The Richest, Cheesiest Fondue Recipes You'll Need for Fall

Good Housekeeping

Here in New York, our extended summer seems to have finally headed south, and sweater season has returned. That brings cravings for cozy foods such as long simmered soups and stews, hearty meats and cheeses. Specifically, warm gooey melted cheese (it's American Cheese Month!) into which you can dunk all sorts of wonderful things like sausage, and bread, and fresh fruit.

Classic Swiss Fondue

Rub the inside of a pot with a halved clove of garlic; discard garlic.

Heat 12 oz. dry white wine on med.-low until very hot but not boiling. Stir in 1 Tbsp. Kirsch or brandy. Meanwhile, toss 2 c. shredded Emmental or Swiss cheese, 2 c. shredded Gruyere cheese (about 8 oz. each) with 3 Tbsp. flour until well mixed. Add cheese, a handful at a time, to the wine, whisking constantly until cheese has melted and mixture is thick and smooth. Stir in 1/8 tsp. black pepper and a pinch of nutmeg. Serve with cubes of crusty bread. Serves 6 as an appetizer.

Related: 8 Super Simple No-Bake Desserts

Try these 3 easy variations:

Cheddar-Apple
Use Hard apple cider, applejack brandy, and 3 c. extra-sharp Cheddar and 1 c. Gruyere tossed with 2 Tbsp. cornstarch. Stir in ½ tsp. salt at the end. Serve with apple slices.

Fontina & Pancetta
Use Pinot Grigio, Fontina, and some sautéed pancetta stirred in at the end. Serve with cubes of rosemary focaccia.

Spanish-style
Use dry white wine, 1 Tbsp. dry sherry, Manchego (or a combination of Manchego and Gruyere), and pinch smoked paprika. Serve with boiled new potatoes.

Once you get the basic formula down (about 11/2 c. liquid to 4 c. cheese and 2 to 3 Tbsp. thickener), it's pretty easy to create your own combinations. To ensure your fondue doesn't curdle, make sure whatever cheese you choose has plenty of fat and that the liquid is acidic (such as wine or juice). You can make it in a regular saucepan, and eat it quickly before it gets cold (or reheat), or transfer to a fondue pot over a tabletop heater and serve at a more leisurely pace. Make sure to check out these great fondue tips from our friends at the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board.

Fondue is a social event-half the fun is dueling dipping-so invite some friends over and get cooking.

Cool weather making you want a little more romance in your life? Check out Katie's post on making a fondue date night!

Related: Turn Fondue Dinner into a Romantic Date Night

-Catherine Lo

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