Having a choice of chocolate fondue recipes to choose from is essential for the perfect gathering be it a wedding reception, football party or any other gathering.

Have a look at a few of my favorite recipes:

The Quick and Easy
•    1 bag of bitter sweet chocolate (8 oz)
•    ½ cup of heavy cream
•    2 tablespoons of real, unsalted butter
•    2 tablespoons of brandy (optional)
•    Your choice of dippers (strawberries, bananas, shortbread cooking, etc.)

1.    Chop the chocolate into small pieces
2.    Bring the butter, cream and brandy to a simmer in a small sauce pan
3.    After they reach a simmer, remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate until the chocolate is melted and smooth
4.    Pour into the chocolate fondue pot and place over heat
5.    Enjoy with your choice of dippers

Simply Vanilla
•    8 oz of dark chocolate
•    ¾ cup of light cream
•    1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

1.    Chop the chocolate into small pieces and melt them in a small sauce pan
2.    Mix in the light cream to prevent the chocolate from betting lumpy
3.    Add the Vanilla extract and stir
4.    Pour into the chocolate fondue pot and place over heat
5.    Enjoy with you choice of dippers

The Coffee Kicker
•    32 Oz of grated milk chocolate
•    1-1/4 cups of heavy cream
•    1 tablespoon of instant coffee
•    1 teaspoon of sugar
•    1/3 cup hot water

1.    Melt the chocolate in a small sauce pan with the heavy cream
2.    Mix in the instant coffee, vanilla extract, sugar and hot water
3.    Stir until mixture is smooth and consistent
4.    Pour in the chocolate fondue pot
5.    Enjoy with your choice of dippers

Don't be afraid to experiment with new ideas for your favorite chocolate fondue recipe.

Time to learn how do have a great chocolate fondue with a lot less effort than you might think.

While it is not necessary, having a special fondue put help keep the chocolate fondue at the ideal temperature for longer.  However, if you opt for a conventional bowl, that will need to be reheated about once every 15-20 minutes depending on temperature of the environment.

Fondue sets typically come with the fondue pot, a heating source and long dipping forks.  For larger settings it is best to use long toothpicks so as to have plenty of dipping utensils available for the guests.

For one of my favorite recipes, you’ll need:

•    1 bag of bitter sweet chocolate (6 oz)
•    ½ cup of cream
•    2 tablespoons of real, unsalted butter
•    2 tablespoons of brandy (optional)
•    Your choice of dippers (strawberries, bananas, shortbread cooking, etc.)

Before we begin preparing the chocolate, get all of the dippers ready and on the serving dish.  No need to place them on the table yet; keep the fruit in the refrigerator until the chocolate is ready.

Melt the butter, cream and brandy in a small sauce pan and bring them to a simmer over medium heat.  While they are heating, chop the chocolate up into small bits.  After the pan has reached a simmer, remove from the heat and mix in the chocolate until everything is melted and smooth.

Now your chocolate is ready for the chocolate fondue pot.  Pour the melted chocolate into the pot and place the pot over the heat source.  Be sure to stir it occasionally so as to not burn the chocolate on the bottom.

Time to dip and enjoy your perfect chocolate fondue!

Some people are put off by the elaborate display of a chocolate fondue fountain and feel it would be too much to worry about for that big event.  But it is not as difficult as some would think.

First you will have to melt your chocolate on the stove prior to moving it to the fountain.  When you are melting the chocolate you will need to mix in a thinner.  Some recipes call for vegetable oil but that can affect the taste of the chocolate.  A great alternative would be to use what the professionals use, Paramount Crystals.  Simply mix them in when you are melting your chocolate and you will not have to worry about your chocolate fondue fountain clogging by the thick chocolate.  Don’t forget to allow at least 20 minutes for the fountain to properly heat before adding the melted chocolate.

If you would like to add a little extra flavor to the chocolate you could opt for Kailua, Brandy or Grand Marnier.  Adding this when you are melting the chocolate will allow it to completely mix into the chocolate for a more even and striking flavor.
 

The most common pot is made from ceramic and is also called the caquelon.  It is typically heavy and thick to allow for a more even distribution of heat when over the burners.  This type of fondue pot is most commonly used for chocolate fondue and cheese fondue.

The fondue pots can either be headed using an alcohol burner, fuel paste burner, tea lights or electricity. The electric powered burner is the simplest to use and clean but you are limited to accessibility to a power outlet to heat your fondue.

For that reason, I find that using the alcohol or fuel past to heat the chocolate fondue pot the most versatile of the options.  They can maintain sufficient heat and is much more portable.