Best 10 Classic Cheese Fondue Recipes

CLASSIC CHEESE FONDUE

Steps:

• Rub cut side of garlic on inside of large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed saucepan, preferably cast iron, rubbing the bottom and halfway up the sides. Add wine and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, toss cheeses with cornstarch. Add a handful at a time to simmering wine, stirring until first handful melts before adding next. Reduce heat to medium and stir constantly until cheese is completely melted. Add kirsch, if using, and heat until bubbling, about 1 to 2 minutes. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg, if desired. Serve with crusty bread and other accompaniments. (See variations below)

CLASSIC CHEESE FONDUE

Steps:

• Add white wine, cherry brandy, garlic clove, cayenne, nutmeg, and cornstarch to a saucepan. Whisk to combine and place on the stove over medium heat. Cook, whisking occasionally, until mixture thickens slightly and you can see wisps of steam in the pan, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add Gruyere and Emmentaler cheeses, one handful at a time, slowly whisking after each addition until melted. Continue whisking until all cheese is melted and sauce is very smooth. Remove from the heat and transfer into a fondue pot to serve.
• Keep sauce warm while serving so it doesn't solidify.

CLASSIC SWISS THREE-CHEESE FONDUE

Steps:

• What to dip: crusty mixed grain bread, French or Italian bread, cut into bite-sized cubes (leave a piece of crust on each cube); Cooked chicken breast, skin and bone removed, cut into bite-sized cubes; cooked garlic sausage or knockwurst, cut into bite-sized wedges; boiled new potatoes; asparagus spears, broccoli florets or cauliflower florets prepared for dipping.
• Rub the inside of a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan with the garlic; discard the garlic. Add the wine and lemon juice and bring to a bare simmer over medium heat.
• In a medium bowl, toss the Gruyere, Emmentaler, and Appenzeller cheeses with the cornstarch. A handful at a time, stir the cheese mixture into the wine, stirring the first batch until it is almost completely melted before adding another. The fondue can bubble gently, but do not boil. Stir in the kirsch and season with the nutmeg and pepper.
• Transfer to a cheese fondue pot and keep warm over a fondue burner. Serve immediately with dipping ingredients

CLASSIC CHEESE FONDUE

Steps:

• Toss the Gruyere and Emmental with the flour in a medium bowl.
• Combine the wine and garlic in a fondue pot or medium saucepan and bring to a simmer. Gradually add the cheese mixture while stirring constantly, simmering until the cheese is incorporated and thoroughly melted. Stir in the mustard, nutmeg and cherry brandy if using.
• If you are using a fondue pot, set it over its burner. Otherwise, pour the mixture into a slow cooker and set it to "warm." Serve with an assortment of dippers such as baguette cubes, sliced vegetables and sliced fruit.

CLASSIC CHEESE FONDUE

Steps:

• Toss cheeses in a medium bowl with flour, cayenne pepper, and white pepper to coat, and set aside. Heat wine in a fondue pot over medium heat until it starts to bubble, about 6 minutes.
• Stir in cheese mixture, a little at a time. Stir in kirsch. Continue to cook, stirring, until cheese has melted, 6 minutes. Stir in lemon juice. The mixture should be smooth and almost bubbling. Transfer pot to its stand set over a burner for up to 1 hour. Serve immediately with bread.

CLASSIC SWISS THREE-CHEESE FONDUE

Steps:

• Rub the inside of a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan with the garlic; discard the garlic.
• Add the wine and lemon juice and bring to a bare simmer over medium heat.
• In a medium bowl, toss the Gruyere, Emmentaler, and Appenzeller cheeses with the cornstarch.
• A handful at a time, stir the cheese mixture into the wine, stirring the first batch until it is almost completely melted before adding another.
• The fondue can bubble gently, but do not boil.
• Stir in the kirsch and season with the nutmeg and pepper.
• Transfer to a cheese fondue pot and keep warm over a fondue burner.
• Serve immediately with dipping ingredients of your choice.

CLASSIC CHEESE FONDUE VARIATIONS

Steps:

• Combine cheese and cornstarch in a bag. Shake to make sure cheese is coated with cornstarch.
• Rub inside of pot with garlic clove cut in half. Discard garlic.
• Note: When choosing your wine you may choose a color or flavor other than what is listed here. Sherry is good for appetizer fondue; Champagne, Nechatel or Fendant de Sion are good for either appetizers or the main course; and Rhine, Moselle, Chablis, Sauterne are best for main dishes.
• Pour in wine and lemon juice. Warm until bubbles rise to the surface. Do not cover or boil.
• Remember to stir constantly from now one. Add a handful of cheeses, keeping the heat medium (do not boil), when melted add another handful. After all the cheese is melted and bubbling add a dash of nutmeg and pepper. Transfer to fondue pot and keep warm over fondue burner.
• Note: If fondue becomes too thick add a bit of warmed wine. If it separates combine 1 T cornstarch and 2 T wine and stir into fondue.

CLASSIC CHEESE FONDUE

Steps:

• In a bowl, toss the Gruyere and Emmentaler with the cornstarch.
• Rub the inside of a cheese fondue pot, or medium, enameled cast-iron casserole with the garlic, then add the wine and bring to a simmer.
• Add the cheese mixture all at once.
• Using a wooden spoon, stir over moderately low heat just until the cheese is melted and smooth, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the Kirsch and season with salt and pepper.
• Serve with the bread, salami and pickles.
• Make ahead: The fondue can be refrigerated overnight and reheated in a microwave, or on the stove over low heat.

CLASSIC CHEESE FONDUE WITH FRENCH BREAD

Steps:

• 1. Rub the inside of the fondue pot with one clove of garlic and then discard.
• 2. Cook wine and lemon juice int pot until very hot. Add garlic clove speared with a toothpick (it will make removing it easier). Decrease heat and stir in cheese, cooking until melted.
• 3. In a separate bowl, blend kirsch with cornstarch, nutmeg, white pepper and paprika; stir into cheese until smooth. Keep on low heat and do not boil.
• 4. Remove garlic clove and serve with French bread.

CLASSIC SWISS CHEESE FONDUE

Steps:

• Rub the inside of a cheese fondue pot or medium enameled cast-iron casserole with the garlic clove; discard the garlic. Combine the grated Gruyère and Emmentaler with the wine, cornstarch and lemon juice in the fondue pot and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until the cheeses begin to melt, about 5 minutes. Add the kirsch and a generous pinch each of pepper and nutmeg and cook, stirring gently, until creamy and smooth, about 10 minutes; don't overcook the fondue or it will get stringy. Serve at once.