When I was in high school, The Melting Pot was my favorite date restaurant. I loved the skewers, the bite-sized pieces of bread, and the fact that there was always dessert, and not just any dessert, but a pot full of melted chocolate accompanied by chunks of cheesecake, banana, and tiny rice crispy treats. In my early twenties, I bought a fondue set, but I was disappointed to find that it wasn’t hot enough to melt chocolate; I had to prepare the dip on the stove and the “fondue pot” was really just a warmer. Then I discovered you can make and serve fondue in a slow cooker. It’s fast, easy, and delicious!
The original recipe for chocolate fondue was actually made from candy: melted Toblerones! It also contained kirsch, but I prefer caramel and vanilla to almonds and cherry flavor. The possibilities for this luscious chocolate are endless. I’ve suggested some dipping options below, but feel free to add other fruits, cookies, or anything you’d like to eat covered in chocolate.
Melted Candy Fondue
IngredientsFOR FONDUE:
5 caramel nougat bars (such as Milky Way), cut into small pieces
4 dark chocolate bars, cut into small pieces
1½ cup (180 ml) heavy cream
2 teaspoons (10 ml) vanilla
FOR DIPPING:
Marshmallows
Pretzel sticks
Fresh strawberries
Banana slices
Vanilla wafer cookies
Brownie bites
Pound cake cubes
Directions1. Combine all fondue ingredients in a 4-quart (or smaller) slow cooker. Mix well.
2. Cook on low for 1 hour, stirring every so often. Fondue is ready when candy is completely melted and ingredients are fully combined.
3. Turn slow cooker to warm. Serve fondue in pot along with dipping ingredients, stirring occasionally at the table. If your slow cooker doesn't have a warm setting, just turn it off; return to low for a few minutes if fondue starts to solidify.
Tip: For a fun variation, replace caramel nougat bars with chocolate peanut butter cups!
