This thick vegan chocolate fondue is the ultimate decadent dessert! It's so easy to make and is perfect for parties, Valentine's, or just a quick indulgent treat for yourself.
This chocolate fondue is made without dairy and without cream, but it’s still decadent and delicious!
I, Sophie, LOVE chocolate, so you’ll find quite a few vegan chocolate recipes here at Vegan on Board. Chocolate fondue has long been one of my staple birthday recipes and it’s a fabulous and fun dish for a party guaranteed to delight your guests.
Of course, it’s also a romantic dessert that would be perfect to serve for your vegan Valentine’s Day, or just as a lovely treat for yourself that's quick and satisfying!
Ingredient tips
We use just four ingredients to make this thick vegan chocolate fondue:
- Dark chocolate
- Plant milk
- Vegan butter
- And maple syrup
Most vegan chocolate fondues use coconut cream or milk. However, our preferred way is to use some plant milk and a little bit of vegan butter. This means you end up with a fondue that has the rich taste of chocolate, and no coconut flavour which competes with the chocolate.
We’ve tried both oat and soy milk, and prefer the most neutral taste of oat milk. We haven’t tested it with homemade oat milk, which can react differently and thicken a lot when heated, so that may not work so well.
What type of chocolate is best?
Most of the flavour of the fondue comes from the chocolate, so you’ll want to use a good quality and delicious tasting chocolate.
We like 70% cocoa content chocolate for its rich taste and we used these really yummy Organic Chocolate Buttons.
You can use chopped up bars of chocolate, chunks, or chocolate chips. Some chocolate chips have stabilisers added which can prevent them from melting smoothly, so look for a brand with few ingredients. Most dark chocolate is vegan, but double check the ingredients.
If you use a sweeter chocolate such as 50% cocoa content, then you can leave out the maple syrup and adjust the texture with a little more plant milk.
Cocoa production can have its ethical issues, so we recommend checking the Food Empowerment Project’s Chocolate List to find vegan chocolate that is ethically produced.
Brands you might like to try include:
Step by step
It only takes about 10 minutes to make the chocolate fondue so we recommend getting all your dippers that you want to serve with it ready before you start making fondue.
Step 1 - Bring a pan of water to a simmer, and place a heatproof bowl containing all the ingredients on top.
Step 2 - Stir frequently until all the chocolate melts and the mixture is smooth. If necessary add a splash more oat milk if the mix is too thick for you.
TIP: This technique of melting chocolate in a bowl over a pan of simmering water is called a bain marie or double boiler. The base of the bowl shouldn't touch the water, and the bowl should fit snugly on the saucepan, so that steam doesn't come around the sides. This method helps to ensure that the chocolate doesn't overheat, burn or go grainy.
Serving
To keep your chocolate fondue warm whilst serving, you can use a fondue set with a candle beneath, or an electric set on low heat.
Alternatively, serve in a pan or bowl that fits on top of another heatproof bowl filled with hot water.
To serve in individual portions, transfer to ramekins and serve immediately.
The fondue will thicken as it cools down, if it hardens too much, you can reheat it to make it fluid again, by stirring over a hot water bath / double boiler.
What is so great about fondue is that it is so easy to make in different quantities. You can make:
- a big pot of fondue for a party
- a romantic chocolate fondue for two
- or a quick and easy dessert for one.
How much fondue per person?
This will vary depending on personal preference. But a good rule of thumb is about 60g / 2oz chocolate per person.
You can adjust the serving size in the recipe card to suit you, just click on the serving amount and adjust the portions with the slider and the recipe will be calculated for you automatically.
With smaller quantities it is easier to overheat the chocolate, so take care. If you are not using a fondue set, we recommend melting it gently over a hot water bath again and stirring often. You might be tempted to use the microwave, but it can go unpleasantly grainy or burn if you overdo it.
Fondue dipping ideas
No chocolate fondue is complete without a selection of goodies to dip in it. We like a combination of juicy fruit and something with a bit of crunch to it. Here’s some ideas to get you started:
Fruit
- Strawberries
- Blackberries
- Cherries
- Pineapple
- Mango
- Banana
- Orange
- Peach
Sweeties
- Candied ginger
- Vegan marshmallows
- Dried fruit
Baked treats
- Cookies
- Palmiers - these are crunchy puff pastry cookies that are really easy to make.
- Wafers
- Squares of cake
- Pretzels
For an extra bonus, you can also serve with chopped nuts, shredded coconut, or freeze dried raspberries for a second dipping after the fondue.
FAQs
Fondue solidifies as it cools, and can easily be reheated. To make it more liquid again, simply gently reheat and stir until smooth.
Sometimes the cocoa butter in the chocolate can separate from the cocoa, creating an oily appearance. If this happens, it’s a sign you need to add more moisture, so stir in some more warm plant milk until it combines again.
Leftover chocolate fondue can be stored in the fridge in a covered container for up to a week. It will harden as it cools and can be gently reheated to enjoy as fondue again, or used in other ways.
Here’s three ways you can use leftover chocolate fondue:
Make truffles: Mix in some cocoa powder into the leftover fondue, let it cool and shape into balls. Icing sugar, or coconut oil (which solidifies when cooling) can also help if your mix is too bitter or soft. Add in extra flavours such as orange zest or ginger powder for variation.
Use it as a frosting or sauce: You can also use chilled leftovers to frost or cover cakes like you would use chocolate ganache. Reheat it to use as a sauce on these vegan crepes, or drizzle over nice cream.
Make hot chocolate: Heat your preferred plant milk in the microwave or a gently in a pan. When warm, stir in 1-2 tbsp leftover fondue per cup of plant milk for a nice vegan hot chocolate.
We hope you have fun with your vegan chocolate fondue! Thanks for visiting us at Vegan on Board. Every share and comment is much appreciated! - Lots of love, Sophie & Paul
If you are looking for more lovely vegan desserts, then we can recommend you try these other recipes:
📖 Recipe
Vegan Chocolate Fondue
Ingredients
- 240 g (8.5 oz) vegan dark chocolate chopped, chips or buttons
- 120 ml (½ cup) oat milk
- 30 ml (2 tbsp) maple syrup
- 15 g (1 tbsp) vegan butter
Instructions
- Set up a 'double boiler': Bring a small sauce pan of water to a boil. Turn down the heat to a low simmer and place a heatproof bowl on top of the pan.TIP: The water level in the pan should be low enough so the bowl on top does not make contact with the boiling water.
- Place the chocolate, oat milk, maple syrup and vegan butter in the bowl.240 g (8.5 oz) vegan dark chocolate, 120 ml (½ cup) oat milk, 30 ml (2 tbsp) maple syrup, 15 g (1 tbsp) vegan butter
- Stir regularly while the chocolate and vegan butter are melting and combining with the oat milk and syrup into a smooth, thick and glossy chocolate fondue.
- If the mixture is too thick for your taste or if you notice some oil separating, stir in a small amount of extra oat milk.
- Transfer to a fondue set or small individual dishes for serving. Serve warm with your dippers of choice.
Notes
Nutrition
This information is calculated per serving and is an estimate only.
Abby says
Can fondue be made ahead and rewarmed?
Can I substitute almond milk for oat milk?
Sophie and Paul says
Hi Abby, I typically make it fresh as it's so quick, but as long as you refrigerate it and rewarm it gently so as not to overheat the chocolate, I think it should be fine made a day or two ahead. It will be a lot thicker/more solid when chilled. You may find it necessary to whisk in a extra splash of milk if it's too thick or shows signs of separating when reheating. And yes, almond milk works well too!