Whether you are making cakes, cupcakes, candies, pretzels or even melting chocolate for strawberries, the addition of a melted chocolate drizzle, makes it so much tastier!
You can literally drizzle melted chocolate over any dessert or sweet treat, for a flavorful and fun dish, the combinations are endless.
In addition, all types of chocolate tastes delicious, but if you want that seriously perfect meltiness, then you will have to use the right type of chocolate. So, what is the best chocolate for melting?
What is the Best Chocolate Used for Melting?
If you are wondering what the best chocolate is for melting, then you are in the right place.
You will want to use small chips or wafers of chocolate for the best results when melting as these can melt much quicker than others, and have a little more added oil so that they stay melty and gooey for much longer than regular chocolate.
That being said, what chocolate works best for melting will normally depend on what kind of baking or sweet treats you are making!
Luckily for you, we have done a little research (and a lot of chocolate tasting in our time) and we have found the best 9 recommendations for melted chocolate. These chocolates will be the perfect addition to your cakes, strawberries and baked goods.
What is the Melting Point of Chocolate?
Chocolate is actually relatively easy to melt, and can sometimes melt in your hands as you eat it, however different types of chocolate will melt easier than others.
That being said, most chocolate will melt at a temperature between 85-90 degrees fahrenheit.
What Makes a Chocolate Good for Melting?
Of course you will already know that all chocolate will actually melt, but not all chocolate will melt and solidify the same, so which ones you use for melting will make or break your dishes.
Sometimes, when chocolate melts, it can have a chalky appearance, or can be a little brittle to work with. In addition, when it solidifies, the texture and overall appearance is just not the same, which can be a problem for some recipes.
The best types of chocolates will melt at much lower temperatures than other chocolate and will have a smoother texture when melted properly. The best kinds of melting chocolates will harden much more smoothly, and will have a nice glossy shine and can snap when it is broken afterwards.
However, even great melting chocolate can start to get lumpy if you do not do it right, but it will still be much easier to melt than your normal, regular chocolates.
You will want to choose the right type of melting chocolate as higher quality chocolates will have a much higher amount of cocoa butter, and a greater fat content. Chocolates of a lower quality will have cheaper oils such as soy or vegetable to add fat.
When choosing a good melting chocolate, you should still be mindful of which ones you pick, and what they taste like, as flavor is just as important as how easy it is to melt and manipulate.
How to Make a Good Dipping Chocolate
If you want to melt chocolate for dipping strawberries into, or to drizzle on top of your pretzels, cakes and baked goods, you will need to ensure that it melts smoothly and evenly enough so that you can drizzle and dip in it.
To do this, you will need to ensure that you stick to a few rules when it comes to melting your chocolate for dipping.
The main thing you will want to remember is that you should not overcook your chocolate. You will only want to heat the chocolate just long enough to melt for the most part, and then you can stir it to distribute the heat and melt completely.
Additionally, as soon as your chocolate has melted, you will want to remove it from the heat immediately. Overheating can ruin not only the texture, but the flavor of your chocolate too, so just rewarm if you need to rather than overheating the already melted chocolate.
You will also want to keep in mind that you will need to avoid adding too much moisture to the chocolate. If you are looking to thin out your chocolate, you are better off using an oil or a fat.
Bear in mind that any added liquid can make your chocolate seize, and so you should use an oil with a neutral flavor to thin it out rather than milk, as milk is a fat and a liquid and will therefore have to be dealt with carefully!
Best Ways to Melt Chocolate
Many chefs and cooking connoisseurs will tell you that the best method to melt chocolate is on the stovetop. This can help you control the heat, and stir so that the chocolate does not burn or overheat.
To melt chocolate in this way, you will want to bring a medium sized pot filled a little under halfway with water to a simmer. Then, you can place a heatproof and shatterproof bowl on top of the pot. Make sure that the bowl is large enough to sit on the top of the pot rather than be submerged in it.
Next, add your chocolate chips or chopped up chocolate bar to the bowl and keep the pot over a low heat, stirring the chocolate so that it is melted evenly. You should remember to keep the chocolate away from water as any water that comes into contact will cause the chocolate to seize.
You can also melt chocolate in the microwave, but we prefer the stovetop method because you have more control and the risk of overheating is much less. However, if you want to melt your chocolate in the microwave, the method is quite simple.
To melt the chocolate in the microwave, you will need to place your chocolate in a heatproof bowl and microwave for about 30 seconds at a time, but stop after each thirty seconds to check on your chocolate. If you melt the first time, stop and look at the chocolate, and you may notice that it is almost melted with a few lumps.
If this is the case, you can then stir the chocolate until it is smooth all the way through as stirring will help the heat distribution, and will melt the leftover chocolate. You could also add a tablespoon of oil when microwaving to help the chocolate melt much smoother.
Best 9 Chocolates For Melting
To help you create the most delicious melting chocolate recipes, we have made a list of the best 9 chocolatesfor melting that will be perfect for you.
However, we have picked some that are better for different uses, such as drizzling, dipping and melting so that you can find the right one for whatever you are making.
The Nestle Toll House Milk Chocolate Morsels are the real all rounder chocolate for melting. This chocolate is great for dipping, melting, baking and drizzling, and so it will be a great addition to water chocolatey delight you are making.
Even though the morsels are made to use as chips for chocolate chip cookies, that is not all they are good for.
As they are small chips and chunks, they melt really easily and will stay melted so you can use this chocolate to drizzle, and it will just stay a liquid long enough for you to drizzle, pour and decorate before it hardens nicely.
The Nestle Toll House Milk Chocolate Morsels are the best chocolates for melting and drizzling, and it will melt smoothly, evenly, and quickly unlike most other chocolates. As an added bonus, this chocolate is gluten-free, and has no artificial colors or preservatives.
Although these chocolate morsels are great for how easily they melt and stay melted, this can be a drawback, and you will not want to keep these chips for long in your car on the ride home from the store.
That being said, if you are just using it for melting and not for chocolate chips, then it melting in transit will not be an issue for you!
How could we make a list about chocolate and not include the iconic Hershey’s?!
This chocolate brand is more well known for their chocolate bars rather than baking and dipping chocolate, however, their baking chips create deliciously smooth and melty results.
Hershey's Milk Chocolate Baking Chips will soon become one of your most favored baking ingredients, for its bursting chocolatey flavor and versatile nature.
If you are making candy or candy coatings, then you will need to use this chocolate. However, this is just as good for all kinds of your dipping, coating and baking needs!
What is even better is that these baking chips have no preservatives, artificial flavors or colors and are certified gluten free!
If you want a high quality chocolate to melt, Callebaut Couverture chocolate is one of the best and is used by professionals around the world for melting, dipping and coating. This may be due to its smooth, glossy finish and high cocoa butter content.
This type of chocolate is actually dark chocolate, but has a much smoother and less bitter taste than other chocolate flavors, and is a lot more subtle in taste.
However, it is Belgium crafted chocolate made with whole cocoa beans, and is perfect for melting and dipping.
As a professional grade chocolate, this one may be a little pricier than the others!
If you are looking for a melting chocolate that is great for those targeting their health, then Lily’s Sweets Chocolate is the best option for you.
This all natural baking chocolate is full of natural antioxidants and has a deliciously flavorful taste without any added sugars or nasty ingredients.
However, with less sugar, some people do not like the taste of this chocolate, but it is great for lower calorie chocolate binges. This chocolate is great for using with dipping strawberries, is keto-friendly and diabetic friendly.
Even better, it is certified gluten free, and fair trade! What’s not to love?
If you need a chocolate that is specifically formulated for melting, baking and making candy out of, then you cannot go wrong with Merckens Melting Wafers in Milk Chocolate.
This chocolate is so easy to work with and is actually intended for melting into moulds, so the wafers are thin and melt really quickly.
However, this chocolate still has a rich taste, with lots of cocoa butter to keep it smooth and flavorful. Not only this, the Merckens melting wafers are wonderful for using in fondue pots, making into moulds, coating cakes and so many more uses as it melts at a low temperature and is easily manipulated.
That being said, this is not a premium or high quality chocolate, so you may taste the difference with a more expensive brand.
You may want to melt a different type of chocolate, or have various flavors in your sweet treats, so you will need a good quality white chocolate available.
Our favorite white chocolate to melt is the Ghirardelli premium baking white chocolate chips, as these are made with real vanilla rather than vanilla artificial flavorings.
In addition, this white chocolate melts really well, and melts with a smooth, perfect finish for the best white melting chocolate around!
What is best about this chocolate is that it is made by Ghirardelli, which is often referred to as America’s greatest chocolate.
This type of white chocolate is beautifully rich and creamy, and is exceptional for baking and melting.
As we have previously mentioned, Ghirardelli chocolate is some of the finest and most flavorful chocolate available, so we had to give you a dark chocolate option from the company.
However, this one is specifically designed for melting and dipping for a truly smooth, creamy and delicious result.
If you want to make delicate sweet treats such as cake pops, then you will love using the Ghirardelli dark melting wafer chocolate as this stays melted long enough to dip, cover and harden in time perfectly.
In addition, this chocolate melts in about 30 seconds in the microwave for fast yet fancy results.
If you are looking for the perfect melting chocolate for fondues and dipping fountains, then we have got you (and your strawberries) covered!
This type of chocolate is specifically made for a fondue or chocolate fountain, so it will melt beautifully and is ready for dipping in just a few seconds.
The Wilton Chocolate Pro Melting Chocolate Wafers are great for melting quickly, smoothly and require no oil at all.
Despite being made for a fountain, this chocolate is still full of flavor and a great addition to strawberries, marshmallows or whatever you choose to dip!
If you love simplicity in the kitchen, then we have the melting chocolate for you.
The Dolci Frutta Hard Chocolate Shell Dip and Done is a product that is designed with a packaging that can go straight in the microwave, cutting your clean up time in half.
This type of chocolate melts so easily and simply, and is perfect for making chocolate dipped or drizzled pretzels! It is also quick drying so you can have that perfectly drizzled finish on your desserts.
The only problem with this one is that it is designed for the microwave, and you will have to be careful not to overheat, or it may not be as smooth as we thought it would be.
Are There Any Vegan Melting Chocolates?
If you want to have that melting chocolate, but you lead a vegan diet, then you do not need to worry.
There are plenty of vegan melting ‘chocolate’ options that are suitable for you.
After you have melted your chocolate, and decorated your cake pops, pretzels or strawberries with it, you may be wondering how long it takes for the chocolate to harden.
However, this will depend entirely on the type of chocolate that you use. Generally speaking, the higher the fat or oil content in the chocolate, then the longer it will take to melt, and harden. That being said, there are some chocolates that are designed to harden much quicker than others such as the Dolci Frutta chocolate.
If you want your chocolate to harden quicker, then the best thing to do is place them on a lined baking sheet after you have decorated your sweet treats, and place in a refrigerator or freezer to harden.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cadbury chocolate good for melting?
Yes, Cadbury chocolate is a good option for melting. While Cadbury is not as popular here in the US compared to the UK it is a great option. When heated up, it has a fantastic consistency.
It is rich, thick and creamy, which makes it a fantastic option for melting. To melt Cadbury chocolate, avoid melting it in the microwave where possible, and this can cause the chocolate to become overcooked.
Instead, you will want to place the Cadbury chocolate into a glass bowl and heat the chocolate slowly over a pan of water that has been left to simmer. This allows the chocolate to melt slowly and will create the best and smoothest consistency.
What is the best way to melt chocolate for dipping?
There are a number of ways in which you can choose to melt chocolate, such as using the microwave and a slow cooker. However, the best way to melt chocolate is certainly by using the boiler method.
This method is fairly easy to follow and produces the best results. The chocolate will be smooth and consistent in its texture and is more difficult to burn in comparison to using a microwave.
To use this option you will need to place water into a pan. The water should not be filled to the top, around ½ to ¾ is a good amount. You will want to allow the water to simmer. You will want to avoid the water from boiling and being on a high heat. Instead, it should be on a consistently low heat.
Once warm, you will want to take a large glass bowl that can balance on the top of the pan. It should be big enough to not fall into the water. In addition to this, the bowl should not be touching the water in the pan.
Break up the chosen chocolate into small pieces and place them into the bowl. Slowly the chocolate will begin to melt. You will want to stir it slowly with a wooden spoon to speed up the process.
While this is a slow method, it helps the chocolate to cook evenly and prevents the chocolate from burning when done correctly. Once the chocolate has been fully melted, it should be smooth and creamy.
Can you melt normal chocolate?
Yes, you can melt normal chocolate. All chocolate is capable of melting, however, some will melt better than others. Given this, you should always use the chocolate recommended in your chosen recipe.
If you do not melt the chocolate correctly it can become burnt or have the wrong texture, which is more common when using chocolate that is not specifically cooking chocolate.
The Top 9 Best Chocolates For Melting
These options are sure to be a hit. So, gather your family and friends and enjoy. Let us know your thoughts!
Cassie brings decades of experience to the Kitchen Community. She is a noted chef and avid gardener. Her new book "Healthy Eating Through the Garden" will be released shortly. When not writing or speaking about food and gardens Cassie can be found puttering around farmer's markets and greenhouses looking for the next great idea.
