Vegan chocolate fondue with dates, cocoa and pears

Vegan chocolate fondue made from cocoa, dates and coconut milk, sweetened with dates and a little maple syrup. Served with pears, apple, mandarins and banana. A dessert for New Year's Eve.

At a glance

• Serves 6
• Prep time: 20 min
• Cooking time: 10 min
• Total time: 30 min
• Calories: 246 kcal per serving
• Protein: 4 g
• Fat: 9 g
• Carbs: 35 g

Ingredients

• 100g dates
• 250ml coconut milk
• 50ml water
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• 2 pears
• 1 apple
• 3 mandarins
• 1 banana
• 40g cocoa powder
• 1 pinch of cinnamon
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1 tsp lemon juice

Method

You’ll need: saucepan · fondue set · stick blender · chopping board · knife · wooden spoon

1. Stone the dates and leave them to soften in 50 ml hot water for 10 minutes.
2. Blend the dates and their water with the coconut milk until smooth.
3. Put the date mixture in a small pan, stir in the cocoa powder, maple syrup, cinnamon and salt and heat everything for 5 minutes, stirring, without letting it boil.
4. Cut the pears and apple into wedges and drizzle them with lemon juice. Peel the mandarins, break them into segments and slice the banana.
5. Pour the chocolate sauce into a fondue pot or a bowl over a tea light.
6. Spear the fruit and dip it into the warm chocolate sauce.

Good to know

Chocolate fondue works without a bar of chocolate, too. Dates provide the sweetness and thicken the sauce, and cocoa gives it that bitter chocolate flavour. With winter fruit, it's the dessert that keeps everyone at the table.

Swaps

Coconut milk → oat cream (choose one without seed oils; then no longer gluten-free). Dates → more maple syrup (thinner sauce). Mandarins → orange segments. Banana → pineapple.

Cooking tips

Don't let the sauce boil, or it turns stiff and grainy. If it's too thick, stir in warm water a spoonful at a time.

Storage

Leftover chocolate sauce keeps in the fridge for 4 days and turns into a spread once cold.

Allergens

Vegan, gluten-free, no milk, egg or nuts. Cocoa contains a little caffeine; in this amount, suitable for children and in pregnancy.

Frequently asked questions

How long does chocolate fondue keep in the fridge?

Leftover chocolate sauce keeps in the fridge for 4 days and turns into a spread once cold.

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