Perfect Chocolate Fondue

Ingredients

Baking & Spices
- 10 oz Semisweet or bittersweet chocolate
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract

Dairy
- 1/3 cup Heavy cream
- 1/3 cup Milk

Other
- Lots of dipping options (strawberries, bananas, small rice krispie squares, vanilla cookies, etc.

Found on melskitchencafe.com

Description

Lets talk chocolate for a second. I almost always use Ghirardellis bittersweet chips for our chocolate fondue - sometimes Ghirardellis semisweet chips in a pinch, but we like it darker and richer with the bittersweet. I will warn you that I tried Nestle chips once and they didnt melt well (and the taste was off) so choose your chocolate carefully. If you arent using a higher-end chocolate chip like Ghirardellis or Guittard, Id use a baking bar of chocolate (usually above the chocolate chips in the store aisle) since it tends to melt better than chocolate chips. If you arent a dark chocolate fan and want it rich and chocolatey without being too dark, several times when weve made this for friends that arent as hip on dark chocolate as we are, at the end I dropped in about 1/2 cup chopped white chocolate (or Guittard white chocolate chips which melt better than other white chocolate chip brands) to melt for a creamier, lighter version. Youll probably want to add a touch more heavy cream to thin it out a bit if doing that - just play around with amounts and consistency.Also, you can vary the flavor with the extract. We usually stick with vanilla but you could try adding orange extract or peppermint for a twist on the chocolate fondue. A final note - depending on the type of fondue pot you have, you may be able to make the fondue start to finish in the pot; be sure to consult manufacturing directions if doing so (and I give a few more details up in the written post).

Ingredients

10 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped (see note above)
1/3 cup milk
1/3 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (see note above for other variations)
Lots of dipping options (strawberries, bananas, small rice krispie squares, vanilla cookies, etc.)

Directions

In a saucepan, combine the chocolate, milk and cream and heat on low, stirring often, until the chocolate is completely melted and the mixture is smooth. Dont let it come to a boil; keep it on low heat.
Once melted, stir in the vanilla extract. If needed, stir in heavy cream or milk a tablespoon at a time to adjust for a thinner consistency. Pour the mixture into a fondue pot or small slow cooker to keep warm while serving.
Serve with dippers of your choice. We love: marshmallows, vanilla cookies, strawberries, rice krispie treats cut in little squares, bananas.
Any extra chocolate leftovers (??) will keep well in the refrigerator - just reheat on low to have yourself another chocolate fondue experience.