How to make a Cheese Fondue
A cheese fondue is a fun interactive appetizer that is great to serve a party or get together. We always have one at our New Year’s Eve party, along with a chocolate fondue and other fun finger foods.
Fondue is a melted cheese mixture. Fondue literally means “melted”. You keep it warm by serving it in a fondue pot. You can also use a crockpot in a pinch. The fondue is served along side a platter of accompaniments, or dippers.
These are bite-sized foods that you can spear and dip into the melted cheese. Yum!
How to serve the Cheese Fondue
This warm dip is kept hot by either a fondue pot or a small crockpot. These are the best options for keeping the fondue melted and dippable, while also serving it to your guests on a table to be snacked on for a longer period of time. If the fondue is left to cool it will harden. This is how to keep it hot:
Fondue pot with a flame
For this type of pot, you will need to use a water bath or the cheese may burn. If your fondue pot is heated this way, it likely will have a way for you to make a water bath.
To do this, light the flame underneath the pot. Place water in the pot that will be right over top of the flame. Fill the water so when you place the cheese bowl over top, the water will be close but not touching the bowl. Place the cheese mixture in the top bowl.
This will allow the hot water to keep the cheese hot and melted, and not a direct heat source.
Electric fondue pot
This type of fondue pot will have heat settings on it. For cheese you will need to heat it on a low setting, or according to the instructions of your pot.
Fondue in a crockpot
This is also a great option to keep your cheese fondue warm. Turn your pot to the lowest setting or the longest time setting. Place the fondue inside and it will be hot enough to keep it warm and melted.
Can you freeze cheese fondue
The short answer is yes.
Making the cheese mixture in advance, and storing it for later use, is a great way to get a head start on your fondue, especially if you are planning it for a party and need to prepare food in advance.
When you are ready to use it, melt the cheese mixture over low heat, stirring occasionally, until it is melted again.
Can you save leftover cheese fondue
The short answer is yes. Keep the unused fondue covered in the freezer or refrigerator. However, since fondue is meant to dip items in, there is a high change of finding some stray dippers left behind in the fondue at the end of the night.
When you are ready to use it again, reheat the cheese mixture over low heat until it is melted.
What is the best cheese to use for a cheese fondue
The real answer is your favourite cheese!
It is important to use a cheese that is easy to melt. I also like to use a mixture of cheese to give it a more complex and full flavour.
If you want to make a traditional cheese fondue, keep in mind that fondue is Swiss and French in origin so you may want to use cheese that is representative of that.
Gruyère is found in most traditional recipes. It is a great melting cheese and has an amazing flavour.
Emmentaler is another great Swiss cheese that I like to include.
Cheese fondue dippers
Bite-sized accompaniments that are sturdy enough to dip are needed for this fondue. Cheese fondue is thicker than chocolate fondue so you need dippers that can hold up to scooping the cheese.
Six of our favourite cheese fondue accompaniments are:
French bread – This is probably the most common dipper. Crusty French bread is a sturdy bread that is great for a cheese fondue. Rip or cut the bread into bite-sized dippable chunks.
Other breads– Sourdough bread, rye bread, focaccia, ciabatta, Naan, bite-sized pitas, and pumpernickel breads to name a few. These breads are all great dippers for a classic cheese fondue.
Cooked or raw vegetables – Cherry tomatoes, carrots, peppers, steamed broccoli, sweet peppers, cooked Brussels’s sprouts, cooked bite-sized or new potatoes, and mushrooms.
Pretzels – Either soft pretzels or hard pretzels are great in cheese fondue.
Fruit– There are a few great fruits that pair really well with cheese. Try apple slices, pear slices, and grapes.
Meat – The meat must be fully cooked before using in your cheese fondue. Sliced chicken breast, meatballs, sliced sausage, and cubed ham are popular choices. Keep in mind that meat with added seasonings or sauces will alter the flavour of your fondue.
Ingredients for Cheese Fondue
400 g Gruyère cheese, grated
100 g Emmentaler cheese, grated
100 g vacherin Swiss cheese (or other Swiss cheese)
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
salt and pepper to taste
½ teaspoon nutmeg (or to taste)
1 cup white wine
½ teaspoon garlic powder
accompaniments to dip
Method
- In a medium sauce pot, add all of the cheeses.
- Sprinkle on top the cornstarch, nutmeg, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
- Add in the white wine and melt everything together, stirring occasionally.
- Meanwhile, preheat your fondue pot.
- Place your melted cheese mixture into the bowl of the fondue pot.
- Serve along side your favourite dippers.
How to make Cheese Fondue
Equipment
- 1 fondue pot
Ingredients
- 400 g grated Gruyère cheese
- 100 g grated Emmentaler cheese
- 100 g vacherin Swiss cheese or other Swiss cheese
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- salt and pepper to taste
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg or to taste
- 1 cup white wine
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- accompaniments to dip
Instructions
- In a medium sauce pot, add all of the cheese.
- Sprinkle on top the cornstarch, nutmeg, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
- Add in the white wine and melt everything together, stirring occasionally.
- Meanwhile, preheat your fondue pot.
- Place your melted cheese mixture into the bowl of the fondue pot.
- Serve along side your favourite dippers.
Looking for more fun party foods? These are some of my favourites! How To Make Simple Chocolate Fondue, How to make Baked Brie, Christmas Cranberry Cheesecake Squares