Chocolate Fondue

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream, reserve 1/4 cup to thin if fondue begins to thicken
• 4 (3 1/2 ounce)  bars bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 2 tablespoons Frangelico (optional) or amaretto liqueur (optional)
• 1/4 cup finely chopped hazelnut (optional) or almonds (optional)
• hazelnut or almond biscotti
• salted pretzel stick
• cubed poundcake
• sliced banana
• stem strawberries
• sectioned navel orange
• ripe fresh diced pineapple

Directions

1. 1

   Heat 1/2 cup cream in a heavy non-reactive saucepot over moderate heat until cream comes to a low boil.

2. 2

   Remove the pan from the heat and add chocolate. Let the chocolate stand in hot cream 3 to 5 minutes to soften, then whisk chocolate together with the cream.

3. 3

   Stir in liqueur and/or chopped nuts and transfer the fondue to a fondue pot or set the mixing bowl on a rack above a small lit candle.

4. 4

   If fondue becomes too thick, stir in reserved cream, 1 tablespoon at a time, to desired consistency.

5. 5

   Arrange your favorite dippables in piles on a platter along side chocolate fondue with fondue forks, bamboo skewers or seafood forks, as utensils, for dipping.