Thread: Chocolate/Caramel Fountains

Tweet

Every year I spend a lot of time making deserts that really dont get eaten. So this year I decided just to have 3 fountain set up with various dipping items. I was thinking a chocolate, caramel, and maybe a white chocolate dyed orange? Has anyone done this and has it worked well? Does anyone have a tried and true recipes they use? I found a website that sells the chocolate and caramel (www.sweetfountains.com) but Im just wondering what you guys do.

The only problem with these fountain is that you have to add oil for the chocolate to flow right and they are horrible to clean. Make sure you have spoons and plates. I once saw a guys lick the fountain as it flowed

If you get chocolate especially for fountains, it does not require oil. It's availabe at most specialty food stores or high end grocery stores. If I can't get that, I use about 1/4 cup of canola oil to a pound of melted chocolate chips or Hershey Kisses. Make sure you mix it well before adding it to the fountain and make sure your fountain is level or it will not flow.

My fountain is not that bad to clean up. Just make sure you pour up any remaining chocolate and wipe as much out as you can with paper towels. Then take it all apart and wash each piece in very hot water. I can have mine clean in under 10 minutes.

Oh - make sure you protect the surface it will sit on because they do tend to splatter a bit and people will be messier than you think.

Hallow and here's my 2 cents on fountains - of any kind:

A. They are indeed messy.

B. Food caterer friends of mine say the health department cringes whenever a group asks to set one up at a function. One never knows exactly "what" is getting touched, licked, dropped into, or basically violated when it comes to food fountains. (Think salad bar sneeze guard removed with a welcome sign that reads, Cough and Sneeze Here)

C. Three smaller, more manageable fondu pots might be just as easy, satisfying and manageable... I have found them at nearly every yard sale I go to, including a huge supply of the fondu forks at every thrift store utensil bin I rummage through.

You can have lots of fresh dipping supplies held safely in the fridge to replenish the serving dishes, and crock pots with extra cheese, chocolate or other dipping liquids (bouillon, teriyaki sauce, etc.)

Well - that's my 2 cents any way.


Check out this for a fun twist on dipping sauce:
Canton Fondue Bouillon, Teriyaki - Products Lassonde Specialties inc.
Inspired by the Japanese cuisine with soy sauce and roasted sesame oil, this fondue and hot pot broth is delicious with beef and chicken.
http://www.pronald.ca/en/products/bo...s/teriyaki.asp -

Wasn't fondue "in" in the late '50s - early '60s? I'm thinking chocolate and cheese fondues might be a good thing for my Shag-inspred party. Hmm, you've planted a seed in my brain...

i do a lot of chocolate dipped desserts and its way easier to control and clean up. Marshmallows, pretzels, strawberries - me and my double boiler have a little date, it all cools and get stacked up the day before.

I agree the fountains are a pain to clean, and there's so much chocolate "wasted" if you keep it full and flowing (I don't re-use because of the cross contamination). I also know someone would get drunk and stick their face in the fountain, and I'm not interested in cleaning that up.

Originally Posted by BadTableManor

Wasn't fondue "in" in the late '50s - early '60s? I'm thinking chocolate and cheese fondues might be a good thing for my Shag-inspred party. Hmm, you've planted a seed in my brain...

Originally Posted by HeatherEve1234

i do a lot of chocolate dipped desserts and its way easier to control and clean up. Marshmallows, pretzels, strawberries - me and my double boiler have a little date, it all cools and get stacked up the day before.

I agree the fountains are a pain to clean, and there's so much chocolate "wasted" if you keep it full and flowing (I don't re-use because of the cross contamination). I also know someone would get drunk and stick their face in the fountain, and I'm not interested in cleaning that up.

Indeed BTM - Fondue is gaaarooovey babee!! From the 60's and 70's - lotsa fondue sets to be found in yard sales and second hand shops! A perfect way to have small "bite-able" yummies without the fuss of a fountain.

Luv the way you think HeatherEve!! Sounds yummy! And soo easy too! Party at your house for sure!

I agree - fondue is a wonderful compromise to the fountain/everybody help yourself food plan. Why not hunt for a little table top Zen fountain and add green or red colored water to it? Make it look sooo creepy that no one will even WANT to dip into it - then you can set the fondue pots around the table for a fun walk-around eating frenzy!

I do a couple of fountains every year and Its always a hit

I have a chocolate fountain and i find a fondue pot simpler. The fountain is cool, but is messy. I wouldn't say they are hard to clean, but harder than it would be to clean a fondue pot. And it is much easier for a person to dip some chocolate, etc. out of the fondue pot for their items than to hold each item under the fountain.

Well I have 4 fondue pots as well as 3 chocolate fountains so I could go either way. We fondue with oil about once a month but never chocolate. Do you have to constantly stir it? My idea is to be able to set up the fountains and not worry about them until the chocolate runs out or its time to clean up. Thank you everyone for your imput.

Spookalilicous, what do you put in your fountains that go over so well?