It’s tradition. Almost every year, on New Year’s Eve, we make this chocolate fondue recipe. And then the kids dig in and by the end, they’re covered in chocolate, the dining room is covered in chocolate, the dogs are covered in chocolate — fondue with children is not for the faint of heart.
But it is great fun, and as long as you’re ready with the Spray-and-Wash and a good bath for everyone, I highly recommend it as a New Year’s Eve tradition.
The great part is that you can just throw in whatever you have on hand. Anything that looks like it might be good dipped in chocolate is fair game, in my book. We usually use fresh fruits like strawberries or other berries, bananas, or oranges (oh, oranges! Have you had oranges dipped in chocolate? Let’s take a minute and reflect.) Or we’ll have dried fruits like apricots and mangoes. Marshmallows, graham crackers, pretzel sticks, cookies, or pound cake are also great choices.
And while a fondue set is fun, it’s not a necessity. You can heat your chocolate over the stove, transfer it to the table (unless you plan to have it out for hours, the chocolate should stay melted), and use wooden skewers (found at the grocery store) or toothpicks or forks for dipping.
Or your fingers, I guess. Depending on your opinions on proper hygiene and stuff.
The recipe below is very basic, but you can change up your fondue as well by mixing in a little extra something. Add the following right into the pot as you’re melting the chocolate:
-S’Mores fondue: add 1 c marshmallow fluff
-Peanut Butter Chocolate Fondue: add 1 c peanut butter
-Raspberry Chocolate Fondue: add 1/2 c raspberry jam
And I know you’re always supposed to melt your chocolate over a double boiler, with water under it so it doesn’t burn. I even put it in the recipe because that’s what you’re supposed to do. But can I make a confession? I’ve never done that. I keep my heat between low and medium low and stand there the whole time stirring and I’ve never burnt my chocolate (ok, actually I have burnt my chocolate but that’s because I got distracted and started making dinner and texting people and ordering kids around and even a double boiler ain’t going to save me then.) So. I leave the Double Boiler Dilemma to you and your conscience. Do as you feel led.
Ingredients
- 1 c half and half
- 2 c semisweet chocolate chips
- Fruit, crackers, and other ingredients for dipping
Instructions
- Heat half-and-half and chocolate chips in a double-boiler, over medium-low heat while stirring constantly, until chips are melted and chocolate is smooth.
- Pour mixture into fondue pot. Serve with dippers.
- Yield: 2 cups
Be sure to check out our Kids’ New Year’s Eve Party ideas as well.
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I know it is a silly question and probably obvious in America but what is half and half? Is it by any chance semi skimmed milk? I live in Switzerland and we love Fondue but have never tried the chocolate version. I have a special pot for chocolate but it’s never been out of the box.