Easy Fool Proof Swiss Cheese Fondue Recipe

This Swiss Cheese Fondue Recipe is so easy to make. You don’t even have to own a fondue pot! In a pot, you’ll combine dry white wine and few other aromatics. Gently melt Gruyere and Swiss Cheese until smooth. I transfer the melted cheese mixture into my fondue pot, with a “sterno” fuel can to keep it warm. Chunks of bread and “al dente” vegetables makes this a fun Fondue Party at home– for a lot less cost than at a fancy restaurant.

I remember when Fondue Pots were all the rage in the ’70’s. Eventually, most of the fondue pots ended up in thrift stores, or in one’s attic. I know that mine did!

A few years ago, I found an unused fondue pot at a thrift store. I think I paid a few dollars for it. Why not? There’s a Swiss restaurant where we live, that serves a delicious pot of fondue. It’s not cheap, though! I decided to see if I could learn to make cheese fondue at home. Know what?! It’s easy! You don’t have to own a fondue pot, by the way. It’s more fun to set a fondue pot up, but don’t let that deter you from having a fondue party at home!

Obviously, you need cheese. We are fortunate to have a Trader Joe’s in our town, and I buy their Swiss Cheese and Gruyere Cheese pre-shredded package. Otherwise, buy a block of each of those cheese. With pre-shredded cheese, you don’t need to add cornstarch. If you’re shredding your own cheese, you will need to add cornstarch. Additional ingredients are dry white wine, lemon juice, kirsch (cherry brandy), dry mustard, a garlic clove and (optional) nutmeg.

Of course, you need to decide what you’ll want to dip into the pot of melted cheeses.

This time, I blanched broccoli, cauliflower and carrots. I gently cooked small new potatoes. Apples are also a good choice. I also sliced up a fresh bread baguette.

An electric fondue pot would’ve been pretty cool to use, but I don’t have one. I could’ve lit up a “sterno” fuel can and made the fondue a more traditional way. Instead, I wanted to experiment on a stove. It was easy! In a pot, heat the white wine and lemon juice just to simmering. Slowly add the shredded cheeses, stirring until melted. Don’t boil the liquid! Just let it gently simmer. Once the cheese was silky and smooth, add the dry mustard, brandy and nutmeg. This took no more than 5 minutes!

A sliced of the baguette, dipped into the fondue was in order. It’s all about taste, and adjusting to your liking. Wow! So delicious. The pot of fondue was transferred into the “thrift store” fondue pot with a lit can of sterno (careful, if there are kids around).

This was our New Year 2023 celebration, at home. A bottle of Prosecco was on ice, a crackling fire, and it’s time to ring in the new year!

TASTING NOTES: While fondue pots seem to gather dust, I want to change that. It was fun dipping an assortment of vegetables and bread into a hot pot of melted cheese. It would be fun to invite guests to share in the pot. Of course, the challenge is not to drop the bread, or food, into the pot. If a man does, he has to buy a round of drinks. If a woman does, she has to kiss all her neighbors! My future attempt will be to make a chocolate fondue. That would be fun!