How to Throw a Dessert Fondue Party

recipes ·

How to host a fondue party with XO marshmallow Lindzi and Kat are both pretty much obsessed with the 60s and 70s. The style, the fashion, the fondue! But you don’t have to throw a 60s themed party to enjoy a delicious dessert fondue. Fondue is great for any gathering -- holiday parties, summer nights on a patio, or any reason you have to gather with friends and family. Plus, your event will be extra special. Everyone brings cake or cookies… so why not dip those (and marshmallows!) into chocolate! With the rise of the popularity of dessert boards, fondue takes them to the next level by creating a dessert board that you dip into chocolate (or caramel if that’s your thing!)

One of the great things about fondue is that it looks so fancy and labor intensive… but it’s incredibly easy to whip together. Chances are if you had the items to make a cake in your house, you have the ingredients to make fondue. Since it doesn’t require a lot of effort to prepare, the main thing we want to focus on is presentation. If you read our blog post about creating a s’mores board, creating the perfect fondue party is really very similar. 

The board of "dippables" for the fondue party includes XO marshmallow, cookies, fruit, donuts and more

You’ll want to start by building your board of “dippables” such as marshmallows (the start of the show), fruits, cookies, donuts, cake pieces and more. You can either build the board on a separate platter for easy grabbing or you can build the board around the fondue pot. Building it around the fondue pot looks better, but it can be difficult to grab something from the other side of the board when there is a flame in the middle of it. If you go this route, I highly recommend splitting the board evenly. What does that mean? Simply put, make sure there is some of every type of dippable on each side of the board. That way you don’t have to reach across the board to get marshmallows, for example, they are on either side!

An XO Marshmallow cookies and cream marshmallow being dipped in fondue chocolate

Next you’ll want to make your chocolate in a saucepan (full recipe below) and transfer it to the fondue pot. Do not make your chocolate IN the fondue pot. You will need to make it in a saucepan and move it over -- otherwise, you will burn your fondue pot. 

Now, we party! All that’s left to do is enjoy dipping things in chocolate with your friends, and it doesn’t get much better than that! Did you use our recipe? We want to see! Post your fondue party to instagram and tag @xo.marshmallow and #TroopXO. 

A close up of the vintage yellow fondue set from the 60s that XO marshmallow used for their party

The Tools

  • A fondue pot! Our fondue pot is vintage from the 60s. You can find some really amazing ones at your local vintage or antique store. Our’s is actually from Lindzi’s grandmother-in-law. If you’re looking for something newer, try this one.
  • Skewers. You can use reusable skewers like the ones we have in our s’mores kit or you can use wooden skewers. Often vintage fondue pots will come with their own set of skewers like the ones we used in the photo.
  • Chocolate. You’ll want a really great chocolate for dipping! We recommend making your chocolate (recipe below), but if that’s too much of a hassle you can use chocolate melts from Michaels. We just think the real stuff tastes better.
  • Things to dip. I mean...obviously.
  • Sternos or tea light candles. You’ll need a heat source to keep the chocolate warm while it’s in the pot. Newer fondue sets can handle a sterno. Vintage sets will require something more like tea light candles. Today’s sternos are too hot and can burn the chocolate easily. 

A close up for the XO marshmallow cookies and cream marshmallows used to dip in the fondue chocolate

What to Dip

  • Marshmallows, of course! We recommend the classics: Vanilla, Nutella, Cookies and Cream, and Salted Caramel. All are great for dipping in chocolate.
  • Graham Crackers
  • Fruits. We recommend strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and apple slices.
  • Cookies. Shortbread cookies, Oreos, and fan cookies are great.
  • Donuts. You read that right! We love a good cruller donut for chocolate dipping.

          A close up shot of the dark and white swirled chocolate for the fondue with different xo marshmallow marshmallows inside of it

          How to Make the Chocolate Fondue:

          Ingredients:

          • 1/2 cup heavy cream
          • 8-10 ounces of chopped semisweet or bittersweet chocolate
          • Bonus: Add in chopped white chocolate for a swirl
          • 3 tablespoons Grand Marnier or other similar liqueur
          Directions:
          • In a saucepan, gently heat the cream until steaming. Remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate until melted.
          • Add the liqueur to the chocolate mixture. The liqueur is what helps keep the chocolate smooth and melted. 
          • Transfer the chocolate to a fondue pot
          • Keep over a very low flame such as a tea light candle or sterno to avoid burning the chocolate. Stir every now and then.

          Finished XO marshmallow fondue party setup