Whether you want to make chocolate covered caramels, cookies stuffed with chocolate, chocolate covered strawberries or a simple chocolate fondue, this is an easy way to the perfect dipping chocolate.
Its no secret that the best chocolate covered candies are made from good quality chocolate bars and couverture chocolate is the recommended type of chocolate since it contains more cocoa butter, making it easier to work with for a dipping chocolate.
There is only one problem… I never have good quality chocolate bars, much less couverture chocolate, lying around when I want to make candy. AND… tempering chocolate, while easy to do, often takes more time than I want to spend melting chocolate. So, I had to come up with a better way to have a melting chocolate that was easy to work with and tasted great. This recipe does just that and only requires 2 ingredients which can be found in most grocery stores!
This recipe for melting chocolate works great for dipping fresh fruit like chocolate-covered strawberries, filling cookies, dipping candy, using as a chocolate sauce, or a fondue type of melted chocolate that you dip anything you want in and enjoy a chocolatey indulgence.
Ive tried many combinations of various forms of chocolate over the years to get a good chocolate flavor along with a nice dipping consistency and, although they all work fairly well, I have found that the combination of melting wafers and chocolate chips is the easiest, while still having a great chocolate flavor
You can use any kind of chocolate chips or combination of chocolate chips that you want in this recipe, however, there are some that I highly recommend and some that I dont.
First off, get a decent brand of chocolate chips. Make sure they taste good to you and have a rich chocolate flavor.
My favorite are Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Chips. They are 60% cacao and are the perfect sweetness for me. Especially when paired with the dark chocolate melting wafers, which are a little sweeter, in my opinion.
You can also use a bittersweet chocolate that is 72% cacao and a little less sweet. These chips would be great for dipping fresh fruit in when you want the sweetness of the fruit to be more intense than the chocolate.
Milk Chocolate or Semi Sweet Chocolate are also great choices if you arent a fan of the darker chocolates.
While you can use chips like peanut butter or butterscotch, they arent actual chocolate and dont melt as easily. You can melt them over a double boiler while stirring frequently, but you may have trouble getting that smooth consistency for dipping. If you want to use these types of chips, try adding in a little Crisco or even Coconut Oil. This will help get that smooth texture, but also will harden when cooled. Butter has water in it, so I dont recommend using that.
White chocolate is another type of chip that can be challenging to work with when using for melting chocolate. Since white chocolate isnt actually chocolate either, it doesnt have the same properties. What I find the best practice is to skip the chips and use all melting wafers. Make sure to get a good quality, Ghirardelli White Melting Wafers is what I always use and I think they taste better than white chocolate chips.
If you have done any research about melting chocolate, you probably have heard that chocolate chips are made with less cocoa butter than other forms of chocolate so they hold their shape in cookies and other baked goods, like Congo Bars.
While this is true, I have found that you can use them for dipping chocolate as long as you add in something else.
My go-to used to be semisweet chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips combined with a little Crisco and this does work, but I found it a little finicky and, if the chocolate overheated it would thicken and, if too much Crisco was used, it would not taste the same as straight chocolate.
Coconut Oil can also be used, but it does impart a coconut flavor to the chocolate. My mom used to add paraffin wax, which is completely safe, but lets face it, slightly off putting to think of wax in your chocolate.
What I do now is combine the chocolate chips with chocolate melting wafers and it works perfectly.
There are a few important things to know when using this combination of chocolate chips and melting wafers for a dipping chocolate. Quality does matter, so dont grab the dollar store brand of melting wafers. Instead I recommend using a brand like Ghirardelli for both the chips and the melting wafers, but especially the melting wafers. Ive tasted quite a few different brands of melting wafers and Ghirardelli are the best Ive found.
Pick the flavor of melting wafer based on the flavor of chocolate you are using. Although you can certainly mix and match by using bittersweet chocolate and dark chocolate melting wafers, I usually stick to the same flavors.
In this easy recipe for dipping chocolate, I use dark Ghirardelli chocolate chips and Ghirardelli dark melting wafers. They also come in milk chocolate flavor, so if you prefer a sweeter chocolate those would be great if you are using semi sweet chips or milk chocolate chips.
You can use chocolate chips for quick-and-dirty dipping; they’re meant to survive in the oven, after all, so a few gentle zaps in the microwave won’t do much damage. Chips don’t contain enough cocoa butter to temper, so the melted chocolate will harden with a streaked or swirled appearance.
The answer to your question is yes, in a pinch you can! Just know that chocolate chips aren’t the best for dipping. Let me explain:
Chocolate chips are formulated to hold their shape in high heat. This is the reason when you bake chocolate chip cookies in the oven at 350 degrees F they keep that happy little chip shape.
You can use them to melt down for dipping, but because they are more resistant to melting, many people tend to overheat them because they don’t look melted. Overheating chocolate causes it to bloom.
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As I mentioned above, chocolate chips are not ideal for melting. I would recommend using a compound coating, or for truly yummy chocolate, a couverture one.
How to Create a Double Boiler for Melting Chocolate with a Ninja Foodi or Instant Pot
The best way to melt chocolate is over indirect heat, like when you use a double boiler. High heat and chocolate dont get along and it is very easy to burn chocolate, so make sure the bowl with the chocolate in it is at least 2-3″ away from the simmering water below.
If you have an electric pressure cooker like the Ninja Foodi or Instant Pot, you can use your appliance as a double boiler that is perfect for making dipping chocolate. One of the best things is that you can hold the chocolate at the perfect temperature for hours and hours without having to fuss with anything.
First add about 6 cups of water to the inner pot and turn on the sear/sauté on high. Grab a mixing bowl that is glass or metal that fits into the inner pot, but rests on the rim and set it on top. If you have a smaller mixing bowl, you can set it on a rack about the water level and use foil to close in the sides.
Place chocolate chips and the melting wafers into the bowl. Once you start to see steam, turn off the sear/sauté function and switch to the slow cooker function on low. On the Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker and Air Crisper you will only be able to set the time to 6 hours, but there is a workaround. Once you hit start, use your time down button and reduce the time to 15 minutes.
Stir mixture occasionally to evenly melt chocolate chips and chocolate wafers. I like to use a silicone or rubber spatula or my (affiliate link)scoop n spread from Pampered Chef also works great!
Usually the chocolate is done melting in about 10 minutes. Once the 15 minutes is up, slow cook will revert to the Keep Warm setting and that is the setting you want to hold your dipping chocolate at the correct temperature.
If you arent in a hurry and your Ninja Foodi or Instant Pot has the ability to go right to the keep warm function, you can absolutely do that and skip the slow cook time. On the OL series with smart lid and a few other Ninja Foodi models, you can also use the buffet function. This function is found by hitting the slow cook functions temperature buttons (or dial) down past the “Lo” setting to where the word, “buffet” displays across the screen.
Stir occasionally as the chocolate melts and once melted its time to dip all your treats! This chocolate will harden as it sits, so if you wanted to turn your chocolate into a sauce that doesnt harden, whisk in about ½ of a cup of cream and that should keep it from hardening.
So, now that your chocolate is melted and you have a smooth chocolate dipping sauce, get to dipping! This chocolate is also wonderful for using in molds for different shaped chocolate or for pouring over ice cream.
Since chocolate doesnt like extreme temperature changes, the best way to store it is in an airtight container at room temperature. Just remember it will harden in the shape of the container you use and that may make it hard to remove from the container. I recommend using a microwave safe container so you can pop it into the microwave on 50% power for 30 seconds at a time until it softens enough to be removed from the container or is melting consistency if you want to use the chocolate right from the container.
You can make as much or as little dipping chocolate as you think you will need for the recipe. Just remember that you want the depth of the melted chocolate to be enough to fully submerge your candy into for an even coating of chocolate.
Absolutely! If you want to store the chocolate right in the bowl you used to melt it in, let it cool and harden completely before covering with plastic wrap. If you want to transfer it to a smaller container, make sure it has completely cooled before covering. The slightest drops of condensation can cause your chocolate to change color, which is called bloom.
How To Melt Chocolate Chips 3 Ways
FAQ
Can I melt chocolate chips for dipping?
Can you use chocolate chips instead of candy melts?
What kind of chocolate is best for dipping?
Can you thin chocolate chips for dipping?
Are chocolate chips good for dipping?
The best chocolate chips for dipping are those that have a high percentage of cocoa butter, which will make them melt easily and smoothly. Look for chocolate chips labeled “melting wafers” or “dipping chocolate” in the baking aisle of your grocery store. 2. Can you use regular chocolate chips for dipping?
What are the healthy alternatives to chips?
Starchy foods like potatoes when cut into thin slices and fried in oil, they retain a lot of oil and calories, hence making the chips energy dense and calorie dense food. Healthy alternative for chips are: 1) Home made sweet potato chips. 2) Pop corn. 3) Crunchy cucumber pieces. 4) Carrot pieces. 5) Healthy fruits like apple. 6) Mixed nuts. 7) Kale chips.
Can you use melted chocolate for dipping?
You can also use candy melts or baking chocolate, which are both designed for melting and dipping and are available in a wide range of colors and flavors. If you want to explore different flavors and textures, consider adding nuts, fruit, or other ingredients to your melted chocolate before dipping.
How to melt chocolate chips for dipping?
Here’s a guide on how to melt chocolate chips for dipping. One of the most popular methods for melting chocolate chips is by using a double boiler. To do this, fill a saucepan with a few inches of water and bring it to a simmer. Place a heatproof bowl on top of the saucepan, making sure the bottom of the bowl doesn’t touch the water.