Easy Cheese Fondue Recipe with White Wine (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Richa · This post may contain affiliate links.

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Easy cheese fondue recipe with white wine is a perfect gourmet appetizer that you can make at home! Cheeses like emmental, gruyere and cheddar work best for a silky, creamy, indulgent swiss fondue. Amazing for New Years Eve, Valentines Day or a date night!

Easy Cheese Fondue Recipe with White Wine (1)

I am really taking things up a notch this season with my easy cheese fondue recipe made with white wine. We are all about appetizers this week, and this right here is the ultimate ‘impressive’ but ‘easy’ that’ll make you the coolest host/hostess in town!

Have you ever had a real fondue? With swiss cheese, white wine and one that’s rich, creamy and smooth? It’s fantastic guys! It’ll take you straight to the Alps and you’ll feel like you were sitting by the window of a Swiss restaurant dipping bite sized pieces of sourdough into a warm pot of fondue just after your first ski.

For a dish that’s a real indulgence, making your own fondue is incredibly easy and needs all of five ingredients – garlic, cheese, cornstarch, white wine and seasoning. And because there are only three, it’s important to pick quality ingredients so that they really shine in this easy cheese fondue recipe with white wine.

Easy Cheese Fondue Recipe with White Wine (2)
Easy Cheese Fondue Recipe with White Wine (3)

I’ve actually done all the work today, and made sure that you are equipped the next time you decide to try making a cheese fondue at home. If you can stand over a pot and stir, you can make fondue.

Top tips to makeEasy Cheese Fondue Recipe with White Wine

  • You’ll need about 1 cup of wine per pound (450 grams) of cheese. It’s important to use a dry white wine like Big Banyan’s Chardonnay for your fondue. The acidity in the wine helps the cheese’s proteins from clumping together and turning the fondue into a stringy broken mass. Fresh lemon juice squeezed into the fondue can also help stabilize it, and add acidity and freshness that balances out the cheese.
  • Since cheese is the key ingredient in this recipe, it’s a good idea to dole out a bit on good quality cheese. Well ripened cheese is best and a classic combination of Emmentaler which melts easy, and Gruyere which packs in flavor always works really well. Other cheeses that can be a good addition are cheddar, mild blue cheese, jarlsberg, fontina etc.
  • You must make sure the cheese is at room temperature. Adding cold cheese to warm wine can be a sure shot way to break the fondue. It’s also important to grate the cheese so that it melts faster, and add a little cornstarch which creates a wonderful, creamy fondue.Easy Cheese Fondue Recipe with White Wine (4)

To Fondue Pot or not to Fondue Pot?

The thing is, once you start making your own fondue at home, you realize how easy and affordable it is to enjoy and serve fondue. When it’s a dinner date for the two of you, or for a party you are throwing – this easy cheese fondue recipe with white wine never fails to impress. Which is why, I’d recommend investing in a fondue pot which these days are not very expensive and easily available. Once a fondue is cooked, maintaining the temperature can be quite challenging. Too cold and it thickens up and becomes clumpy, and too warm – there can be danger of it breaking up. The double boiler system of a fondue pot helps maintain the temperature and keeps it perfectly creamy through the evening.

Denver and I have started enjoying fondue nights, where he helps me cut up fondue dippers while I quickly whip up a fondue for us to enjoy. It’s my favorite date night plan – with both of us chilling with a glass of Big Banyan’s Chardonnay, putting on a favorite movie and dipping bite sized pieces of bread into a pot of cheese fondue. I love pairing this easy cheese fondue with the Chardonnay simply because it’s a delicate wine, and has the intense aromas of pears and pineapples, which when paired with the rich fondue, is a perfect balance.

The flavors of this fondue are salty, intense and slightly tart and therefore a wine which has a mild fruity base is a good fit. The chardonnay balances out the flavors with its minerality and acidity. We also love pairing it sometimes with Big Banyan’s Bellissima which is a dessert wine. The bellissima is not overpoweringly sweet, but will remind you of apricots and pears. It has a smooth finish and a velvety mouthfeel which is just what you need with a fondue.

Easy Cheese Fondue Recipe with White Wine (5)
Easy Cheese Fondue Recipe with White Wine (6)

What do you dip into this easy cheese fondue?

This one’s a no brainer because everything goes with cheese but here are our favorites:

  • Bite sized pieces of sourdough
  • Blanched Broccoli
  • Pretzels
  • Grapes
  • Potato wedges or fries
  • Celery Sticks
  • Apples
  • Other raw vegetables like carrots
  • Meatballs
  • Beef Steak slices

Do you think you can take on a fondue now? Just stir in some cheese, pop open a bottle of wine and give this a go!

Thanks to our friends atBig Banyanfor sponsoring this recipe, and serving up some delicious wine!

You Might Also Like These Party Snacks:

  • Jalapeno Poppers with Cottage Cheese
  • Sticky Thai Meatballs
  • Tortellini Pasta Salad
  • No Brainer Loaded Nachos Platter
  • Chicken Shawarma
  • Mexican Corn Fritters

Easy Cheese Fondue Recipe with White Wine (7)

Easy Cheese Fondue Recipe with White Wine

Easy cheese fondue recipe with white wine is a perfect gourmet appetizer that you can make at home! Cheeses like emmental, gruyere and cheddar work best for a silky, creamy, indulgent swiss fondue. Amazing for New Years Eve, Valentines Day or a date night!

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dishes

Cuisine: Swiss

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 Portions

Calories: 304kcal

Author: Richa

Ingredients

  • 1 Garlic Clove grated
  • 1 cup Dry White Wine
  • 200 grams Emmentaler cheese at room temperature
  • 200 grams Gruyère cheese at room temperature
  • 50 grams Smoked Cheddar at room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons Cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon Fresh Lemon Juice
  • Toasted bread cubed and/or lightly blanched vegetables for dipping

Instructions

  • Shred or grate all the cheese finely and toss well with cornstarch.

  • Add wine and garlic to a heavy bottomed pan and bring to bubbling simmer and start adding cheese by the handful. Keep whisking as you go to incorporate the cheese till the mixture is smooth and the cheese has melted. The mixture should be smooth but have a slight elasticity to it. Add the lime juice and gently stir it in. Season with salt and pepper if you like but I didn't need to add any extra salt.

  • Transfer to a fondue pot and serve with dippers such as bread bites, lightly blanched broccoli, potatoes, steak bites, breadsticks etc. and chilled white wine.

Notes

  • Make sure you keep the heat to low while cooking the fondue. High heat can make the fondue break and you'll be left with separate wine and cheese.
  • If your fondue breaks and you have no other option but to throw it, try blending it in a blender. This is not authentic but it works and keeps the fondue together.

Nutrition

Calories: 304kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 66mg | Sodium: 327mg | Potassium: 88mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 586IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 496mg | Iron: 1mg

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Easy Cheese Fondue Recipe with White Wine (2024)

FAQs

What is a good white wine for cheese fondue? ›

The best white wines for fondue are Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, or un-oaked Chardonnay.

Is cornstarch or flour better for fondue? ›

The cornstarch is yet more insurance to keep the fondue from breaking, coating the proteins and fat and preventing them from coalescing. Some recipes call for a flour-based roux, but I found cornstarch to work very well, producing a fondue without any starchiness.

What is a substitute for white wine in cheese fondue? ›

If non-alcoholic wines are also not an option then the wine can be replaced with either milk or a 50/50 mixture of milk and chicken or vegetable stock (broth). Again toss the cheese in the cornflour first and add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to the pot as well.

How much cheese per person for fondue? ›

The Swiss recommend 200g of cheese per person but believe me that is a lot so I would go with 150g each. Dry white wine or hot tea is the usual accompaniment with a shot of Kirsch for those who are feeling bold.

What is the best cheap white wine for fondue? ›

The best white wines for fondue are Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc and un-oaked Chardonnay.

Is broth or oil better for fondue? ›

When making fondue, the first thing to consider is what type of ingredients you want to use; if you are a vegetarian, you may prefer the oil. The oil is also a healthier option because it contains no fat or calories. However, if you like meat and cheese, the broth is better because it has more flavors.

What does cornstarch do in cheese fondue? ›

Never let fondue boil, which will cause the cheese proteins to curdle and the oil to separate. This recipe also calls for a slurry of kirsch and a little bit of cornstarch, which will also help to prevent the cheese and wine from separating.

What kind of bread is best for cheese fondue? ›

A mild-flavored sourdough or baguette will work well. You can also use a loaf of dense rye bread, but you may want to cube it instead of tearing it into chunks. Baguettes are the traditional choice for dipping in fondue because they have a mild flavor and crisp crust that's perfect for dipping in creamy, melted cheese.

Do you need white wine for fondue? ›

The short answer is ... yes. Even though fondue is classically made with white wine, it can also be made with other alcohols like brandy, beer or whiskey or, for a non-alcohol version, with flavorful stock. But there are a few things to keep in mind if you're making a fondue without alcohol.

Does white wine cook out of fondue? ›

Fondue is traditionally made with a mix of cheese and wine. The wine not only thins the fondue but its acidity acts as an emulsifier. Some of the alcohol from the wine evaporates as the fondue is heated, some remains behind.

Do I have to use wine in fondue? ›

If you'd like to make this cheese fondue recipe without wine, you can substitute 8 oz. of unsalted chicken or vegetable stock.

Can you overcook cheese fondue? ›

3. Add 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.

How much cheese do I need for 25 guests? ›

A good rule of thumb is 1 ounce of each cheese for every guest and about five types of cheese. For a party in which cheese is the main event, plan on buying 3 pounds for eight people, 6 pounds for 16 people, or 9 pounds for 24 people. If cheese is one of many items being served, plan on buying 3 to 4 ounces per person.

How many people does 1lb of cheese feed? ›

The USDA defines 1 ounce as a serving size in regards to deli cheese. That being said, one pound of product would equal 16 servings per pound.

What is the best dry white wine for Swiss fondue? ›

<%=food%> needs a light and dry White Wine:
  • Chenin Blanc Dry (France)
  • Dry Riesling (Germany)
  • Pinot Grigio (Italy)
  • Chablis (France)
  • Albariño (Spain)

Is Pinot Grigio good for fondue? ›

Pinot Grigio is also good, but it must be very dry (taste it before using it for fondue). Avoid at all cost sweet wines and too specific tastes (Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Muscat), but above all: No red wine!

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