Sometimes referred to as a “fondue fountain,” a chocolate fountain adds a decadent touch to your party or social gathering and is a fun way to serve your guests. You’ll find chocolate fountains at birthday parties, bridal and baby showers, holiday gatherings, and family reunions. It seems that people everywhere enjoy a little dose of sweetness when they’re celebrating.

A chocolate fountain needn’t be a one-use appliance, either. You can use your chocolate fountain over and over again, and it can dispense more than just chocolate. Most fountains can also cascade melted cheese, barbecue sauce, ketchup, melted caramel, thickened maple syrup, and even cream cheese frosting.

Consider the following applications.

• A chocolate fountain can serve as a nacho cheese fountain with hotdogs, apple slices, meatballs, or pretzels for dipping.

• A chocolate fountain can serve as a ketchup or barbecue sauce fountain with chicken nuggets, meatballs, hotdogs, or French fries to dip.

• A chocolate fountain can dispense maple syrup. Possible dippers include chicken nuggets, fruit, bacon roll-ups, and waffles.

• A fountain that dispenses frosting or Nutella is great for dipping cookies, doughnut holes, marshmallows, or fruit.

Chocolate fountains designed for home use are generally smaller and less sturdy than their commercial counterparts. They are not elaborate or complicated devices, but there are still a few cool features to look for when choosing one.

Noisiness is a major concern with chocolate fountains; one of the biggest complaints is that the motor is too loud. Look for a unit specifically marketed as quiet or silent during use.

Adjustable feet are a must. If the fountain is off-center, the melted chocolate won’t cascade evenly, and the fountain could begin to wobble. Adjustable or stabilizing feet allow you to compensate for a slightly uneven table or counter.

Most commercial chocolate fountains are made entirely of stainless steel, but many home fountains are made of plastic, sometimes with a stainless steel bowl. Although plastic fountains can actually be easier to clean than stainless fountains, an all-plastic unit is likely to fail sooner than a stainless steel model.

For easy cleanup, look for a chocolate fountain with a removable bowl and dishwasher safe components.

Auger-style pumps lift the chocolate out of the basin to the top of the fountain, where it cascades down the fountain tiers. These fountains are usually suitable for other foods, such as melted cheese or ketchup. Simple pumps that merely suck the chocolate out of the basin are more likely to clog or break with thick cheese or sauce.

A healthy capacity is important, although you can always keep the chocolate flowing by refilling the basin when it runs low. Most smaller chocolate fountains for home use hold one to four pounds of chocolate at a time, with roughly one pound of chocolate serving 10 guests.

Some fountains allow you to turn off the heat if you are going to cascade a non-warm sauce like ketchup.

A built-in bubble level shows you right away if your fountain is straight or not and makes it much easier to adjust the feet. Without this feature, a separate level needs to be used to check for evenness.

Q. Where is the best spot to set up my chocolate fountain?
A. Your chocolate fountain needs to be on a level table or countertop where your guests can easily reach it without stretching uncomfortably. Watch out for drafts or air conditioning vents; air blowing directly on the fountain could cause the chocolate to cascade unevenly, or even worse, splash or splatter. Cold air can cause the chocolate to harden in the fountain, so keep your device away from cold spots.

It’s also a good idea to set the fountain away from crowded areas such as a dance floor or busy kitchen doorway.

Q. Can I use a chocolate fountain outdoors?
A. You can use a chocolate fountain outdoors as long as you have an electrical outlet nearby and a sturdy, even spot to place it. But doing so is usually asking for trouble. A breeze or sudden gust of wind could splatter the chocolate or fill the basin with dust. A chilly day will cause your chocolate to harden instead of cascade. And remember: many insects like chocolate just as much as you do! In most cases, you’ll want to keep your chocolate fountain inside.

Q. Does my fountain need special chocolate?  
A. Yes. The chocolate in a fountain needs to melt easily and stay melted, requiring a higher percentage of oil than the typical candy bar. Bags of chocolate specially formulated for chocolate fountains are available wherever the devices are sold.

If you want to make your own fountain chocolate, follow this rule of thumb: you need ½ cup of vegetable oil for every pound of chocolate.

Q. How much do chocolate fountains cost?
A. Considering their entertainment value, chocolate fountains are a bargain. Most models intended for home use cost between $35 and $50. Very large or commercial fountains commonly cost over $100.