Home Chocolate Fountains (how to have a home chocolate fountain, how do you set it up, what do you use for the chocolate etc.)

If you are having a party or celebration for even a small group of people, having a home chocolate fountain is a great way to serve up a unique dessert. The amount of guests you are inviting and the area you are planning to locate your fountain will help to determine the best type for your party. And especially if you think a home chocolate fountain is difficult to set up or use, you will be surprised to find exactly how easy the entire process can be.

Choosing a Chocolate Fountain

Home chocolate fountains can serve as few as 10 guests or as many as 250 depending on the size of the fountain you select. The typical price range is from about $100.00 for a small home version to $3000.00 for the larger, more commercial versions. If you are planning a large event, you have several options including renting a unit or, using several smaller versions. The advantage of multiple small units is the option to use more than one chocolate type or flavor.

Setting up Your Chocolate Fountain

When deciding where to set up your fountain, there are a number of items to keep in mind. Nearly all home chocolate fountain models are electric, making access to a close electrical outlet important. If you are planning an outdoor barbecue or buffet with your chocolate fountain as one of the features, you should be cognizant of the weather. The air temperature for chocolate fountains needs to remain hot enough to keep the melted chocolate from solidifying. Some consider it a rule of thumb that if guests require a coat, then it is likely too cold for outdoor use of chocolate fountains.

You will also want to situate your fountain in a way that guests will have easy access. Keeping the fountain too close to the edge of a table will likely cause inadvertent spills while keeping it too far out of reach will make access cumbersome. Testing the access before the fountain is activated is important. Moving a chocolate fountain after it has begun to flow is not recommended.

Chocolate Selection

Purchasing chocolate from a standard retail grocery store is not recommended. The chocolate must be of a particular consistency to properly flow. Standard chocolate will require thinning agents such as vegetable oil or cocoa butter, which can be messy and difficult to adjust to the appropriate consistency. Chocolate intended for fountains can be purchased at baking supplies providers or through internet stores which offer products specifically intended for fountain use.

As you begin the process of planning your next party, a home chocolate fountain is a must have for surprising guests with a delicious and unique dessert. Once you have decided on using a fountain, it will be necessary to plan for the right size fountain for the number of guests you have attending, the set up location and chocolate products. Your guests will enjoy your chocolate fountain and won’t believe how easy it truly was to create such a special dessert option.

Chocolate for Fountains

Finding the right type of chocolate pieces to use with your chocolate fountain is important to creating the perfect dessert fondue. While standard chocolate found in grocery retailers will work, it has to be mixed with vegetable oil or cocoa butter to achieve the right consistency. By purchasing chocolate especially created for chocolate fountains, it will ensure you have the consistency and flavor that you desire without needing to add in unnecessary extras.

Purchasing the Right Chocolate Types

When purchasing chocolate for your fountain, you will need to find a specialty candy supplier or online internet resource that offers chocolate for fountains. Many chocolate fountain manufacturers also sell chocolate products but you can experiment with different types and brands as long as you ensure it can melt or be adjusted appropriately in order to flow.

Understanding the amount of chocolate needed for your fountain is also important. Most retailers sell the bags in two pound increments however most fountains require approximately 15lbs. You can also purchase larger quantities such as a 20 pound case which is intended to serve about 200-250 people.

When selecting your chocolate choice, there are standard options of dark chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolate.  You can find additional versions of these chocolates that may be specialties of the chocolate manufacturer such as chocolate imported from European countries or chocolates pre-mixed with another flavor such as orange, raspberry or mint.

What to Watch For

Even if you have used your chocolate fountain before, it is important to look at the cooking instructions on the chocolate packaging. Some chocolates require pre-melting or thinning agents and without these added instructions, you could damage your fountain or spoil your dessert plans.  If the chocolate hardens in the fountain, you will also want to be careful of not turning the motor on or it can permanently damage the unit. Each fountain has individual instructions, but typically turning your fountain to ‘heat only’ will re-melt the chocolate. It is also often easier to clean a chocolate fountain when the chocolate is still melted.

Before purchasing chocolate for fountains, you should carefully review the instructions for your fountain in order to fully understand what your fountain needs to function correctly. The type of chocolate you purchase also has specific instructions for its use. The quality of the chocolate used in your fountain will be impacted by thinning agents such as oil so be sure to consider this before making your final purchase.

Fondue Maker

Fondue makers have become popular again in recent years after their debut in the 1970’s. Restaurants have even begun to include fondue options on their menus and some restaurants are completely dedicated to fondue foods exclusively. Entire cookbooks have been published to include delicious recipes for fondue foods including cheese sauces, chocolate sauces and flavored oils. Having the right fondue maker is important, especially depending on the type of fondue you are wishing to make.

Types of Fondue Makers

When shopping for a new fondue maker, there are several materials used for the main pot including ceramic and stainless steel.  Ceramic pots are more traditional. They conduct heat very well, evenly melting chocolate or cheese. These pots can come in a variety of colors and even shapes, although traditional pots are round. Stainless steel pots have been introduced into the market as well. These units typically look more modern and sleek. Some have a non-stick interior which can be particularly useful for an easy clean up of sticky caramels and dried on cheeses.

Most fondue makers are intended for use by six to eight people. Many units include special fondue forks with colored handles and typically stainless steel prongs. These forks can also be purchased separately at kitchen stores.

Heating Units

There are three types of heating units for fondue makers including gas, electric and other simple units such as sterno wicks and candles. Gas units are most helpful for cooking fondue-styled meats, as it typically has the strongest heat. It can sometimes be controlled on some unit types to be as hot as you need it. Electric units also work very well and can have a heat control feature. One of the down sides of an electric unit is that without being cordless, you do not offer the flexibility of use such as using the fondue pot outdoors or in the middle of a table. A unit can also utilize candles or sterno wicks to heat the fondue pot. This works best for warming caramel, cheese or chocolate which do not require high heat.

Cost of Fondue Makers

When deciding what type of maker to purchase, the costs will run from as little as about $20.00 to well over $100 depending on the size, heating unit and fondue pot you choose. The stainless steel gas models typically tend to cost the most, but others have specific features such as heat control and stackable pots that allow you to heat more than one fondue type. These units provide added convenience, but a simple ceramic type can work just as well.

Fondue is a fun way to eat or serve food. Choosing the right unit for your use is important in order to have a great experience with fondue.

Fondue Fountain Chocolate

Planning a party for a special occasion brings with it the desire to be unique and provide something your guests will remember. By using fondue fountain chocolate, you can offer your guests an interesting conversational feature as well as incredible food that they will remember long after your party. Your recipes will be something your guests continue to request with each time they are planning their own party occasion.

Dinner Parties

Guests arriving for a small dinner party are expecting the standard hors d’oeuvres or appetizers that always seem to be hard to eat and typical. Your guests will be immediately drawn to your flowing chocolate fountain, ready to try their hand at such a delicious appetizer. By changing up the rules a little and serving chocolate before dinner instead of saving it for dessert, guests will be tempted to skip the main course all together and simply continue to enjoy dipped fruits, cakes or cookies.

Children’s Events and Parties

Using a chocolate fondue fountain at a children’s party can be a fun way to help children try new foods. While a mess is certainly possible, an outdoor party is the perfect place to have trays of pre-cut apples, bananas, kiwi fruit and even pears for even the youngest guest to try. Of course keep an extra napkin or two handy, but children will love creating their own treats as well as being fascinated with the flowing chocolate.

Sleepovers are always popular with young girls. Featuring a chocolate fountain will create a memorable party. The girls will enjoy feeling like grown ups with a seemingly elaborate chocolate fountain with plates of cakes, butter cookies and bite sized angel food cake pieces. The girls will especially enjoy using marshmallows along with graham cracker squares for a unique version of s’mores.

Family Snacks

One way to bring your family to the table is to surprise them with a chocolate fondue fountain feast. Your loved ones will appreciate your special effort while creating plenty of conversation and fun over what ways to try the delicious chocolate. Your special surprise will be something they remember long afterwards.

Fondue fountain chocolate is a unique and fun way to serve up snacks, appetizers or treats for family or friends. There’s no need to wait for a party because the set up is so easy to do. Being creative with food is something that guests always enjoy and your family will appreciate.

Chocolate for Fondue

Many people have had fondue meals before which typically have involved cheese or maybe a sauce. However, chocolate fondue is one of the most diverse ways to create a great dessert, snack or even a unique appetizer. There are many ways to serve chocolate fondue such as using the traditional melting pots or using a modern fountain with melted chocolate running continuously for 2 or more tiers. With a little thought and creativity, using chocolate for fondue will be something you and your guests enjoy and share again and again.

Traditional Fondue Pots              

The traditional fondue pot is typically composed of a heating vessel about the size of a large bowl, usually around 6 inches in diameter.  These bowls- or pots are usually made of ceramic or stainless steel. The pots have a heating unit directly beneath them that is typically fueled by a source that can be as simple as a candle which is great for chocolate and some cheeses, but not for thick sauces or when using meat. For a stronger source of heating, using a sterno wick is typical. The pots usually come with multiple forks, often with different colored handles to help guests realize which one belongs to them.

Fondue

Fondue is typically a sauce, traditionally made of cheese. But recipes and creativity has provided entire menus of fondue types including Asian inspired dipping sauces, barbecue sauces and flavored oils. Melted marshmallow or caramel are favorite dessert flavors, but chocolate is by far on the top of the list for fondue desserts. And as if plain, melted chocolate wasn’t delicious enough, the incredible amount of concoctions are limited only by your own tastes.

Some chocolate fondue recipes melt in silky Bavarian cream or use extra butter to make the flavor even richer. Selecting between dark or milk chocolate or even white chocolate can be a very difficult decision. Flavoring oils can be added as well, such as raspberry oil mixed with dark chocolate or almond extract mixed with milk chocolate. Using the fondue paired with fruit can make a delicious treat. Dipping rich pieces of chocolate cake with your chocolate fondue will create an incredible bite sized dessert that melts easily in your mouth.

Chocolate fondue has grown in popularity, with many unique ways to serve up flavorful foods. Fondue pots are simple to use and allow even the most novice cook the opportunity to shine in front of friends and family. Using your own unique recipes, you can create chocolate fondue desserts that will be all-time favorites.