Classic Cheese Fondue {Alcohol-Free}
This is our family’s favorite classic cheese fondue recipe! Ooey, gooey, creamy and totally cheesy, it’s alcohol free and kid-friendly!
I am so, so, so (times 1,000) excited for today.
When I announce it is fondue night, my kids pretty much do cartwheels for 10 minutes straight.
It is one of our funnest and favorite family meals (and actually is one of the easier, quicker meals to put together; don’t let fondue intimidate you, it’s the simplest thing in the world).
Even though we eat dinner together 98.5% of the time, believe you me when I say that it isn’t always fun and giggles, as you can imagine. But fondue nights are totally and completely the best family dinner nights ever. We laugh and talk and really enjoy dinner together.
We’ve been doing the homemade fondue thing for years. But my modge-podge recipes have been less than stellar.
I’ve been trying to land on the perfect classic cheese fondue recipe for our family with that smooth and creamy and ultra-cheesy texture – and this is surely it.
Thanks to my friend, Kim, who shared her family’s amazing fondue (perfected by her husband who lived in Switzerland for a few years), I can honestly say I’ll never make another classic fondue recipe again; this one’s a keeper (all bets are off for how many variations of chocolate fondue I can come up with, though).
One of the reasons, fondue night manages to get us all rolling is because of this minor, little rule:
In our house, you better dip carefully because if your precious food ends up dropping into the fondue pot, your neighbor is going to get a kiss from your little lips.
Trust me, my boys don’t go around the house all huggy and kissy on a normal basis.
I’m pretty sure when they grow up, they’ll be able to say they got kisses from their siblings about the exact same number of times we ate fondue (which actually will account for quite a few smooches). I’m not entirely sure they’ll be willing to follow this rule when they are teenagers, but hey, 10 and under, and it’s still working for us.
It’s hilarious to see their reactions when they have to kiss each other on the cheek (usually consisting of “ooh, get it over quick, gross, yuck, gag!” while smiling the whole time, of course).
Back to the fondue though: this classic cheese fondue recipe is a dream. It’s creamy and cheesy and the texture is spot on. Just look how ooey and gooey it is.
And the cheese factor is through the roof.
Approximately .3 seconds after I snapped the picture below, one of the boys karate chopped through Jackson’s long cheesy monument with his fondue fork in order to have closer access to the fondue. You gotta act quickly in this house.
What to Dip in Fondue
We dip all sorts of glorious things in our fondue. Chicken sausages, steamed broccoli and other vegetables (like carrots and cauliflower), tender potatoes, lightly sauteed mushrooms, apples, and bread.
Lots and lots of bread. (I usually make this Rustic Crusty Bread and it’s so amazingly divine in fondue, it leaves me speechless.)
Fondue Pots
And can we stop for a second and talk about fondue pots? For years, I’ve used an electric Cuisinart pot. And…I hate to throw it under the bus and all, but I don’t really recommend it (although it does get pretty good reviews on Amazon, I must be picky).
When I bought it several years ago, I thought it would be better for our family because, you know, no real, live flame and all to entice five little kids to play and get burned with, plus you can make the fondue start to finish in the pot.
But the pot doesn’t heat evenly (meaning your fondue alternately simmers and then gets cold all while on the same setting) and the cord is super short and well, we just don’t love it (and rarely use it anymore)
My friend Kim has since given me this amazing Swissmar cast iron fondue pot (and I’ve loved it enough to gift it to several other people who love fondue as much as we do).
This classic cheese fondue can still be made start to finish in the pot and we use the gel to keep the flame going. I don’t know how I ever lived without it. It’s made fondue nights a thousand times better if that’s even possible.
Sidenote: Since I don’t cook with alcohol, I’ve always made non-alcoholic fondue recipes. They’ve been ok but not stellar until this amazing recipe. Whether or not you like to make fondue with wine, today’s recipe is perfect for our family (think: kid-friendly) and is really the best I’ve ever had! Since I haven’t subbed out the broth in the recipe for wine, I can’t give any tips, but there are numerous recipes online for more classic, wine-based recipes if you are looking for one like that.
One Year Ago: Refried Beans {Made in the Slow Cooker and Fat-Free}
Two Years Ago: Cheesecake Rice Pudding {Plus a Chocolate Version!}
Three Years Ago: Healthy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
My Favorite Fondue Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups (228 g) lightly packed shredded Gruyere cheese
- 1 ½ cups (171 g) lightly packed shredded Swiss cheese
- 2 tablespoons (19 g) cornstarch
- 1 cup low-sodium good-quality chicken broth
- ⅛ teaspoon lemon juice (Important! Don't leave it out)
- 1 tablespoon finely minced or pressed garlic
- ¼ teaspoon ground black or white pepper
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- Dash of paprika
Instructions
- Place both the shredded Gruyere and Swiss cheeses in a gallon-size resealable bag with the cornstarch and shake until evenly coated.
- In a stovetop-safe fondue pot (or in a regular saucepan or electric fondue pot), add the chicken broth, lemon juice, and garlic and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the cheese, a small handful at a time, stirring constantly, but not briskly. It works best to use a wooden spoon and and stir in an S-shaped motion, making sure to scrape the bottom of the pot so it doesn’t burn.
- Once the cheese is melted and begins to just barely simmer, add the remaining spices and move it immediately to the table on the fondue stand with the sterno flame below. It should be the consistency of warm honey. Add more or less cheese for perfect consistency and additional salt and pepper to taste if needed.
- Serve with your favorite fondue dippers: steamed broccoli and/or cauliflower, carrots, apples, chicken sausages, bread (and more bread!), lightly sauteed mushrooms, tender potatoes – the options are endless! Don’t forget if you drop your food into the fondue pot, lean over and give your neighbor a kiss!
Notes
Recommended Products
Recipe Source: adapted just very slightly from my friend Kim Blackham
207 Comments on “Classic Cheese Fondue {Alcohol-Free}”
Hi! Thank you for this non-alcoholic option! Looking forward to trying it soon. Do you know can arrowroot be substituted for the cornstarch?
I haven’t tried it, but I believe it can!
I’ve never bought chicken sausage before and would like to try it for a dipper. Can you tell me what brand you like? Is it precooked? I’m excited to have a fondue night this year for my birthday. Thank you for inspiring me!!!
I love the Aidell’s brand.
Can you make this in a crock pot or slow cooker? Can you use this recipe for that?
It’s best to make this on the stovetop and then possibly use a slow cooker to keep warm.
SOOO GOOD! HUGE success! The cheese pull is amazing and the taste is exquisite. Felt like we were in an expensive restaurant.
We loved this! I used vegetarian “no chicken” broth and it was just perfect. Enjoyed by kids and adults alike. Thanks for a great and easy recipe!
I just wanted to say that we have made this recipe for about 6 years with our littles – it’s become our Christmas Eve tradition and one we all look forward to it every year. Thank you! 🙂
Awful recipe, we have been making and eating fondue for years and had it all over Switzerland, we tried this cause we can’t have booze in for kids, this is NOT fondue it’s Cheesy chicken soup, get non alcoholic beer or wine and stick to the traditional
Hi there I just made this and it’s delicious. I made it as a trial for a party. Can I make this ahead and then put it in the fondue pot to re-warm do you think that would work? This is an appetizer at someone’s house and I don’t wanna be in the way in the kitchen.
Hi Jana, you can try that – a lot depends on the heat of the crockpot. If it’s too hot or not hot enough the texture of the fondue may change.
Can you replace the Swiss cheese with Gouda?
I haven’t tried that and don’t know how it would affect the texture, but it’s worth experimenting!
Thank you so much for this 5 star recipe!!! I swapped out the Gruyère for a block of Walmart’s great value Gouda cheese to fit our grocery budget, and it worked out perfectly! Other than the cheese swap I followed all of your clear and precise instructions, and came out with a creamy, yummy fondue!! My 6 and 3 year old get every last drop out of that pot! thank you for the new fondue tradition!
Absolutely loved this recipe although it didn’t stay thin for long it thickened up really fast and wouldn’t thin out.
Can you help me? First time making cheese fondue and I’m not sure where I went wrong. The broth and cheese never fully integrated, so the consistency was off and it was so thick. The cheese was high quality and the right kinds.
Katie,
Did you stir in the cheese a little at a time? That’s what helps me. After combining the cornstarch with the shredded cheese in a Ziploc bag, I use a whisk when adding small amounts of the cheese to the heated broth mixture. If you add too much cheese all at once it won’t melt properly. Hopefully, that will help you next time. Oh, and don’t forget the importance of the lemon juice. If the cheese gets too stringy, just add a little more lemon juice.
We used this recipe for the first time this New Year’s Eve. My family liked it better than the one we have been using for the last few years, so it has now become our favorite!
-Mary->
Hi Katie, adding the cheese gradually and whisking fully to combine before another addition will help a lot. Also, I echo what Mary said about the lemon juice. It can help with consistency/texture.
I lived in Switzerland while I was a teenage and have loved fondue ever since. My husband and I have an annual tradition of making fondue the night we put Christmas lights. Well for the past few years I’ve been pregnant for our even. In looking for an alcohol free recipe, I stumbled on this one. I absolutely loved it. Great consistency and flavour. Well done.
Can this be made in a crockpot instead???
It’s best made on the stovetop but it can stay warm in a crockpot.
I have used this recipe so many times over the last few years and it is always a hit!! Planning another fun family fondue night this Friday!! Thank you so much for sharing!
This definitely doesn’t taste like a traditional fondue. The Swiss cheese doesn’t give it the taste of Emmentaler, and this recipe never reaches typical consistency. That may be due to the lack of wine, but whaever the reason, I won’t do it again.
Perfect! My kid’s requested a “less alcoholic-tasting” classic fondue, and this one was great. It’s basically identical to the classic fondue that I normally make, but with chicken broth instead of wine (I did give it a splash of kirsch at the end). Great recipe!
This recipe has become our New Year’s tradition. Everyone loves it!
Excited to make your fondue tomorrow! The Gruyere my husband bought says “naturally lactose-free”. Is this the right cheese?
I think so!
Can I do cheddar instead of gruyere?
It will have a different texture (likely a bit greasier and grainy).
This recipe is simple and great. I scoured the internet this year because we loved it so much last year. Now, I’ll save it!
I am on keto and can’t have cornstarch. Can I leave that out of the cheese fondue recipe?
Unfortunately, if you leave it out the consistency of the fondue might be not be as smooth and creamy.
Have you ever made it without the corn starch? We just made it, but as others reported, it was not the right consistency for fondue, and I think it was likely the cornstarch . Other than that, it was delicious!
I always use the cornstarch…
We love this recipe but it is thick. So I had to add almost another cup of broth to it. The trick for sure is to add the cheese slowly. It’s the meal my kids request for their birthday dinners.
This sauce did not come together well. My family ate it but I would not make it again.
Thanks for the delicious recipe! I made this for my husband’s birthday this weekend. He and my kids enjoyed every bite. We even used your “kiss if you drop it rule”. It made the meal more of an event. 🙂
I tried a cheese fondue for the first time using this recipe. If there are better ones out there I’d be surprised. I questioned adding nutmeg to my cheesy sauce but was disciplined to follow the recipe as described to give it a chance. It was delicious!!! Everyone loved it! My only challenge was keeping a “dipping” consistency but I think I need a fondue pot rather than the mini crock I put it in! Thank you!
We cannot get the broth and the cheese to become one. What do you think is the issue?
Hi Sara, did you let each addition of cheese melt before adding more? You can usually reheat on low until it comes together
So delicious! Mine turned out really thick – we couldn’t dip it, but still enjoyed eating it.
– – I didn’t make it in a fondue pot – is that the reason? Other than that, the recipe was followed exactly. Are there some other tips to have it thinner consistency?
You can try adding more broth to thin it out, if needed. Did you make it in a normal pan on the stove?
This was delicious! My cheese clumped a bit, but I didn’t do the cornstarch and I might have stirred too briskly.
We pull out a chocolate fountain every Christmas Eve, but this year I wanted to try cheese fondue so we’d have a little “salty” to tone down all the sweet! This was EXACTLY what we needed! I doubled the receipe for my family of eight and we ate every cheesy drop! I think I did something wrong, though. It was creamy and ooey gooey perfection, but no matter what I did I couldn’t get my teenagers to kiss each other when they dropped their food! Maybe I need to add the cheese slower? Or use a different brand of broth? I’ll do some experimenting, but the recipe is a keeper either way! PS. I made your rustic bread to go with it and it was the favorite! Our poor chocolate fountain sat neglected in the corner. Thanks for two more great recipes!
Haha. I laughed out loud at your “where did I go wrong” thought process. If it makes you feel better, this year, my teenagers wouldn’t kiss each other either.
Every year when we attempt a fondue night, my husband complains that it’s not filling. We’ve done meat pieces cooked in broth but honest boiled meat never tastes great, does it? I think I’ll serve meatballs this time to beef it up (punny!) but are there any other good “serve with” ideas for a fondue spread?
We usually do: bread cubes, steamed broccoli and cauliflower, chicken sausages, meatballs, steamed potatoes, sliced apples. Seems to be pretty filling for us!
Super important question! How do you categorize this recipe in your binder?
I have a “Miscellaneous” section for catch-all recipes like this – but I think I’ll probably move it and stick it in “Main Dish”
Made this for tonight, NYE. I’m really satisfied with how it came out. The consistency is just perfect, and tastes great too. I can’t wait to serve to my guests. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
This is one of my favourite recipes in your website. It turns out great every time. I make it exactly as written, except I use vegetable broth (I just boil some vegetables before preparing the fondue). For those not having sucess getting the cheese and broth to combine: That happened to me once and then I realized the heat was too low. Onether time I used a high proportion of gouda and it turns out it is not a good cheese for fondue (it gets melted but it is not runny). I stick to the usual fondue cheeses and works out fine for me.
Thanks to this recipe I got to.know your site. I was tired of prepackaged fondue and I dont like the taste of wine in fondue, so I looked for a homemade recipe. I remember after cleaning up the kitchen that night, I started reading your website and have made many of your recipes since then.
This is so good! A holiday tradition for Christmas the last 2 years. My kids love this recipe and they are picky eaters. So that is saying a lot. Kid friendly, easy to make, so good!
Hey,
In case I can not get hold of a Chicken Broth. What would be a good substitute for the Chicken Broth ?
Kind Regards
I am thinking of making this as a refreshment for a baby shower with about 30-35 women. I have 2 fondue pots. How many of this recipe do you think I should plan on? Can I double the recipe in one pot or would I need to plan to refill as it gets eaten up?
If your pot is big enough, you can definitely double in one pot. It really depends on what other food you are serving to know how much of this you’d need, but I’d probably do a triple batch at least.
Hi there! This was my first time attempting fondue. It was delicious but my consistency was not as ooey gooey as yours. I didn’t have a fondue pot so mine cooled down as we ate but even before pulling it off the heat i couldn’t seem to get it so ooey gooey. Maybe i needed to add more liquid, do you think?
Any advice is appreciated. My son loved it and I bought a ton of cheese so we will definitely make it again
Adding the cheese in small amounts and stirring until each addition is fully melted will help the consistency – but if you feel like you need a bit more liquid, you could try that, too. What type of cheese did you use?
Hi! Just wanted to say that your Cheese Fondue recipe is VERY Good!! Tonight my family and I had fondue for the first time ever, even for my husband and I. We had meats, breads, and veggies to choose from. The kids want to eat it again tomorrow.
The boys also decided that it would be cool to have cheese and chocolate fondue at their birthday parties. We just might do that!!
Thank You so much for sharing your recipe and I love you website as well!!
Thank you so much!
We live in France and often buy packs of truffle fondue sold in Switzerland which we need to make with wine. Since I’m off alcohol in food while breastfeeding, I haven’t had fondue until today when I used this recipe. My French husband said he couldn’t tell the difference and was pleasantly surprised. This is a great recipe to use even with ready-made packs. We substituted the wine in the recipe with the same quantity of vegetable stock with a squeeze of lemon juice.
Thanks!
Hello, can I use a chicken stock pot/cube instead of chicken broth?
You can try – just make sure the flavor isn’t overpowering
This was delicious! My kids all had so much fun with our special Valentine’s fondue night. I used about 6oz Gruyere and about 4oz each Gouda and Baby Swiss. Creamy bliss!
We dipped tri-color baby potatoes, rustic bread cubes, roasted asparagus and brussel sprouts, lightly steamed broccoli florets, Granny Smith apple cubes, and mini-Italian meatballs. The kissing game had my kids in hysterics!
Wow! Thank you! I made this for Valentine’s Day dinner and it was delectable! I did make a couple of modifications… I subbed a vegetarian “no chicken broth” and substituted the Swiss for cheddar. I also omitted the nutmegz My whole family loved it!!!
Made this for the first time tonight and the cheese stayed a solid mass in the warmer, like one big chunk. What could have gone wrong?
Did you add it gradually to the hot broth and melt it fully before adding the next bit of cheese? Also what kind of cheese did you use?
Curious in your instructions it says to add additional salt if needed? Yet the ingredients do not even show salt? Also 1/8 tsp of lemon juice? Thanks for the recipe!!!!
You can add salt to taste if needed at the end (no other salt is included in the recipe). And yes, even the 1/8 teaspoon lemon juice makes a difference (although you can add up to a teaspoon).
I make this fondue recipe every valentines day and a couple other times a year for special occasions for my family! I love that it is family friendly and so delicious!
I am so confused… where is the actual recipe? I have read through this post like 5 times and cannot find it.
Sorry for the inconvenience! It was just a temporary error – my website was down for a bit this evening due to some technical issues but everything should be displaying ok now. Let me know if you continue to have issues accessing the recipe!
Any suggestions on how to make this to take to a party? Will it reheat well in a fondue pot once cooled?
It should – you might need to add a touch more broth and heat it over low heat whisking quickly to combine.
WOW!!!! Had this tonight for New Years Eve. My husband and I couldn’t get enough of this. Thank you for such a great recipe!
What’s funny is the first time we did it, I forgot the corn starch (oops!) that didn’t go well at all. The cheese and the chicken broth wouldn’t combine!
That one was immediately tossed. Luckily I had enough ingredients for a second go! It was amazing! The only issue I had was I think the way I shredded the cheese. I used the largest shredder. Some of the cheese was a little clumpy because of this. But it was soooooo good, even with some clumps. I’m sure next time when I use more finely shredded cheese it will rock like it does in your pics. Thanks again!
Can this be made in a slow cooker/Crockpot?
I haven’t tried that – not sure how quickly/how well the cheese would melt, but you could certainly try!
I am considering this recipe as I am allergic to alcohol. My question is that I don’t like Swiss cheese. How much of that flavor comes through? Is there another cheese you could recommend switching it for?
You could try using all gruyere or maybe Monterey Jack.
This is the 4th year in a row I’ve used this recipe for our annual Christmas Eve fondue/White Christmas family gathering. We love it! Thanks for making our holidays extra festive.
Making this again tonight. I don’t used pre grated cheese but I do used pre sliced cheese, cuts into small pieces easier, and I put olive oil over broccoli and cauliflower and roast in the oven delish! X
Made this tonight, gorgeous thank you. Loved it x
This was great! I have been looking for a recipe w no alcohol., big hit with family! I will make it again.
Made cheese fondue tonight using veggie broth instead of wine and juice from 1/2 a lemon and it worked great.
Any suggestion on a spice other than nutmeg that would be good here? My daughter is allergic to apple/pumpkin pie spices (nutmeg, cinnamon and other similar spices). We normally just avoid things with those ingredients or omit them but I’m wondering if there would be any flavor in this without something? Thanks!
Hi Shelley. You can leave out the nutmeg. It will still be delicious.
Delicious! Followed the directions to a T and it turned out so good. One note: I think it would take 6-8 adults to eat all this; my husband and I barely made a dent and we are stuffed! I’m hoping it reheats well enough. My rather picky kids(3, 5, 1) tried it and didn’t like the flavor of the cheese, but still had a great time giving kisses when they dropped stuff off of their skewers onto plates. We used broccoli, potatoes, lil smokies, and your rustic crusty bread. So fun!
Thank you for this recipe! We tried fondue as a family for the first time as a birthday meal, and it was a huge hit! We have 6 kids, ages 7 to 18, and similar to you, we eat dinner together almost every night (minus my older two, who are often at work). But, there is something absolutely magical about fondue! It slows everything down, and everyone is entertained by cooking their own food. I LOVED your idea of having to kiss your neighbor if your food falls in, and that provided a ton of laughs. We are not a very kissy family (which is something I would do differently if I could go back in time!), but my kids still got a huge kick out of that. Thank you so much for the tip! We’re planning on using this recipe again for Valentine’s Day, and my youngest kids literally jumped up and down when they heard that. 🙂
I’m so happy to hear this, Alyssa! Made my day (my kids get super excited about fondue night, too).
If I am trying to make this recipe from start to finish in a crock pot- how would I adjust the recipe? Should I put all of the ingredients in at once- or follow the steps of the recipe? Would you suggest cooking it on low? How long would it take to prepare? Thanks for any tips!!
I’ve never made it start to finish in the slow cooker and I’m not sure I’d recommend it (not sure the cheese will fully melt and incorporate).
This recipe is amazing. We loved it! We dipped meat balls, bread, and shrimp. I was a little worried that shrimp wouldn’t be good, but it was delicious! Thank you for sharing the recipe; we’ll definitely be making again.
Our son made this for us for New Year’s Eve! It was delicious and festive.and worked perfectly. Wedges of fresh radishes were tasty dippers along with bread and more. Thanks especially for the no-alcohol option. What fun!
Happy 2018!
I was a little worried my handfuls were too big or that I didn’t let it melt enough….I had a big lump of cheese and lots of liquid. But I turned my heat up a little and kept stirring. It eventually encorpaporated and was heavenly. I have 4 boys and a girl too, and I told them about your smackeroo’s and suddenly, it was super funny to “accidentally” drop bread in and give dad a kiss . It was pretty funny. They all said, “every time we have fondue, we are playing this game”. We are amazing race fans and we kept quoting Zev, when he and Justin had to eat a huge pot of fondue in Switzerland, except my son said, “I’m very fond of this fondue”. Thanks for an awesome fondue recipe. We have it for New Year’s Eve every year
Sorry, should have proof-read…incorporated!
Haha…that made me smile. Thanks, Megan! Happy New Year!
Delicious! This is the best fondue ever!
The cornstarch shouldn’t be necessary in this no alcohol recipe since it’s mainly used in traditional recipes to keep the wine & cheese from separating.
We made this last Christmas Eve and everyone raves about it! My daughter has requested it so here I am again searching your recipe. Thanks for being so helpful! Merry Christmas!
Yummy! This was a hit a time our party. Thanks!
Mel, THANK YOU so much for this recipe. I never write reviews, but as this is the third time I have come back to the internet to find this fondue recipe to serve for our tree trimming. I am thankful it is here! We also do not put alcohol in our fondue and I have struggled to find a fondue that had enough flavor without the alcohol. This is excellent! Thank you so much and your friend for sharing!
So happy to hear that! Thank you!
that it taste so good. 9/10
Wow, this is exactly what I needed! Perfect. Though it’s going to one pot of your recipe for the kids and one high-alcohol for me!
Where do you find Gruyere cheese? Im not having any luck. 🙁
I usually buy it at Costco…but have seen it at Walmart, too.
Walmart
Hi Mel, I think I just became you! (Doesn’t hurt that my first name is Melissa). I made this cheese fondue and rustic bread for Christmas eve this year. My family loved it! (Me, hubby, 7 year old boy). It was such a hit, we made it again a few nights later for Sister Missionaries (LDS). And that rustic bread!!!! I’ve been making a french bread recipe for a while that everyone loves. My family declared the rustic bread to be even better!
Can’t wait to follow your Instapot recipes. Your boys look like so much fun. Wish we could get them together with my son. He’s an only child (not our choice…) and loves being around other kids! Thanks for your recipes. 🙂
I love this, Melissa! So happy you (and the missionaries!) loved it. I think this is what we are making today before life returns to complete normal tomorrow. 🙂 If you son likes rough and tumble and lots of noise, he’d love it here!
This recipe looks amazing. Do you think I could make it on the stove and then transfer it to a crock pot to keep warm? I don’t have a fondue pot?
I think you could definitely try that! Just make sure the slow cooker doesn’t cook at too high of temp.
Yep, a crock pot on low or warm makes an excellent fondue put!
Do you know how the timing would be adjusted for a crock pot? Do I start the broth in the crockpot on low and then add the cheese?
You do on a pan on stove top and granger to slow cooker but live on keep warm set!
Hi Mel,
I’m making this for a group of about ten this week. Do you see any issues with doubling it? Would it make it burn easier or change the consistency?
I think doubling should work just fine.
Having unwittingly dropped a few hundred dollars at The Melting Pot earlier this year, I am glad I found this recipe. We not only had no idea how expensive it was, but in the rush of unfamiliarity I missed the mention of the wine. We don’t drink, and my kids (21 & 20) thought it was disgusting. Thankfully they replaced it with their only alcohol free cheese.
I plan to buy a few pots for home. The Cuisinart looks like it would be fine for the broth cooking of the main course. But I plan to get a gel model for cheese and chocolate.
My family LOVES fondu night thanks to you! Complete with the smackaroos! I have made your fondu recipe several times and it’s always delicious. Tonight, I happened to find some ham stock, from an amazing ham I cooked a couple months ago, hiding in my freezer. I used it, and wow! Fondu went to the next level!
This recipe looks amazing and I’m going to try it, but some of the measurements seem a bit off: 1/8 teaspoon of lemon juice is less than 1 mililiter or about .02 liquid ounces. That would be equivalent to a single drop of juice. And 1 tablespoon of minced garlic is a huge quantity. I wouldn’t even use a whole teaspoon of minced garlic in a creamy fondue or sauce.
Otherwise, this looks great. 🙂
I cannot NOT comment on this recipe! I’ve made it twice for friends and both times, they’ve raved! I made two minor adjustments. The first was halving the chicken stock and subbing in 1/2c of white wine which was boiled for several minutes–gives a soft authentic wine flavor, but a lot of the alcohol is boiled out and because I still keep half of the stock in the recipe, it’s not TOO wine-y. The second is not coating the cheese with the cornflour–I simply shake it in an airtight Tupperware with the chicken stock until it’s completely blended and pour it straight into the pot with the cheese. This recipe is a winner!
Hi Mel,
I am making fondue from some friends and one of one doesn’t drink so this recipe looked perfect. However, 2 of us don’t eat meat so chciken stock is no good! Can we use a vegetable alternative? And is broth the same as stock (very inexperienced cook here!).
Sorry- full of typos in that comment! I meant that *for some friends, *one of us doesn’t drink, *chicken. 🙂
Hi Ann – sure, you could definitely play around with the broth and try subbing in a veggie broth. I’ve noticed a lot of veggie broths have a stronger flavor than chicken broth so just keep an eye on that so the fondue doesn’t taste like carrots. 🙂 Yes, usually broth can be interchanged with stock (stock is often more concentrated in flavor).
I just made this and the flavors were so delicious. But I ended up having to throw most of it out. For some reason, the cheese wouldn’t melt into the broth. I ended up with a huge block of semi melted cheese and a little bit of sauce. The cheese would not melt fully no matter what I tried. What did I do wrong? I did use Jarlsberg instead of Gruyere.
Hi Annie – I’ve never used Jarlsberg cheese in this so I’m guessing that’s the culprit. Sorry it didn’t work out!
No worries, it was delicious, just not a very good consistency. I thought Jarlsberg was very similar to Swiss. So I’m wondering is there another reason it would have seized up like that? Would it do that if I had the broth to hot when I started stirring in the cheese? Just want to make sure I get it right the next time around.
It could be the broth – but the liquid does need to stay warm to melt the cheese. It’s pretty important to add the cheese one small handful at a time and make sure it’s fully melted before adding more.
Have to weigh in here. More lemon juice is needed. About 1 tablespoon or the juice of half a lemon. The acid keeps the cheese from separating. Vinegar works as well, but I like the flavour of lemon juice in it.
Delicious! Just made this tonight and thought it was great! Thanks!
We made this for NYE this year too – and I LOVED it. It was perfectly what I wanted.
Thank you for this kid friendly recipe! We made it for New Year’s Eve and both kids and adults agree it was the best! We even added the kissing rule and it was a fun addition to the party.
Fondue night is New Years Eve for us :). I like to make a creamy tomato bisque for the main dish fondue. I’ve struggled with cheese fondue in the past, so I am excited to try this!
Oh sorry, I do have a crock pot but it’s going to be used for hot chocolate!
Hi! I have a question. There will be 5 of us total, I have a fondue pot but it’s just not big enough, any suggestions on how to make it? I though maybe a double boiler situation (aka a bowl on top of a pot for me haha) to keep it warm?
Hi Sam – I think a double boiler would be your best bet – anything to keep that cheese warm will do the trick.
I’m planning a date night with my husband tonight at home, and I don’t have a fondue pot (not in the budget). How horrible will it be if I just use a large stockpot?
Hi Amanda – sorry for the late response. Did you try this? I wouldn’t recommend using a large pot unless you have a way to moderate the heat evenly to keep it warm while you eat without burning it (or letting it cool too much).
I just tried this and it was great, thanks! Our family always did white wine in the cheese fondue growing up but I thought this was just as good or even better without the wine. I used Kitchen Basic stock and the juice of half a lemon, and used a bit less garlic since I had roasted garlic ciabatta bread for dipping.
Hey you! I’m sorry if you’ve already answered this questions but I cannot seem to find that cheese for this recipe(Gruyere one)? Is there anyway you can take a picture of it? I even asked the person at Costco and I swear she thought I grew horns!! LOL! Or, do you recommend another alternative if I can’t find it.
Again sorry if you’ve answered it!! Love your guts…
That’s strange, Deb! Maybe Costco’s around the country don’t carry the same cheeses but Gruyere isn’t that strange of an item. Here’s a link with a picture of the same Gruyere cheese my Costco always carries.
http://godepot.us/images/prod/CT61085_n1.jpg
Does that help?
Hi Mel,
I just have a quick question about the consistency of my fondue. It was very delicious, but it had a grainy quality. I followed the recipe exactly but maybe I didn’t cook it long enough on the stove before moving it to the burner. I love your site and every recipe that I have tried has been great! I ordered the Swissmar fondue pot and we had a great family night enjoying this recipe. I made the french bread and we had steamed veggies and chicken sausage! Delish!
I just wish it was a smoother consistency. If you have any suggestions…thanks!!
Hi Amy – is there any chance it might have overcooked or cooked at too high of a temperature? I’ve noticed mine gets a slightly lumpier and maybe grainy (I haven’t noticed that particular texture but I think it could happen) if it is heated too high. Does that make sense?
Oh- also- do you think an ele tric pressure cooker set on “warm” would work as a fondue pot? Thanks again!
Hi Lisa – you’d have to experiment with the cheeses – I’ve only made it as is since the recipe gives a perfectly smooth, creamy fondue. I think cheddar might be too oily (and might cause the fondue to be grainy). Also, I’m not familiar with electric pressure cookers but if the warm setting is safe and usable, it’s worth a try!
Hi! This looks great! I’m wondering what would happen if I subbed colby or cheddar for the swiss? Thanks!
Hello, Mel! We’re thinking of making chocolate fondue to celebrate Christmas with my 5 siblings and oodles of nieces and nephews. Any guidance for us on a recipe?
Hi Rachel – we’re doing the same thing! I’ve used this recipe a time or two and it’s great (but I omit the chocolate liqueur and start with only half the liquid and add more if needed – the full amount makes it too runny).
Mel,
Have you ever re-heated leftovers? We are suprising our kids with a trip on Christmas day but I thought this would be fun to eat in the hotel. I can’t plug in any appliances they don’t provide so I’d have to use a microwave to heat. If I had it all made and chilled it, do you think it would reheat? Or I could cook in the microwave?
I’d probably try to avoid cooking it from start to finish in the microwave but I think it might reheat well if you add a little broth and use low power. Do you have a way to keep it warm while eating? It does best if it doesn’t cool off too much (not as melty and stringy and easy to dip in).
Hi Mel-I’ve been thinking about this post since you posted it. I’ve decided we’re going to have a “Fondue Christmas Eve.” With that said, do you mind posting your chocolate fondue recipe? And if you have a white chocolate recipe, that would be great too (my husband doesn’t eat any other chocolate).
I’ve used this recipe for chocolate fondue and it’s great:
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/ghirardelli-ultimate-chocolate-fondue/
I haven’t made a white chocolate fondue but here’s a promising looking one (although I wouldn’t use white chocolate chips as they don’t melt well):
http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/rachael-ray-magazine-recipe-search/dessert-recipes/heavenly-white-chocolate-fondue
Made this last night for our annual fondue night with friends!! It was a hit!!! Completely delicious!! This tasted just as good as the Swiss cheese fondue at the melting pot that we love. Great recipe! Thank you!!
Where do you get the fondue pots you are giving away? Can you supply the website if there is one?
Thanks~~
This is the fondue pot that was used for the giveaway.
I am such a big fondue fan! Yours looks like a lot of fun. 🙂
Love fondue! Do you think tapioca starch or something along those lines would work in place of cornstarch? My friend is allergic to corn but this is the best looking fondue I’ve seen!
I haven’t tried it so you’ll have to experiment – not sure how it would affect the texture. Good luck if you try it!
Fondue=fun! Since it is cider season, I think I will try this fondue recipe with a bit of cider in place of alchol. Has anyone tried that?
I dont believe this recipe calls for alchol
I believe it’s spelled alcohol ever heard of a dictionary anna
news flash, big guy. it’s called a typo
fyi
I routinely make cheese fondue with apple juice, and it’s wonderful!!
White grape juice and/or apple juice substitute nicely for wine in recipes. It gives the cheese fondue a slightly sweet taste. Fondue-ing is so much fun!
Hi Mel, Thank you for the info directing us to (your friend), Kim Blackham’s site. What a gift that was! I read a lot of her posts, which were all good btw. That being said, the post that she did on helping those going through grief really got my attention. That post should be required reading for all of us. I think most of us fail miserably at following through with our good intentions when someone is hurting. Hopefully, her post will help me —-as well as others—be a kinder, more compassionate person.
AND, the fondue sounds like so much fun! What a great idea!
Thank you!
We had the SAME tradition in my family growing up. All of us sisters would fight over who got to sit next to my older brother because he wouldn’t let us touch him any other day of the year 🙂
Your recipes have seriously changed my and my family’s lives! I thought I hated to cook. For the last year I have cooked a lot and EVERY recipe has been yours! I know I can trust that I won’t have to pull my hair out on too many recipe details AND most of all it will always taste worthy of the work put in. Thank you Mel!
YUM! I would love to try this and create some great family memories. My adult daughter and her boyfriend would LOVE the smooching game! Do you have to use a fondue pot? Is there anything else that could be substituted?
Hi Julie – if you have a small slow cooker that could stay warm/plugged in, that might work.
I love your recipes and website -by the way!-
Anyway, family dinner is very important, I do feel. However, we are a self-employed family and it isn’t always going to happen with out the children weeping and wailing from hunger and/or staggering off to bed at dark-thirty. The most success I have is when I pre-plan my menus for the week and have my food ready and waiting. That is what I would suggest!
I love fondue, but have never tried to make it myself. Hopefully I’ll win and can try this at home!
I love your recipes! I share the same cooking philosophies, so I use quite a few of them. I just wanted to say that I also appreciate it when you review products honestly even )and especially) when you’re not paid to do it. Good kitchen products can make cooking SO much easier, and when there’s so many to choose from, it’s nice to have someone else’s perspective!
Love this family tradition Mel! I need to get me a fondue pot!
We like to have fondue around the holidays, but all my recipes have turned out dodgy. Glad to know I have one that is tried and tested to turn to when the time comes!
Believe it or not I’ve never had fondue. Guess I lead a sheltered life. None of my kids have fondue’d either. After seeing those pics and seeing this yummy recipe I think we are going to have to correct that. I also don’t use alcohol in my cooking so this will be perfect for us.
Of course first I guess I need a fondue pot 🙂
I have been looking for a good fondue recipe for a long time. Sometimes at work we will have a fondue potluck. We bring a chocolate and a cheese fondue and it is easy for people touring various foods to dip. People spoon some of the fondue onto their plate so we don’t share germs
Hi Mel! Fondue brings back happy memories of childhood. I have my mom’s old electric fondue pot, but I haven’t used it in years. (I’m a little worried it might cause an electical fire.) This would be the perfect time to bring back the family fondue nights to our house. Of course, I might need a new fondue pot. WIsh me luck on the giveaway! 🙂
We also do a fondue night. We started doing this for our valentines day dinner. My kids think it’s the greatest thing in the world. I’m so excited to try this recipe and see how my family likes it.
We have done fondue – the oil kind for Christmas Eve since our kids were little with steak and sausage but now the 10 grandkids – 10 adults we have 4 fondue pots all are the electric kind and it is a little tricky at times. I have a nephew who lives in Bern, Switzerland and I have been to Gruyere and had the cheese and the fondue so good and learned that you drink tea with cheese fondue or wine never soda. I am very excited to use this recipe just need to get a new fondue pot I can see.
I can’t wait to try this. All of your ideas seriously rock! What a fun tradition I hope we start. This was a great read, as are all your posts. Your family, yourself included, is absolutely darling. Bring on the cheese!
I am VERY excited to try this recipe!! Thanks for posting it!
This is one of the moments when I wish my stomach loved cheese as much as my mouth does! Looks AMAZING. (Darn dairy issues.)
We also fondue on New Year’s–but we do an oil fondue. I make tempura batter, breaded cheese cubes, various sauces, various meats, and lots of veggies…we love it. And that’s the only time we eat it because of the oil. Our rule is the first person to lose their dipper gets to do the dishes. I may have to institute the kissing rule for the later losses. 🙂
We want to have fondue on Christmas Eve this year and I’ll definitely be using this recipe! I love the photos, especially the one of you with your daughter (I have 2 daughters so I fall for anything daughterish). Thanks for the recipe, for the joy you’ll bring on Christmas Eve, and for the smile with the photos!
CHEESE!!!! What more could you ask for but food covered with cheese. Would so love to try fondue.
My family always did/does an oil fondue on New Year’s Eve. I think it’s our best tradition. I tried a non-alcoholic cheese one during Christmas we were away and it was very “Meh”. I can’t wait to try this!!
My 6 year old has never had fondue yet. It’s about time – he’ll love it!!
I’ve never made fondue before at home. Good opportunity to try!
We love fondue and have been making it for 30 years. My recipe is similar to your except I use buttermilk instead of the chicken broth. I don’t use alcohol either and it was hard to find a good replacement. I shred the cheeses and then toss them with the cornstarch. Heat the buttermilk and add the seasonings and cheese. Thanks for this post. I love it!
Hey Mel,
I got on to your website to look up another recipe, but got distracted by your cute kids. Fondue looks like so much fun. We tried it last year for New Years with the Young Men and Women. It was a big hit. We may have to make it a tradition. I grew up eating an Asian version called hot pot. It was always the coveted birthday meal. Hope you all are getting settled into your new house and life. Miss ya!
So excited to try this! Is there another name for Gruyere, i have had trouble finding that cheese. Also, I have to say I like Kim’s idea better about who drops the bread has to do the dishes. Just saying! 🙂
Hi Teresa – I don’t think it goes by another name. Some people substitute Swiss cheese for it but in this case (for the fondue), it will probably lend a different flavor/texture if substituted with something else. And now I’m thinking we’ll adopt the dishes rule AND still continue the smooching rule. 🙂
Wow! Thank you so much! I am a loyal fan of your recipes and I am just so happy to see you highlighting a blog like Kim’s! I am a student (and client!!) of EFT and I cannot wait to check her out!
Hey, Mel! Quick question- where do you get your Gruyere? Do we need super high-end? The stuff I saw at the store was $25 per pound… A little above my price range… Any suggestions would be welcome! Thanks a bunch!
Hi Amy – good question. I’m not sure if about the whole spectrum of Gruyere cheeses – perhaps another store would carry it at a better price? It definitely is a more expensive cheese (but well worth it for this recipe!); I’ve found it at Sam’s Club and Costco for the best price.
Thank you! I will check out Costco. That sounds like a great place to find it. Happy fondue-ing! 😉
Ok, that fondue looks perfect! I can’t stop thinking about it. It’s going to have to be made ASAP!
Perfect idea for entertaining — especially those grandkids!
I’ve always wanted to have fondue family nite! (Cheaper than going to the Melting Pot!)
Thanks for Kim’s site, very nice & thanks for the opportunity & yummy recipe!
I love, love, love fondue. We used to do it on Christmas Eve. And then I became lactose intolerant and now must die of jealousy instead of eating that delicious stuff. Not fair.
Good food and family….what could be better. Thanks for another yummy recipe.
I love fondue. It creates such a great opportunity to talk, laugh, and spend time with those you love. My family (3 girls, DH, and I) does a “meat” fondue…chicken, shrimp, crab, steak… every year on New Year’s. We cook the meats in a vegetable broth, and sit around and remember all of our “favorites” of the previous year. Because it takes a while for the meats to cook, I actually use pre-cooked shrimp which basically just needs to be warmed in the broth as a “filler” food so there are not long gaps between meats. I also have a slideshow running on our computer of pictures from all of our activities from the previous year. It is one of the highlights of our year, and my kids absolutely love it. It is probably our #1 favorite family tradition.
And for once, I have to say I disagree with something you mentioned–I happen to LOVE my Cuisinart fondue pot, if you don’t count the short cord. 😉 I haven’t had any problems with uneven heating; when cooking meats, the electric is just more reliable than flame. With that said, though, maybe if I had a better “flame” pot I’d like that more. Can’t wait to try this new cheese recipe!
Hi Alicia – I’m glad you love the Cuisinart fondue pot (I’m telling you, it gets great reviews on amazon). I can see how it would be really nice for meat fondue because it can keep the broth at a good simmer. I love your ideas of a family slideshow on New Year’s – I might have to steal that tradition!
Alicia,
That is such a wonderful tradition. I love it, it sounds like the sort of thing your kids will remember for the rest of their lives. I might try this in our house.
I love cheese fondue and broth/meat fondue and the totally unhealthy hot oil one (only had that once in a restaurant. I won’t be trying it at home any time soon!!
This looks a great recipe Mel, cant wait to try it 🙂
x
I am so making this. My sister-in-law uses martinelli’s in place of alcohol.
Oh my gosh, this looks like so much fun. I’m inspired to try this with my little family! 🙂
Mel- you and your family are SO adorable! I have never made fondue, but since you have perfected it I will give it a try!
Mel, you are just adorable. This is a fantastic, fun post, and I can’t wait to try this recipe. I also don’t cook with alcohol, so this is perfect for my family. Not sure the kissing will work with my two teenage boys, but my husband and I can try!