WRIC Richmond News and Weather - Very Special Chocolate Fondue

Very Special Chocolate Fondue

VERY SPECIAL CHOCOLATE FONDUE
2½ cups sauce, about 8 servings

 This is a marvelous dessert to serve at a party or after-the-game get-together.

• 16 ounces bittersweet or semi-sweet or milk chocolate or sweetened white chocolate, broken into small pieces
• 1 cup half-and-half (see note)
• ¼ cup brandy, or ¼ cup cherry, or orange, or coffee, or chocolate, or almond liqueur, or ¼ cup rum (see note)
• Bite-size pieces of pound cake or angel food cake, or marshmallows, or bite-size chunks of peeled fresh pineapple or mango or melon of choice, or apple or pear wedges, or orange segments, or whole strawberries, or sweet cherries of choice as dippers 

Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add half-and-half, beating constantly, pour cheese mixture into electric fondue pot, set at low temperature, or pour cheese mixture into a cheese fondue pot set over its heat source (see note).  Add chocolate pieces, a few at a time, stirring constantly until sauce is thick and smooth.  Stir in liqueur.  Serve bite-sized pieces of cake of choice, or marshmallows, or fresh fruit of choice for dipping. 

Note: May substitute 1 cup milk, or reduced-fat or skim milk, if desired. 

Note: May omit brandy or liqueur; add ¼ additional half-and-half or milk or reduced-fat or         skim milk to fondue mixture. 

Note: If an electric fondue pot is not available, use a regular fondue pot set over a very low    flame or the top of a double boiler over hot, not simmering or boiling, water. 

Note: For a small group, 16 to 20 servings, double the recipe ingredients and proceed as        previously directed.

                       Variations: Chocolate Mint Fondue: Substitute 3 or 4 tablespoons creme de menthe for the brandy.  For a mintier fondue, substitute 8 ounces mint-flavored chocolate pieces for 8 ounces semi-sweet, milk, or white chocolate or add ½ to1 teaspoon mint flavoring.

                      Add ½ to 1 teaspoon instant coffee crystals to the chocolate mixture

Note: Both variation mixtures are great for big marshmallows, pound-cake cubes, doughnut or  banana or fresh pineapple chunks, or large fresh Bing or Rainier cherries or strawberries.