This Is How to Prepare the Ultimate Cheese Fondue

A Classic Cheese Fondue

We typically don’t eat much fondue in our house, maybe a couple of times a year. But in the past few weeks, we've enjoyed three fondue nights, so I thought it must be time to research and write about preparing a delicious fondue at home.

On one of our fondue nights, we prepared at home at the insistence of my youngest daughter Maddie. The other was served to my wife and me at a friend’s house as the pre-meal appetizer.

Six of us hung out in the kitchen, dipping vegetables, sausage and bread into a pot filled with melted cheese while catching up with a glass of wine. It was a great start to the night. We so enjoyed this fondue we decided to serve it at our dinner party the following week.

What Exactly Is Fondue?

Fondue is the French word for “melted” and is a traditional Swiss dish made with cheese, wine, and seasonings. It is served in a fondue pot called a “caquelon.”

It dates back to the 18th century and is thought to have been created by sheep herdsmen in the alpine regions of Switzerland (Gruyere), who enjoyed dipping pieces of local bread into the melted cheese made with their sheep’s milk.

Let me begin by saying I’m sure you don’t need a commercial fondue maker to serve fondue in your home, but it sure helps. I suggest you purchase one if you plan on preparing fondue several times a year.

They usually come as a set with all the “stuff” you need for making a tasty fondue, including the long skewers used for dipping.

Our fondue maker is electric with a dial to adjust the temperature to melt the cheese and then keep it at the perfect temperature for dipping. There are non-electric versions that work like serving trays using Sterno underneath to heat the pot, but I find it harder to control the temperatures with these models.

Fondue From Scratch or Out of the Box

We have prepared fondue from scratch using the recipe below, but we also tried a commercial product called Fondue From Switzerland by Emmi. I must tell you that Fondue From Switzerland is very good and much easier to prepare.

Is it as good as making it from scratch? Usually, I would say no way, but I’ll let you make that decision for yourself.

Fondue For All Occasions

The fondue recipe below is for classic cheese fondue, but you don’t have to stop there. After a quick search on the Internet, I found all sorts of fondue recipes, including chocolate, Italian, seafood, and vegetarian. In addition, some fondues are oil-based and broth-based, where you dip meats, chicken, or vegetables into the heated liquids.

Tips for Great Cheese Fondue

1. Combining two kinds of cheese is a must, but three are even better.
2. Shred the cheese before adding it to the pot. I made a mistake once of not shredding the cheese, and the results were a mess.
3. Bring the cheese to room temperature before you add it to the pot. This will reduce the amount of time it takes the cheese to melt.
4. Some people melt the cheese in a pot on the stove before adding it to the fondue pot. I don’t think this is necessary, but it’s a good suggestion.
5. Don’t overheat the cheese beyond its melting point, or it will bind up. The same happens if you let it cool down after it is melted. Instead, keep it at the desired temperature.
6. Start with the wine by bringing it to a simmer before adding the cheese.
7. Good dry white wines for fondue are Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Viognier or Pinot Grigio.
8. Don’t use cheap wine. If you wouldn’t drink it, don’t cook with it.
9. A tablespoon of kirsch (cherry brandy) can give you fondue added layer of flavor. Add it after the cheese is melted.
10. Most classic fondue recipes call for white wine, but if you decide to go alcohol-free, try substituting milk for the wine, but you need an acid like lemon juice. For example, try two tablespoons of lemon juice to 1 cup of milk.
11. You can substitute apple cider for wine too.
12. Use a thickener like cornstarch to thicken and stabilize the sauce. Try adding it to the wine to dissolve before adding the cheese.
13. Invite great friends to share your fondue with you.

📖 Recipe