This cheesy fondue is a fun and cozy dish that’s perfect for sharing with friends or family. Just melt your favorite cheese with a splash of wine and dip away!
Scooping up gooey cheese with bread makes for a delightful experience. Just make sure to have enough bread, because once you start, you won’t want to stop! 🧀🍞
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
Garlic: Rubbing the pot with garlic gives a subtle flavor to your fondue. You can skip it or use garlic powder if you prefer a milder taste.
Wine: Dry white wine enhances the flavor of the cheese. If you don’t have wine, you can use low-sodium vegetable broth combined with a bit of vinegar for acidity.
Cheese: Gruyère and Emmental are traditional choices, giving a rich and smooth texture. If you’re looking for alternatives, Jarlsberg or a mix of mozzarella and cheddar could work, though the flavor will change.
Kirsch: It adds a nice depth to the flavor, but you can omit it if you don’t have any. A splash of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar could add a touch of acidity instead.
How Do You Achieve the Perfect Cheese Melt?
Melted cheese can be tricky, so it’s important to follow these tips for a smooth fondue. First, ensure your wine is warm but not boiling before adding the cheese. This helps melt the cheese without making it clumpy.
- Coat the grated cheese with cornstarch; this helps it melt uniformly.
- Add cheese gradually while stirring gently in a figure-eight motion, which promotes even melting and prevents clumping.
- Avoid boiling the mixture once the cheese is added, as high heat can cause the cheese to separate.
Keeping your fondue warm but not boiling will ensure a delightful, smooth, and gooey dish for dipping!
How to Make Cheese Fondue?
Ingredients You’ll Need:
- 1 garlic clove, halved
- 1 ½ cups dry white wine (such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 8 ounces Gruyère cheese, grated
- 8 ounces Emmental cheese, grated
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons kirsch (cherry brandy) (optional)
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Freshly grated nutmeg, to taste
- French baguette or crusty bread, cut into bite-sized cubes, for dipping
How Much Time Will You Need?
This delightful cheese fondue takes about 10 minutes to prepare and another 10 minutes to cook. So, in just around 20 minutes, you’ll have a delicious, gooey fondue ready for dipping!
Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Prepare the Pot:
Start by rubbing the inside of your fondue pot (or a heavy saucepan) with the cut sides of the garlic halves. This gives a nice garlic flavor to the cheese. Afterward, you can toss the garlic away; it’s just for flavoring the pot.
2. Heat the Wine:
Next, pour the dry white wine and lemon juice into the pot. Heat it over medium heat just until it’s hot—don’t let it boil! We want it warm enough to melt the cheese but not boiling over.
3. Prepare the Cheese:
In a separate bowl, toss the grated Gruyère and Emmental cheeses with the cornstarch. This step helps the cheese melt evenly and gives the fondue a lovely creamy texture. It’s an important step that you don’t want to skip!
4. Melt the Cheese:
Now, gradually add the cheese mixture to the hot wine while continuously stirring. Use a figure-eight motion as you stir. Keep it gentle and don’t let the mixture boil, or it can become clumpy. You want it to be smooth and cheesy!
5. Season the Fondue:
If you’re using kirsch, stir it in now. Then season your fondue with freshly ground black pepper and a little grated nutmeg for extra flavor, adjusting to your taste.
6. Keep it Warm:
Once the cheese is melted and smooth, place the pot over a low flame or fondue burner. This keeps the cheese warm and gooey while you enjoy dipping!
7. Serve and Enjoy:
Serve the fondue immediately with generous chunks of crusty bread for dipping. Use long fondue forks to spear the bread and enjoy every cheesy bite!
Enjoy your classic Swiss-style cheese fondue warm and gooey! Happy dipping! 🧀🍞
Can I Use Different Types of Cheese?
Absolutely! While Gruyère and Emmental are traditional choices for a rich flavor, you can mix in cheeses like Fontina, Gouda, or even a bit of cheddar for a different taste. Just be mindful of the melting qualities to ensure a smooth fondue!
How Can I Thicken My Cheese Fondue?
If your fondue is too thin, you can mix a little more cornstarch with some white wine or lemon juice and stir it in gradually while heating. Just be sure not to overheat, as it can cause the cheese to separate.
What’s the Best Way to Keep It Warm During Serving?
Using a fondue pot with a low flame or a butane burner is ideal to maintain warmth. If you don’t have one, placing the pot over a heating pad on low can work too! Just keep an eye on it to ensure it doesn’t dry out.
Can I Make This Ahead of Time?
While fondue is best served fresh, you can prepare the cheese and cornstarch mixture ahead of time. Just combine the grated cheese with cornstarch and refrigerate, and then add it to the wine mixture just before serving. However, you should melt the fondue fresh for the best texture and flavor!
