Tasty Chocolate Orange Fondue

Here is my go-to chocolate orange fondue recipe, with smooth melted chocolate, fresh orange zest, a hint of cream, and just the right amount of sweetness to make every bite perfect.

This fondue has become our favorite dessert for casual get-togethers and special occasions alike. I always set out plenty of fresh fruit and cookies for dipping, and trust me – the bowl is completely empty by the end of the night. Nothing brings people together quite like gathering around warm, melted chocolate, don’t you think?

What Kind of Chocolate Should I Use?

For fondue, semisweet chocolate in the 50-60% cocoa range hits the sweet spot – it’s not too bitter and not too sweet. While chocolate chips can work in a pinch, reaching for a good quality bar chocolate will give you much smoother results since it melts more evenly. Bar chocolate usually contains more cocoa butter than chips, which helps create that silky texture we’re after. If you’re having trouble finding semisweet, you can substitute bittersweet chocolate or even a mix of dark and milk chocolate to achieve a similar flavor profile. Just make sure to chop your chocolate into small, even pieces before melting to prevent any scorching or seizing.

Options for Substitutions

Let’s talk about how you can switch things up with this fondue recipe:

• Semisweet chocolate: You can use milk chocolate for a sweeter taste, or dark chocolate for something more intense. Just make sure to use good quality chocolate – it’s the star of the show and chocolate chips won’t melt as smoothly.
• Thick cream: Heavy cream works perfectly here, but you can also use half-and-half. If using half-and-half, you might need to add a bit more chocolate to get the right consistency.
• Orange liqueur: No Grand Marnier? Try Cointreau or Triple Sec. For an alcohol-free version, use orange juice concentrate or 2 tablespoons of orange juice mixed with 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract.
• Instant coffee powder: This ingredient deepens the chocolate flavor, but you can skip it or use a tiny pinch of espresso powder instead.
• Dipping items: The fun part is mixing up what you dip! Try marshmallows, apple slices, pineapple chunks, graham crackers, or even potato chips for a sweet-salty combo.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

The biggest mistake when making chocolate fondue is overheating the chocolate, which can cause it to become grainy and seized – always melt it slowly over low heat or using a double boiler method, stirring gently until just smooth. Getting even a drop of water in your chocolate mixture can make it seize up instantly, so make sure all your utensils and bowls are completely dry before starting, and avoid covering the pot while heating to prevent condensation from dripping in. For the smoothest texture, chop your chocolate into small, uniform pieces before melting, and warm your cream separately before combining them – adding cold cream to melted chocolate can cause the mixture to become lumpy. If your fondue starts to thicken too much while serving, simply stir in a tablespoon of warm cream to maintain that perfect dipping consistency.

What to Serve With Chocolate Fondue?

While this recipe comes with some great dipping options, there are so many more fun treats you can add to your fondue spread! Fresh fruits like pineapple chunks, raspberry clusters, and mandarin orange segments work perfectly with the orange-chocolate combo in this fondue. For something different, try adding some salty snacks like potato chips or graham crackers – the sweet-and-salty mix is always a hit at parties. You can also include some marshmallows, brownie bites, or even chunks of cheesecake for an extra-indulgent dessert experience. Just remember to cut everything into bite-sized pieces that are easy to spear with fondue forks!

Storage Instructions

Keep: If you have leftover chocolate orange fondue (which rarely happens!), pour it into an airtight container and pop it in the fridge. It’ll stay good for up to 5 days. The fondue will solidify when chilled, but don’t worry – that’s totally normal!

Make Ahead: You can prepare this fondue up to 2 days before your party. Just store it in the fridge and when you’re ready to serve, warm it up following the reheating instructions below. It’s a great time-saver when you’re planning a gathering!

Warm Up: To bring your chilled fondue back to life, warm it up using a double boiler method on low heat, stirring occasionally. Or, microwave it in 30-second intervals at 50% power, stirring between each interval until smooth. Add a splash of cream if needed to reach the right consistency.

Preparation Time	10-15 minutes
Cooking Time	10-15 minutes
Total Time	20-30 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 800-900
• Protein: 8-12 g
• Fat: 50-60 g
• Carbohydrates: 80-90 g

Ingredients

• 200 grams quality semisweet chocolate
• 1/3 cup thick cream
• 1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated orange peel
• 1/2 teaspoon instant coffee powder
• 2 tablespoons orange liqueur (such as grand marnier)
• Sliced pound cake, to serve
• Doughnuts, for serving
• Strawberries with stems, for serving
• Bananas, for serving
• Pretzels, for serving

Step 1: Gather and Prepare Ingredients

Start by gathering all the necessary ingredients for your chocolate fondue: 7 ounces of good semisweet chocolate, 1/3 cup of heavy cream, 1 1/2 teaspoons of grated orange zest, 1/2 teaspoon of instant coffee granules, and 2 tablespoons of orange-flavored liqueur (recommended: Grand Marnier).

Additionally, prepare your choice of serving items, such as pound cake, doughnuts, long-stemmed strawberries, bananas, or pretzels, for dipping later.

Step 2: Chop and Melt Chocolate

Chop the semisweet chocolate into small, even pieces and place them in a heat-proof bowl.

To melt the chocolate, set the bowl over a pan of simmering water, ensuring the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water, to create a double boiler.

Step 3: Combine and Melt Ingredients

Add the heavy cream, grated orange zest, instant coffee granules, and orange-flavored liqueur into the bowl with the chocolate.

Stir the mixture constantly over the simmering water until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth, ensuring there are no lumps remaining.

Step 4: Transfer and Serve the Fondue

Once the chocolate mixture is smooth and well combined, transfer it to a fondue pot to keep warm.

Arrange your prepared dipping items, such as pound cake, doughnuts, long-stemmed strawberries, bananas, or pretzels, around the fondue pot.

Step 5: Enjoy Your Chocolate Fondue

Serve the warm chocolate fondue immediately.

Dip the prepared items into the melted chocolate and enjoy this delightful treat with friends and family!