Last summer New York was every bit as hot and humid as it is now, but for some reason, I was busy baking up a storm. Galettes, buckles, lemon cake, you name it—I had my oven mitts ready for it.

I happen to have made cobbler a few weeks ago, when it was still unseasonably cool, but I have a feeling this will be a summer of no-bake desserts. The heat has been getting to me more than usual, and if I do turn my oven on, I’d like for it to be for something that will show up in a few of my meals, rather than a single batch of treats.

Famous last words? Maybe. For now, this vegan chocolate fondue dessert party platter is my idea of a perfect summer sweet.

It’s a collection of sweets, actually, which makes it all the better for entertaining or gatherings with friends. If you’re looking to have folks over—folks whose dessert preferences might span a wide range of health needs, tastes, or strong chocolate/vanilla preferences—it’s a particularly low-stress and fun option.

The platter is a “semi-homemade” situation: you slice the fruit and make the fondue, which takes only minutes. The frozen treats here are courtesy of the folks at Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss. Coconut Bliss is one of the very first dairy-free ice creams that I truly loved. I was amazed at how rich and creamy it was: until the point the vegan ice creams I’d sampled had been light and even a little icy—more like chocolate or vanilla sorbet than traditional ice cream as I remembered it. Coconut Bliss was every bit as decadent as the stuff I’d grown up with, and it became an instant hit with me (and my mom, who remains a big fan).

It’s been fun to watch the brand grow since then. Today it has fourteen ice cream flavors (Vanilla Island is still my favorite, but I love the Salted Caramel and Berry Swirl, too), two ice cream sandwiches—vanilla and dark chocolate flavored—and a growing list of creative, delicious ice cream bars. I just got to sample the two latest flavors, Vanilla Island in dark chocolate and Raspberry Acai in dark chocolate, both of which are stellar! I love that the coating actually tastes like really good dark chocolate—bittersweet and powerful.

If I had to choose between a bar and a cookie sandwich, though, I’ll take a cookie sandwich anytime. The Coconut Bliss sandwiches feature a hemp seed chocolate chip cookie that’s a serious treat in its own right—just like the chocolate in the bars, it’s not just decorative or an afterthought—and it’s gluten free as well as vegan.

As I was putting this platter together it occurred to me that the Coconut Bliss desserts especially good for this kind of presentation because they’re so delightfully rich: bite-sized portions really do feel satisfying.

The rest of the platter is a combination of seasonal fruit and an easy homemade fondue. I used a mix of berries, cherries, and apples—all in season right now—and bananas, which I love to pair with chocolate anything. The fondue is so simple: dark chocolate (I recommend really dark—70% or higher—or a vegan bittersweet baking bar), non-dairy milk, a little sugar, a pinch of sea salt. A shot of espresso or a pinch of vanilla definitely wouldn’t hurt, but sea salt and chocolate are more than enough to make me very happy.

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Vegan Chocolate Fondue Dessert Party Platter

Author - Gena Hamshaw

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Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Yields: 6 -12

Ingredients

For the fondue:

• 1/2 cup non-dairy milk of choice I really like full-fat coconut milk here, but almond or cashew are nice, too
• 4 ounces vegan dark chocolate roughly chopped
• 2 tablespoons cane or coconut sugar
• Pinch of sea salt

For the platter:

• 1 batch fondue above
• Seasonal fruit of choice enough to serve your people (I used a combination of cherries, strawberries, banana and apple slices)
• 2 Luna & Larry's Coconut Bliss Sandwiches I used one each of vanilla and dark chocolate
• 2-4 depending on how many you're serving Luna & Larry's Coconut Bliss Bars (I used one each of vanilla island and raspberry acai)

Instructions

• To prepare the fondue, warm the milk until it's hot but not boiling in a small saucepan. Place the chocolate, sugar, and salt in a pyrex (or other nonreactive) bowl and pour the milk over the pieces. Stir until all of the chocolate is melted and the mixture is rich and glossy.
• To arrange the platter, put the fondue in a serving bowl. If you like, quarter the ice cream sandwiches and/or cut the bars into strips. Arrange the frozen treats and fruit however you like, and serve with the fondue.

This is such a no brainer dessert: the fresh fruit alone is a delight at this time of year, and more so when dipped in the chocolate mixture. The frozen treats make it a little more festive and are a nice contrast to the warm fondue. Something for everyone, right?

And of course you can substitute or add some of your own favorite frozen vegan treats, or—if you’re braver than I am about baking right now—a homemade cookie, brownie, or whatever’s calling to you.

Wishing you so much sweetness in these summer months. Happy weekend, and I’ll see you for the usual roundup.

xo

This post was sponsored by Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss. All opinions are my own, and I’ve long been a fan of these delicious vegan ice creams. Thanks for your support!