The most romantic food in the world, chocolate is made even more sensual when melted and made as dipping for fruit slices. In this recipe adapted from C is for Cooking by Susan McQuillan, semisweet or milk chocolate chips are melted and combined with light or half-and-half cream and served together with sliced fruits for dipping and enjoying with friends, family, or loved ones. This easy chocolate dipped strawberry is a fun activity that is enjoyable for everyone.
You don’t need a special fondue pot to make this delightful treat. All you need is a saucepan to melt the chocolate. Make sure to serve it warm or the chocolate will harden and you won’t be able to dip the fruits in it. You can use dessert forks if you don’t have fondue forks for piercing the fruits and submerging them in the chocolate dip. You can also use bamboo or metal skewers.
Some of the best fruits for dipping into chocolate include strawberries, bananas, apples, peaches, pears, citrus sections or wedges, pineapple, cherries, blackberries, raspberries, kiwi, apricots and dried fruit. You can also dip grilled or caramelized fruits for even more flavor. Keep the dipping ingredients to a uniform size, as much as possible. A size of no bigger than an inch square is ideal.
Aside from sliced fruits, you can also dip in cakes and other pastries or sweets sliced into bite-sized pieces. Some perfect examples include brownies, marshmallows, graham crackers, angel food cake, shortbread, amaretti, ladyfingers, cookies, biscotti, meringues, and crystallized ginger. Some people like to infuse their chocolate fondue with some spices, herbs, zests, or fruit purees for a different and unique experience. Some like to add espresso powder, coffee, or vanilla.
A convenient alternative for melting chocolate is using the microwave. Make sure you use a microwave-safe bowl and turn the setting to Medium. Melt the chocolate every 20 seconds, stirring at every internal until melted.
