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Preparing a fondue is always a great idea, whether for using in a formal dinner, or simply a social gathering. Apart from looking so irresistible, their preparation only requires a few ingredients and minutes. What's more, with their amazing versatility, fondues have been found to be the best problem-solvers for starters, main courses or desserts.
So if you've never considered making fondues for your dinners, you probably will now, with our list of savory and sweet mouth-watering fondue recipes, complete with dipping suggestions and other useful tips. We're sure it will be a great kitchen inspiration for you all, especially with all the festive celebrations coming up!
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Fondues generally require a fondue set, so that the content remains warm and creamy, but in case you don't have this at hand, use a small crockpot set on low heat instead. Here are some other tips and suggestions to keep in mind when preparing fondues.
General tips:
- Cheese tips: To avoid ruining your cheese fondue, make sure you do not overcook it, and transfer it to the fondue pot immediately. If you notice the cheese getting a little too thick, add some milk and stir.
- Chocolate tips: Make sure your chocolate stays melted the whole time, by melting it in a double boiler on the stove, and keeping it over the heat in the fondue pot. Also, be careful not to heat it to more than 105°F, or else it will be ruined.
- Alternative to dipping forks: If you happen to have none or not enough dipping forks for your guests, opt for a cheaper and more easily-available option by using bamboo skewers.
- Dippers tip: Any food that is dipped in your fondue (such as fruit and vegetable pieces) must be completely dry, otherwise, the fondue will slide right off. If you are using bread or cake, make sure it is a little stiff to avoid crumbling.
- Planning your portions: Plan 1 cup of dippers for each person, if they are fruits, vegetables, or bread cubes; and 1/2 pound if they are meat cubes.
Dipper tips
- For starter/main dishes (savory): bread cubes (sourdough, rye, garlic, Italian, French baguettes, ciabatta, pumpernickel), croutons, breadsticks, mini-meatballs, sausage cubes, ham cubes, steak cubes, fresh mushrooms, red/green pepper strips, broccoli florets, potato cubes or wedges (cooked or roasted), artichoke hearts, cherry tomatoes, cauliflower, carrots, zucchini chunks, cucumber fingers, shrimps.
- For dessert (sweet): strawberries, cherries, banana slices, pineapple cubes, apple wedges, pears, cantaloupe chunks, cake cubes, brownies, cookies, pretzel sticks, mini-cupcakes, orange segments, raspberries, kiwi fruit, marshmallows.
- Optional sweet topping ideas: shredded coconut, crushed nuts, crushed cookies, candy sprinkles, minced dried fruit, shaved chocolate.
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Recipe ideas: SAVORY
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1. Blue cheese fondue:
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| Image and recipe source: williams.sonoma.com |
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For lovers of the pungent taste of blue cheese, here's a creamy fondue that will leave you licking your fingers.
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Click to show/hide recipe. ↓
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients:
For fondue:
- 3/4 lb. Cambozola cheese, rind removed, cheese crumbled
- 3/4 lb. pungent blue cheese, rind removed, cheese crumbled
- 5 tsp. cornstarch
- 1/4 cup dry white wine
- 2 tsp. minced fresh thyme
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
- 1/4 tsp. cracked black pepper
- 5 fresh chives, snipped
For dippers:
- 2 to 3 lb. assorted vegetables, such as blanched green beans, broccolini and asparagus, peeled baby carrots and radishes
- 1/2 loaf crusty bread, cut into cubes
Directions:
- Combine the cheeses and cornstarch in a bowl.
- Add the wine and thyme in a heavy-bottomed saucepan and place on medium heat. Leave to simmer for 1 minute, then whisk in the cream, cayenne and black pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low when the mixture starts to bubble.
- Transfer the cheese mixture (from step 1) to the saucepan and stir with a rubber spatula until the cheese has completely melted and is well-combined with the rest of the ingredients.
- Fill a fondue pot with 1 inch of simmering water and place the ceramic insert over the pot. Pour in the fondue and add some chives as a final touch. Serve alongside the dippers.
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2. Wine Fondue
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| Image and recipe source: landolakes.com |
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A quick and easy-to-make fondue using the best ingredient for a celebratory dinner or party. It can be used both with savory and sweet dishes.
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Click to show/hide recipe. ↓
Yield: 1 cup
Ingredients:
For fondue:
- 2 cups full-bodied red wine (Zinfandel, Barolo or Cabernet Sauvignon)*
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 teaspoons dry fruit pectin
For dippers:
- Cheese cubes (LAND O LAKES® Deli Sharp Cheddar, Chedarella® or Monterey Jack Cheese)
- Other suggestions: fruit, gingerbread, angel food cake, French bread
Directions:
- Combine wine and sugar in a 10-inch skillet and cook over medium-high heat, until mixture comes to a boil (2-3 minutes). Reduce heat to medium and stir occasionally, until the mixture is reduced to about 1 cup (20-25 minutes).
- Add pectin and cook it in it for 1 minute.
- Remove from heat and let it cool completely before serving it as a fondue together with the dippers.
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3. Pizza fondue
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| Image and recipe source: eatwisconsincheese.com |
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A fondue you never thought could be possible. With ingredients like ground beef, onions, oregano and mozzarella, this fondue is a pure burst of tastiness, making for a great side dish for main course.
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Click to show/hide recipe. ↓
Yield: 6-8 servings
Ingredients:
For fondue:
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/2 cup onion, chopped
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 2 cans (10 1/2 ounces) pizza sauce
- 1 1/2 teaspoons fennel seed, crushed
- 1 1/2 teaspoons leaf oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 1/2 cups (10 ounces) Wisconsin cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Wisconsin mozzarella cheese
For dippers:
- Italian, French bread, or English muffins
Directions:
- Heat the butter in a 2-quart fondue pot or heavy saucepan over high heat. Place onion and ground beef and cook until brown.
- Add pizza sauce and spices and stir well until the mixture bubbles. Add cheeses by handfuls, stirring well periodically. When a smooth consistency is achieved, transfer the mixture to the fondue pot.
- Cut the dippers into pieces and serve with the fondue.
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4. Three cheeses fondue
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| Image and recipe source: bettycrocker.com |
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The heavenly fondue we all crave for - a mixture of tasty melted cheeses you can satisfyingly indulge in with some fresh bread dippers.
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Click to show/hide recipe. ↓
Yield: 12 servings
Ingredients:
For fondue:
- 4 oz Havarti cheese, shredded (1 cup)
- 4 oz sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded (1 cup)
- 4 oz American cheese, shredded (1 cup)
- 3 tablespoons Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
For dippers:
- 6 cups French bread cubes
Directions:
- Place flour and cheeses in a medium bowl to mix.
- In a 2-quart saucepan, pour the wine and cook over medium heat until well-heated. Important: do not boil the wine.
- Add the cheese mixture (from step 1), 1/2 cup at a time, stirring until melted. Stir in the garlic powder.
- Pour the mixture into the fondue pot and keep warmed up. Serve with bread cubes.
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Recipe ideas: SWEET
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5. Dark chocolate Kahlua fondue
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| Image and recipe source: saveur.com |
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The bittersweet taste of dark chocolate goes amazingly well with fresh-cut fruit such as bananas, apples, and strawberries, as well as other delicious dippers.
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Click to show/hide recipe. ↓
Yield: 2 cups
Ingredients:
For fondue:
- 2 cups dark chocolate baking chips
- 2 tbsp. unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 cup Kahlua
- 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
For dippers:
- Fresh-cut fruit, marshmallows, or brownies
Directions:
- Fill a 4-quart saucepan with a depth of 1 inch of water, place over medium heat, and cover with a heatproof bowl (or use a double boiler). Add the chocolate and warm until melted.
- Stir in the butter to combine, followed by the cream for a glossy texture. Add Kahlua, cinnamon, salt and cayenne.
- Transfer the chocolate mixture to the fondue pot and serve with the dippers, or use it to drizzle over other desserts such as ice-cream.
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6. Caramel fondue
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| Image: lecremedelacrumb.com / Recipe: foodandwine.com |
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Spoil your guests with some sensational bite-sized delights, coated with the sweetness of creamy homemade caramel syrup.
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Click to show/hide recipe. ↓
Yield: 4 cups
Ingredients:
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup corn syrup
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
For dippers:
- Pound cake, angel food cake, brownies, bananas, pineapple, pears and apples
For toppings:
- Shaved chocolate, chopped nuts, grated coconut and minced dried fruit
Directions:
- Combine sugar, corn syrup and water in a medium saucepan and place over low heat. Stir and cook for about 10 minutes, until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat to moderately high and simmer, until the syrup starts to become golden. Using a wet brush, brush down the sides of the saucepan occasionally during the process. Swirl the pan and continue to simmer, after about 40 minutes from starting, the caramel changes to a deep amber color. Remove the saucepan from heat.
- Stir in the heavy cream, followed by the butter. Combine them together until the butter is melted. Place saucepan on heat again and bring just to simmer. Remove from heat and add the vanilla.
- Let the caramel cool for 30 minutes, whisking every now and again. Then, transfer to the fondue pot placed over low heat, add any optional toppings, and serve alongside the dippers.
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7. White chocolate fondue
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| Image and recipe source: myrecipes.com |
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You know you're being treated wonderfully when you're served this gorgeous white chocolate fondue, which is incomparable to any other yummy dessert.
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Click to show/hide recipe. ↓
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients:
For fondue:
- 12 ounces white chocolate, coarsely chopped
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
For dippers:
- 2 pints strawberries, hulled
Directions:
- In a small, heavy saucepan, combine the chocolate and cream and place over low heat. Whisk the mixture until the chocolate is melted and consistency becomes smooth.
- Transfer to the fondue pot and stir in the vanilla extract.
- Serve with strawberries, or any dipper of your choice.
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8. Milk chocolate fondue
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| Image and recipe source: bettycrocker.com |
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For the ultimate choice of fondue, melted milk chocolate will never disappoint. No point at a dinner is more exciting than the moment this lip-smacking delight is placed in front of you.
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Click to see recipe. ↓
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients:
For fondue:
- 2/3 cup Half-and-Half
- 12 oz milk chocolate or 1 bag (11.5 oz) milk chocolate chips (2 cups))
- 2 tablespoons orange-flavored liqueur, kirsch, brandy or half-and-half
For dippers:
- Pound cake cubes, strawberries, pineapple chunks, apple slices, marshmallows
Directions:
- Combine the Half-and-Half and chocolate over low heat in a 2-quart heavy saucepan. Stir until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Remove from heat.
- Stir in the liqueur. Transfer the mixture into the fondue pot.
- Serve with dippers and let the devouring begin!
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