There are chocolate fans all over the world, and many of them see themselves as real connoisseurs. Chocolate isn't only a frequent addition to desserts, but can also be used to spice up any event. Perfect examples of this are a chocolate fondue or chocolate fountain. Read on and find out how to prepare them in your own kitchen.
There are chocolate fans all over the world, and many of them see themselves as real connoisseurs. Chocolate isn’t only a frequent addition to desserts, but can also be used to spice up any event. Perfect examples of this are a chocolate fondue or chocolate fountain. Read on and find out how to prepare them in your own kitchen.
What is a fondue?
A traditional fondue is a hot, melted mass in which various ingredients are dipped. Depending on whether you go for a sweet or savoury version, it could be pieces of bread, meat or fruit. Special pots are used for this purpose, placed on a stand over a small source of heat. This keeps the dish at a high temperature and also helps it maintain a liquid consistency. The chosen ingredients are put on special skewers or forks, and then dipped in the mass.
The most popular and well-known form of fondue is the cheese fondue, which originated in Switzerland. The local highlanders invented it as a warm and nutritious meal in winter, with various types of yellow cheese are used for this purpose. Traditionally, there should be at least two types of cheese, e.g. ementaler and gruyère. Many people also use dry white wine, kirsch, potato starch and chosen spices and herbs. Over the years, different fondue variations have started to appear, including the chocolate fondue.
How to make a chocolate fondue? – a fondue recipe
The first question that probably comes to your mind is “which chocolate should I choose for my fondue?”. The decision is really up to you, but it is important to choose a high quality product. This doesn’t mean, however, that you need to use an expensive luxury Belgian chocolate – any good quality dark or milk chocolate will do. There’s also nothing stopping you from using white chocolate. Once you’ve made your choice, it’s time for the next step – the fondue recipe. To prepare your fondue you will need:
- 3 chocolate bars of the same type or mixed, e.g. 2 dark and 1 milk,
- 200g of whipping cream,
- dipping ingredients.
How should you melt the chocolate? If you are the proud owner of a fondue set, then now is the time to use it. Light the heater and place a dish on the stand. Put crumbled chocolate pieces of into the dish and pour in the cream. Keep stirring to avoid overcooking. After the chocolate has completely melted, check the consistency of the mass. If it is too thick, add more cream, and if too thin – add chocolate.
What if you don’t have a fondue set? In this case you can use a water bath. Pour water into a pot and wait for it to boil. Then place a bowl into the pot, with the chocolate and cream in it, and, stirring all the time, melt the ingredients until they are smooth. As a precaution, wear an oven mitt, so that you don’t burn yourself. Then pour everything into a ceramic bowl placed over the stand with the heat source.
To prepare a large amount of chocolate fondue, e.g. for a family event, it is better to use more professional equipment. An example of such equipment are chocolate dispensers, which let you conveniently melt the ingredients. The heating elements ensure a constant temperature, meaning that the contents of the chamber are always liquid. In addition, dispensers usually have special blades that let you manually mix the mass, thus preventing it from burning. Drain taps, on the other hand, let you conveniently refill fondue bowls.
Chocolate fountain – which chocolate should you use?
A more impressive alternative to the above dessert are chocolate fountains. They are becoming a more common sight at events and celebrations such as weddings or proms. Apart from the obvious function of delivering liquid chocolate, they also serve a decorative purpose at the dessert table. If you want to spice up your event with a chocolate fountain, then it’s good to know what type of chocolate to use.
As in the case of a fondue, you should also try to use high-quality products. Dark or milk chocolate with a high cocoa content will be best. You can also buy chocolate that is specially intended for chocolate fountains – they have a higher cocoa butter content, which ensures the right consistency.
How to prepare for a chocolate fountain?
Choosing the right type of chocolate is not all. You also need to know how to prepare the chocolate you will be using in the fountain. You can use the previously mentioned water bath method to melt it. Some chocolate fountain models are equipped with heaters that let you melt the chocolate directly in the fountain. These heaters are also responsible for maintaining a constant high temperature and liquid consistency of the chocolate.
You should also pay attention to the density of the chocolate. How can you dilute it? The most common method is using cocoa butter, which mixes perfectly with the chocolate, ensuring a smooth consistency. You can also use sunflower oil in a proportion of 5-8% of the chocolate used. However, water or milk should not be used, as they make it difficult to liquefy the chocolate mass.
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Chocolate Melter – 2 GN 1/4 Container
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Piston Funnel – 1.3 L – 8 mm
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Piston Funnel – 2 Litres – With 3 Nozzles 55.00 GBP
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Chocolate Fountain Machine – 5 Levels – 4 L 119.00 GBP
Choosing fruit for your chocolate fountain
Pieces of chopped fruit are a popular ingredient for dipping into chocolate fondues and fountains. The sweet taste of many fruits goes especially well with dark chocolate. When choosing the right fruit, follow these tips:
- they must be fresh – canned or frozen fruit is too soft and can fall into the chocolate, which in the case of chocolate fountains will additionally block the mechanism,
- always wash them beforehand,
- place them on separate plates – this will help you reduce the risk of mixing their flavours,
- try to avoid small fruits, such as blueberries, raspberries, blackberries etc.
So which fruit will be best? Here are a few suggestions:
- strawberries – best served during the strawberry season and without stems,
- grapes – served separately, not in bunches,
- tangerines, oranges, grapefruits – peeled and divided into pieces, choose seedless and slightly acidic varieties,
- pineapple, mango, melon – after peeling, cut them into cubes or small balls,
- kiwi – choose harder pieces of fruit and cut them into 4-6 pieces,
- bananas, apples, pears, peaches – peel and cut them just before serving, to keep them looking fresh.
Fruits are not the only ingredients you can use in a chocolate fondue or fountain. You can also offer your guests small waffle pieces, marshmallows, puff sticks, biscuits or dried fruit.
Chocolate fondues and chocolate fountains as a highlight of your event
Its great taste and various serving possibilities are just some of the advantages of chocolate. As you now know, serving liquid chocolate in the above mentioned forms can be a huge attraction at your event.
Thanks to its simplicity and indulgent appeal, a chocolate fondue will let you offer an unforgettable experience on a winter evening. A chocolate fountain, on the other hand, will always be a popular attraction at any event. So now all you have to do is reach for some of your favourite chocolate.
Find out how to make candy floss next!
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