Melting Your Heart
There really is no legitimate argument against dipping things in melted chocolate. I challenge anyone to walk by a chocolate fountain and not stare in rapture at its decadent beauty. Tragic though it may be, my guess is that you do not have a chocolate fountain in your home. So if a gal was compelled to dip something like a strawberry or a piece of pound cake into some luscious melted chocolate, what would her options be?

Sure, you could always melt your favorite chocolate in the microwave and dip your food item of choice directly into the bowl. Effective—but that method lacks a certain flair. For me, the better option would be using a fondue pot.

As I have talked about in a previous post, I have been exploring the world of fondue in recent weeks. And, as Valentine’s Day approaches, I have been looking towards the dessert versions as something different and fun with which to celebrate. Now, I could go with the tried and true straight up chocolate fondue which is definitely tasty…but that would be too obvious. There are more interesting options that contain flavored liqueurs or, most intriguing to me, espresso for that jolt of mocha flavor. However, the fondue recipe that called to me the most came from an unexpected place.

Despite the love I expressed for chocolate fondue, I was surprised to find that the recipe that got my mouth watering more than any other was a recipe for Bananas Foster Fondue. I mean, can you even handle the decadence?

Sure, the recipe calls for white chocolate so technically it’s a chocolate fondue. But, the star of this show is the caramel. And then there’s the rum…

Bananas are the obvious dippers for this. But, you could also use coconut macaroons, macadamia shortbread, chocolate pirouline wafers, apples, or whatever strikes your fancy…

Bananas Foster Fondue Recipe
Adapted from The Melting Pot Cookbook
Yields 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients
4 ounces white chocolate chips
1/2 banana, sliced
4 ounces caramel sauce
1 teaspoon banana liqueur
1 teaspoon spiced rum

Directions
Set a double boiler over medium heat until the water simmers. Melt the white chocolate in the top, stirring constantly. If you don’t have a double-boiler, you can place the white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave until melted, stirring every 30 to 40 seconds being careful not to let the chocolate burn.

Pour the white chocolate into the fondu pot. Add the liqueur and rum and stir gently to combine. Then add the caramel and stir gently to create a swirl pattern. Keep fondue warm over a tea light or low heat.

Enjoy the fondu by dipping the banana slices into the pot.