Now it's tall, chocolatey and draws a crowd.

Chocolate fountains are the latest in party showstoppers, attracting guests who want to dip cherries, cream puffs and pretzels into a cascade of rich chocolate.

"A chocolate fountain says wow," said Karen Jones, owner of Simply Chocolate in Gilbert.

These for-rent fountains are gracing weddings, class reunions, corporate gatherings and housewarming parties. Guests line up to dip marshmallows, caramels, wafer cookies, bananas, apples, angel food cake squares and even vegetables in white, dark or milk chocolate.

"It's an interactive, hands-on way to entertain. People really like that they get to dip their dessert into the fountain instead of being handed to them on a plate," said Bobbie Snyder, owner of Seven Sisters Sweet Shop in Scottsdale.

Prices vary, but most fountains rent for $250 to $400 and feed up to 100 people. Some include an attendant to set up the fountain, arrange the foods to dip and help guests initially intimidated by the flowing chocolate.

"A fountain is really an easy way to entertain, and it gets conversation started," Jones said. "If there's a fountain, that's where you see people congregating."