chocolate fountains
jenn
06/22/06
Great Website, it has been very helpful as we are planning our wedding. I was wondering about chocolate fountains. We would like to have one or two or possibly three. I thought it might be nice to have an array of chocolates - dark, milk, white, possibly caramel. So, I was thinking it may be better to buy a few small ones rather then renting a large one. We will have about 150 guests. How much chocololate would I need?
ellen
06/22/06
OK, I have a prejudice about chocolate fountains at weddings. ALL of them drip and splatter, bad for dressy clothes. Cheap ones jam and are hard to clean up. A good chocolate fondue in a chafing dish allows for much better quality chocolate and is safer to boot, especially if there are kids in the party.

I have seen tinted white chocolate, but not straight caramel, the textures are different.

All these would be do-able with dessert fondues. Crockpots or chafing dishes...

That said, one way to have a chocolate fountain is to hire a person to cater the fountain. It really does take one whole person's worth of time to manage it.

If you are thinking to buy one, you MUST do a test run as long as the wedding. Part of the problem is successfully maintaining the dessert for the whole service.

Foods to dip in a chocolate fountain

You want abpout 8 pieces of various things per person for a full dessert.
2-5 fruit pieces per person, usually including 2 strawberries (see the fruit tray page for info on how many pieces in various types and sizes of fruit). I never use bananas for a large crowd, they look so bad after a short time out, even with Fruit Fresh.
One to 2 ounces (one to three nice squares or fingers) of pound cake or angelfood cake per person if no other cake is being served. They look great and reduce costs.
2 large marshmallows
2 pretzels rods (short)
1 nut cluster.
See if you can avoid maraschino cherries- the fountain is messy enough, and the cherries fall off the stems, and between the red and the chocolate, the stains never come out.

The sauce/chocolate, depends on the fountain, but allow for at least 1/4 cup per person.

ellen
06/22/06
Here are some dipper ideas-
Basic Choice of 5

Strawberries (seasonal)
Marshmallows
Pretzels
Cherries
Lady Fingers
Basic Cookies
Dried Apricots
Graham Crackers
Grapes
Cream Puffs
Rice Krispies Treat squares
Pineapple
Apples
Caramels
Angel Food Cake
Deluxe Cookie Assortment
Oreos
Melon chunks

ellen
06/22/06
As a general rule, 20 pounds of chocolate will feed 200 - 250 people. It must be couveture chocolate (cocoa butter 33-44%). If using chocolate chips, you generally add oil or cocoa butter.
jenn
06/22/06
Great tips - thank you!