or pretzels Marshmallows or meringues Toasted shaved almonds (to sprinkle on after dipping).

Steps:

• Heat 1/2 cup cream in a heavy non-reactive saucepot over moderate heat until cream comes to a low boil. Remove the pan from the heat and add chocolate. Let the chocolate stand in hot cream 3 to 5 minutes to soften, then whisk chocolate together with the cream. Stir in liqueur and/or chopped nuts and transfer the fondue to a fondue pot or set the mixing bowl on a rack above a small lit candle. If fondue becomes too thick, stir in reserved cream, 1 tablespoon at a time, to desired consistency. Arrange your favorite dippables in piles on a platter along side chocolate fondue with fondue forks, bamboo skewers or seafood forks, as utensils, for dipping.

Steps:

• In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the chocolate with the heavy cream. Mix in the instant coffee, vanilla extract, sugar, and hot water. Continue to heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture is smooth.

Steps:

• Break the chocolate bar into chunks-- the smaller the chunks, the smoother, faster and easier the chocolate will melt.
• Heat the half-and-half in a non-stick saucepan on a low flame while adding the chocolate, stirring constantly until chocolate is melted to the consistency you desire.
• Use more half-and-half for thinner fondu, less for thicker.
• Be careful not to over-cook because the chocolate will form a film which may taste bitter if reblended into mixture.
• Serve in a chocolate fondu pot (reasonably priced at Target. com) or in a ceramic bowl (to hold the heat longer).
• The fondu pot is better because it allows you to keep chocolate warm with a tea light.
• Dip fruit into chocolate and enjoy!
• Notes: If you do not have fondu forks, you can use bamboo skewers.
• I cut them in half for ease of use.
• Arrange and serve the fruit on a pretty platter.
• This makes the experience that much more delightful.
• Dried fruits, nuts and popcorn are delicious dippers, too!
• Chocolate fondue goes very well with dry champagne, full-bodied red wines and crisp, dry white wines.
• Enjoy!