The perfect chocolate fondue recipe for a romantic date

Looking to reconnect with that special person? Let a delicious, romantic chocolate fondue bring you together…

Whether you’re in that early honeymoon phase or have been together for years, it can be hard to find space for quality couple time. Why not turn off your phones, set the mood, and let the sensual aromas and flavours of cacao bring a little romance with a dreamy chocolate fondue? After all, chocolate’s reputation as an aphrodisiac dates back as far as the Aztecs and Mayans.

Romantic fondue recipes

Chocolate fondue is a mixture of melted chocolate and double cream, used for dipping an array of treats and nibbles. Its decadent texture and interactive nature make it a wonderful date idea. And the warmth of melted chocolate allows cacao’s rich and nuanced aromas to permeate the room for a multi-sensory experience.

What kind of chocolate works best?

You can make chocolate fondue with any kind of good quality chocolate. So whether you and your partner enjoy the delicate sweetness of white chocolate or the intense cacao notes of the dark stuff, it’s totally up to you.

It’s worth noting that you’ll need different proportions of cream, depending on the type of chocolate you go for. Due to its lack of milk content, dark chocolate generally requires more cream than milk or white chocolate. Adding too much cream to a white chocolate fondue, on the other hand, may make it sickly.

Whichever kind of chocolate you choose, we recommend looking for one with a high cacao content. Chocolate with a high cacao butter percentage yields a richer and more satisfying fondue than low-quality vegetable oil-based chocolate.

Dark chocolate fondue

Dark chocolate is an excellent choice for a fondue if you wish to dip nibbles such as marshmallows, fruit or cake. The high cacao content will balance the sweetness of your snacks.

Go for chocolate with at least 70% cacao, like our 70% Dark Chocolate Batons. Or how about something even more indulgent, like an 85% Dark Chocolate Slab?

For a dark chocolate fondue for two, you’ll need:

• 100g dark chocolate, finely chopped
• 125g fresh double cream

Milk chocolate fondue

Milk chocolate is a great all-rounder for a fondue, and you can pair it with sweet or savoury nibbles.

For two people, you’ll need:

• 100g good quality milk chocolate, finely chopped
• 75g fresh double cream

White chocolate fondue

As white chocolate contains no cacao solids, it’s slightly sweeter than milk and dark varieties. However, it’s still best to look for one with a high cacao butter content for a creamy texture. We use at least 36% cacao butter in all our white chocolate. It works well with savoury snacks, such as pretzels.

For a white chocolate fondue for two, you’ll need:

• 100g white chocolate, finely chopped
• 50g fresh double cream

What about a vegan chocolate fondue?

Looking for a dairy-free fondue option? Have no fear! You can simply substitute double cream for a vegan alternative, such as coconut cream.

Many of our dark chocolate slabs and batons are vegan-friendly, so you can enjoy the richness of cacao without worrying about milk. Why not try our 70% Dark Chocolate Slab?

And if you’d like something closer to a classic milk chocolate fondue, our 45% Nutmilk Batons melt beautifully. We’re very proud of our unbelievably vegan Nutmilk recipe. It uses finely milled hazelnuts in place of dairy for an irresistibly creamy, melt-in-the-mouth texture. It’s smooth and mellow, with just the right amount of cacao depth.

How to melt your chocolate and cream

Whichever style of fondue you go for, you’ll need to melt the chocolate and cream (or dairy-free alternative) together. You can do this with a bain-marie (a heatproof bowl over a pan of boiling water) or in the microwave. If you use a microwave, use a low setting and heat in short bursts to avoid burning your ingredients.

If you like, you can add an extra element to your fondue with a little tipple. We recommend a dash of orange liqueur or Salted Caramel and Clementine Velvetised Chocolate Cream for dark chocolate. For a milk chocolate fondue, a tot of whiskey works well. And you can add a tipsy kick to melted white chocolate with a shot of Irish Cream.

Once you’ve melted and gently stirred your ingredients, pour the chocolate sauce into small bowls on a serving platter. You can arrange your dipping snacks around the bowls and present with some small forks or skewers.

You can also make your chocolate fondue mixture ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to a week. To melt it again, microwave the mixture in 10-second bursts. Stir between blasts and heat until it’s liquid enough to dip snacks in.

Treats for dipping

You can choose any kind of nibble you like for fondue dipping!

Classic options include strawberries and other types of fruit — these pair perfectly with milk, dark and white chocolate.

Alternatively, if you want to try a sweet-savoury mix, salted pretzels are an excellent choice. They also add a crunchy texture to contrast the smoothness of your melted chocolate beautifully.

Perhaps you want something a little more indulgent? Mini doughnuts, marshmallows and churros should hit the spot with a dark chocolate fondue.

And if you fancy exploring an array of ready-prepared delights or want to try a little of each type of chocolate, why not try one of our dipping adventures? Our Mini Dipping Adventure For Two is the ideal selection of moreish sweet and savoury nibbles and two premium chocolate pots for melting.

Want to go all out? Our Large Chocolate Dipping Adventure is a real feast. You’ll find four chocolate pots for melting, including an irresistible caramel chocolate option. With gianduja balls, panned Brazil nuts, marshmallows, almond biscuits, mini grissini and florentines, there’s a world of flavours and textures to try.

Does your loved one have a favourite chocolate or truffle? A Dizzy Praline or Cognac Truffle, perhaps? Some may say that chocolate on top of chocolate might be overdoing it, but we reckon a little extra something is an ideal way to round off the evening.

Setting the scene

You’ve got your chocolate fondue all planned out. But why not add an extra touch of romance by considering your setting? Fairy lights and candles offer a cosy glow. Perhaps you could set up comfy cushions and blankets on the floor — that way, you can easily get to your melted chocolate and snuggle up!

Have you thought about music? Why not play some soft background music to add some ambience. Perhaps you could put together a playlist of songs that mean a lot to the two of you.

However you decide to set up your chocolate fondue date night, your partner is sure to appreciate the thought.