Cheddar Swiss cheese fondue is an easy crowd-pleaser that is perfect for holidays, dinner parties, game days, or family get-togethers! This flavorful fondue only takes a few ingredients and a few minutes to put together, and almost anything tastes great dunked in it!
My Cheddar Swiss cheese fondue is creamy, cheesy, and perfectly flavored with white wine and spices!
If you’re a cheese lover like me, this cheddar Swiss cheese fondue is for you! It’s a richly flavorful, perfectly seasoned, creamy melted cheese sauce that tastes incredible. This classic party favorite is a perfect snack or appetizer for game days, potlucks, or even a date night meal!
This fondue recipe uses amazing Gruyere cheese, an aged Swiss cheese that has incredible flavor and melts terrifically. I pair it with sharp cheddar cheese for extra flavor and melt it with delicious dry white wine. It’s a mouthwatering flavor combination!
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My cheddar Swiss cheese fondue may look and taste like its restaurant quality, but it’s incredibly easy to make! My recipe only takes 10 minutes to throw together. It’s perfect for when you’re entertaining but don’t have time to cook!
This melty fondue is great for dipping bread, vegetables, even meat! Throw together a board of your favorite dippers, melt the cheeses, and you’re ready to party!
🌎 Origin
Known as the national dish of Switzerland, fondue originated in the country as early as the 17th Century as a way to utilize aged cheese and old bread. Popularized in the 1930s, it was initially a main course that was served with a light side salad.
Fondue made its way to America in the 1960s and became known as a communal party dish. It lost some popularity in the 1980s and 1990s but has recently made a resurgence due to its easy prep and amazing flavor!
❤️ Why I Love This Recipe
So Cheesy! Sharp cheddar and aged Gruyere cheeses make this fondue so incredibly delicious!
A Party Favorite! Fondue is perfect for parties and gatherings – there’s no way you’ll have leftovers!
Done in 3 Steps! That’s all it takes to make this restaurant-quality fondue!
My easy cheddar Swiss cheese fondue recipe uses a dry white wine to help melt all that delicious cheese! I recommend using a wine that you enjoy drinking because the flavor will be noticeable in the fondue.
🥘 Ingredients
- 1 cup Dry White Wine – I like to use an affordable but good-quality dry white wine like pinot grigio, sauvignon blanc, or an oaked chardonnay.
- ½ pound Gruyere Cheese – Shred the Gruyere cheese for this recipe! (*See note)
- ½ pound Sharp Cheddar Cheese – The cheddar should also be shredded for this recipe. I recommend using sharp cheddar for extra flavor!
- 2 teaspoons Cornstarch – Use cornstarch to help the fondue stay smooth and creamy.
- Seasoning – To flavor the fondue, use ¼ teaspoon each of ground pepper, salt, and ground nutmeg (use freshly ground if possible).
*Be sure to see the recipe card below for ingredients, amounts & instructions!*
🫕 What to Dip In Fondue
The best part about cheese fondue is all the things you can dunk into all that cheesy goodness! Here are a few of my favorite ingredients to dunk:
Crusty Bread – Who doesn’t love bread dipped in cheese? I like to toast cubes of a good crusty Italian or French bread for perfect dipping.
Meat – Pieces of roasted, pan-seared, or grilled steak or chicken go so well with the delicious cheese fondue! I recommend cooking whole steak or chicken bread first, then cutting it into pieces or slices for serving. Pieces of ham, sausage, or other cured meats are also great additions to the fondue!
Raw or Roasted Vegetables – Fresh veggies like sliced red peppers, pickles, snow peas, radishes, carrots, and celery are delicious dipped in fondue! I also love to serve roasted potatoes, peppers, cippolini onions, or tomatoes.
Apple or Pears – For an amazing sweet and salty combo, try dipping slices of fresh apples or pears in the fondue!
🔪 Instructions
If you happen to have a fondue pot, that will keep the cheese warm and melted throughout serving! Otherwise, you can keep the serving bowl over a pot of simmering water right until you’re ready to serve!
- Heat wine. Start the fondue by adding 1 cup of dry white wine to a fondue pot or large saucepan. Then heat the wine over low-medium heat until it reaches a low simmer. You don’t want the wine to boil or become too hot, as it will start to evaporate.
- Mix cheese and seasonings. As the wine is heating up, toss ½ pound of Gruyere cheese and ½ pound of sharp cheddar cheese with 2 teaspoons of cornstarch and seasonings (¼ teaspoon each of salt, pepper, and ground nutmeg). Make sure the cheese is evenly coated with the rest of the ingredients.
- Melt cheese mixture. Once the wine is simmering, add the cheese and cornstarch mixture a little at a time, stirring frequently until fully melted and smooth. Serve right away with fondue forks or skewers and your favorite foods to dip.
This cheddar Swiss cheese fondue is a delicious, comforting treat! This meal is traditionally served as a main course (especially if you include meats) with a side salad, but you can also serve this as a delicious appetizer or party food! Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Notes
- Don’t want flecks of black pepper in your fondue? You can easily use ground white pepper to season instead!
- If you’re not a fan of wine, substitute beer! Use an equal amount of your favorite beer for a delicious beer cheese dip. If you prefer an alcohol-free version, swap the wine for apple juice, milk, or chicken broth.
- Use freshly grated cheese for the fondue! Pre-shredded cheese does not melt well due to the additives used to keep the cheese from clumping.
- Need to thin out your fondue? You can use additional dry white wine as needed, both when serving or when reheating.
- Don’t skip the cornstarch! The starch prevents the melted fondue from separating and becoming grainy and curdled.
🥡 Storing & Reheating
Store leftovers of this cheesy fondue in an airtight container for up to 3 days! Be sure to refrigerate leftovers after everyone has eaten, as the cheese will begin to spoil if kept out for more than two hours.
Freezing
You can freeze the fondue in an airtight container for up to 3 months if desired! I recommend making this easy fondue recipe fresh, however, as the freezing may alter the texture of the fondue.
Reheating Cheese Fondue
To reheat the fondue, I recommend using a double boiler to gently reheat the cheese. You can also use a metal bowl placed on top of a small pot or saucepan full of boiling water and heat until the cheese is completely melted.
Use additional white wine if needed to thin out the fondue.
🧀 More Cheesy Recipes!
- Cream Cheese Pasta
- Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
- White Cheddar Mac and Cheese
- Air Fryer Grilled Ham and Cheese
- Cheese Dip for Pretzels
❓ Recipe FAQs
Yes! You can make this easy cheese fondue up to 1 day in advance! Refrigerate the fondue in a shallow, airtight container. Then, reheat according to the reheat instructions above. I recommend using a double boiler to slowly and evenly reheat the cheese.
Nutmeg adds a warm, delicate spice and depth of flavor to the fondue. It’s a spice that is used in many European cheese dishes, not just dessert. For the best flavor, I love to use freshly grated nutmeg for this recipe! Whole nutmeg keeps for up to 5 years and is great to have around for any time you need a sprinkle of nutmeg!
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📖 Recipe Card
Cheddar Swiss Cheese Fondue
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry white wine (pinot gris, pinot grigio, sauvignon blanc, pinot blanc, or an oaked chardonnay)
- ½ lb Gruyere cheese (shredded)
- ½ lb sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)
- 2 teaspoon cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper (to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
Instructions
- Start out with adding the dry white wine to your fondue pot or a large saucepan. Heat the wine so that it reaches a low simmer.
- As the wine is heating up, toss the shredded Gruyere cheese and sharp cheddar cheese with the cornstarch and seasonings (salt, pepper, and nutmeg).
- Once the wine is simmering, add the cheese and cornstarch mixture a little at a time, stirring frequently until fully melted and combined. Serve right away with fondue forks or skewers and your favorite foods to dip.
Notes
- If you don't have wine, you may substitute your favorite beer for a delicious beer cheese dip. For an alcohol-free version, swap the wine for apple juice or a broth.
- Always use freshly grated cheese for fondue, the pre-shredded stuff does not melt well due to the additives used to keep the cheese from clumping.
- Some great things to dip in this cheese fondue include, but are not limited to, bread, cooked meats, apples, and raw or roasted veggies.
- Cheese fondue can be made up to 1 day in advance and refrigerated once cooled. To reheat, use a double boiler (or a metal bowl placed on top of a small pot or saucepan full of boiling water) and heat until melted.
- Use additional dry white wine to thin the fondue if needed - both when serving or when reheating.
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