No fancy fondue pot? No problem.
Enchant your Valentine with this delightful homespun chocolate fondue for two. Adorable and fully portable (oh, the places you’ll go!), it makes its home in a humble muffin tin.
Sometimes it only takes the smallest departure from the ordinary to make a moment memorable. I’m always tickled by the magic of a thoughtful gesture and delight in the unexpected. I think that’s what grabs me the most about this idea – it’s so simple yet unconventional. Fun and playful without any fuss or pretense. I hope you like it too!
Be sure to read the notes section below for best results.
DIY Chocolate Fondue for Two
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100 grams (roughly 1 cup) 75% cocoa chocolate, chopped
- 100 grams (roughly 1 cup) Carob chips
- 100 grams (roughly 1 cup) milk chocolate, chopped
- 100 grams (roughly 1 cup) white chocolate, chopped
Ideas for varying the Flavour of the Fondue Base:
- For mint chocolate: add 1/2 tsp natural peppermint extract
- For vanilla chocolate: add 1 tsp vanilla extract or the contents of a vanilla pod
- For a spicy Mexican version: add 1/2 tsp red chili pepper flakes or ancho chili powder
- For a zesty version: add 1 Tbsp of orange zest (works particularly well with chocolate) or try lemon/lime zest
- For a java version: add a pinch of espresso powder
- For a matcha (green tea) version: whisk in a pinch of matcha powder
- For a boozy version: add 2 tsp or so of liquor of choice such as: Bailey’s Irish Cream, Grand Marnier or Amaretto
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- Any variety of fresh fruit – look out for some original additions with wow factor – star fruit (carambola) and dragon fruit are always fun!
- Mini marshmallows (I have never been a fan but some enjoy)
- Chunky pieces of cheese – if you like the combination of cheese and chocolate, a soft cheese like Brie might be especially nice here
- Salted pretzels
- Biscotti
Because the melted chocolate will sit without a heat source in this case, it will not stay liquid as long as it would if lit by a flame or candle. You will still have time to enjoy your chocolate fondue but you won’t be able to let it linger, as it were, without it solidifying on you. You can use a silicone lined muffin cup for the chocolate and that way, once it solidifies, you can simply pop the block of chocolate out and back in the pot to reheat if you wish. (You will never get solidified chocolate out of a non-lined muffin cup I’m afraid – not without scratching the heck out of your tin anyway, and even that would be a stretch).I like to use a quality dark chocolate as the base of my chocolate fondue (generally 75 % cocoa) but if you’re unaccustomed to dark chocolate, you can use a lower cocoa percentage or add some milk chocolate chips or squares to the dark chocolate to reduce the bitterness factor and add a little sweetness.
If you know your sweetie loves white chocolate, why not fill a cup with melted white chocolate and another with dark/milk chocolate. There’s no reason you can’t use a 12 cup muffin tin here! ;o).
Carob is another option. It is a caffeine free substitute that can also be used in place of chocolate. It does not melt as effortlessly as chocolate however but with the addition of some coconut oil and a gentle heating system, (double boiler is most often recommended), it is possible to achieve good results.
Directions:
Peel and chop fruit into bite sized pieces (you can do this the night before and store in the fridge until show time). Assemble any other desired dippers.
If you are planning on doing several varieties of chocolate and flavorings, you may wish to use multiple pots (you can leave the clean-up for morning ;0). Or, you can do your flavour mixes in the muffin cups themselves.
When you are ready to go, place chocolate of choice in a small sturdy pot on the stove over lowest heat. Allow chocolate to melt, stirring to assist.
Once the chocolate has melted, carefully add flavour enhancers of choice to the chocolate.
Using a 6 or 12 cup muffin tin, fill one or several cups with chocolate varieties and remaining cups with fruit and other dippers of choice.
Here’s to your Happy Healthy Hearts!
Hi Kelly! This is a lovely idea, I hope you had a wonderful Valentine’s Day. I’m really intrigued by your suggestion of cheese as a dipper… brie and chocolate… hmm – I’ve never tried the combination before. You can be sure I will next time. I was thinking as I read your post… would there be no “decent” way of liquifying the chocolate a little more so it didn’t set so fast, thus enabling it to be taken even further afield without a heat source? (By decent I mean by not gushing in loads of oil or something). Perhaps by mixing the chocolate with cream (or milk??) – I don’t know, just brainstorming really. Cream wouldn’t be that healthy I suppose and strictly speaking it’s a ganache then…
Well, I’d need to clean up my muffin tin before making this methinks – it’s absolutely gross… burnt on fat, sugar, buts of raisin and oil stains (obviously I blame my wife!). Any cleaning tips? :D
You can stir in condense milk while melting to keep the chocolate liquid
Ooo, LOVE this. Such a great idea, and the presentation is easy but elegant.
Happy Valentine’s day :)
Just got to work, but wanted to tell you I made this for the kids this morning. They were SOOO excited! Thank you! :)
Happy Valentines Day, Kelly. This is very clever, I love how it’s all so neatly organized, very cool. And because the amount is not too much, you can’t really over indulge.
Such a great idea…Love the portability, and portion control! Also love the yummy dipping choices :) yummy!!
This is the cutest fondue idea I’ve ever seen! I’m really impressed a lot of food bloggers are so creative – turning ordinary recipes into fun and beautiful and interesting ones! Your definitely belong to that group of talented people! ;) Happy Valentine’s Day Kelly!
This is such a cute idea–I love it! My husband and I got a fondue pot as a gift and I returned it, which I regret to this day. But luckily I do have muffin tins. :)
What a fabulous idea serving a fondue in a muffin pan! You are so smart! Great blend of chocolates! I love adding a little milk chocolate. It seems to help balance out the flavor and take some of the bitterness away from the really dark chocolates. I find them somewhat bitter anyway. Great suggestions on the variations. Love the Mexican and boozy versions the most! :) Happy Valentine’s Day my dear!
What a superb idea! Really lovely. I have a sweet spot for fondue, and all your fab suggestions for flavors are wonderful. Always straight forward and simple.
How clever are you! This is just a downright genius use for a muffin tin. And totally cute. The colors are fantastic! While I’m not big on chocolate, I have two little ones who would be besides themselves with this! I also happen to have a dark chocolate bar left from our chopped adventure. I think I will surprise them with this tomorrow morning. Nothing like a little chocolate before sending them to school! It is a holiday after all. ;)
Kelly, I could never think that a chocolate fondue might look so refreshing and light! Yours does! I love all the ideas to “spice up” the basic fondue too. Actually now that I look once more at your wise presentation in muffin forms… it’s the ideal effortless chocolate dessert: quick, easy, healthy and so impressive! (Oh, and portable of course!).
I love this! The muffin tin idea is just genius. You have such lovely flavor variations too. I think I’m going to do this with my kids as a fun project. They’ll love filling all of the little cups! Now, where on earth can I get gorgeous fruit like yours?! :)
What a great idea to use the muffin tin! This is a lovely shared dessert and I like some of those add-ins you mentioned.
Haven’t had choc fondue in many many years! So much fun, although cheese fondue is not bad either (great method to gain 5 pounds in one sitting, but I rather take it as an excuse to exercise more the following week… :-)
Hope you will have a wonderful V-day!
Oooh Kelly I love this so much! The presentation in the muffin tray is so genius!! Your chocolate and dipper options are amazing, too!
This is extra special because it reminds me of high school. Every Valentine’s Day my high school’s cafeteria would prepare a “fondue for two” with chocolate and various fruits and cookies…my best girlfriend and I shared it EVERY year! Maybe people thought it was weird….but hey, the single ladies wanted some fondue, too!
Happy Valentine’s Day, Kelly!
Haha, I’m with you on all the wonderful places you can go with this little tray ;o) (I’m thinking a candlelit bathtub ledge might work well too!)
There are no end to the matcha applications as far as I’m concerned ;o). My friend Sissi over @ With a Glass does great things with matcha and white chocolate… Check out her gorgeous matcha, white chocolate and oat truffles: http://www.withaglass.com/?p=9707
Matcha Green Tea powder in chocolate? Really?? Why have I never thought of that!? I so have to give it a try. Oh wow, I just LOVE the idea.
And I love how you used muffin tins to make a cute little chocolate fondue for two. You could even carry this one in bed and have a little fun with the fruit and chocolate… ok… ‘nough said… movin’ on…
But seriously… chocolate fondue in bed? I’m all for that!!!!
Such a creative idea! I love it.
I like your thinking here LB… or, the use of a 12 muffin tin ;0).
Happy Valentine’s Day my Friend! xo.
Very, very creative Kelly! I love it :)
Not only is this chocolate fondue presented in a fun and casual way but you get to do some taste testing with the various choco flavours – yum. Perhaps 3 muffin cups of choco and 3 fruit ones!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Lynn