Fondue (Cheese and Chocolate)

Our family loves having fondue on New Years Eve. We did cheese fondue as an appetizer then chocolate fondue for dessert (with a light dinner in between). I've struggled to make a non-stringy cheese fondue for years but this year, I got it right (thanks to following a Betty Crocker recipe). 

The cheese fondue recipe would serve 2-3 adults as an appetizer. The chocolate fondue recipe would serve 4-6 adults for dessert. You could consider ingredient variations, depending on taste preferences (swiss cheese instead of gruyere or mozzarella; nonalcoholic wine instead of regular wine; kirsch or sherry instead of brandy). I make the fondue in a pot on the stovetop and then transfer to a small crockpot or fondue pot. 

Cheese Fondue

Ingredients for fondue:

• 1 cup of cheddar gruyere cheese (shredded)
• 1 cup of mozzarella cheese (shredded)
• 1 tbsp of flour
• Half a clove of garlic
• 1/2 cup of dry white wine
• 1/2 tbsp of lemon juice
• 1 1/2 tbsp of brandy

Ingredients for dipping:

• French or sourdough bread (cut into cubes)
• Apple (sliced)
• Carrots (baby carrots or cut into slices)
• Sausage (cut into circles)
• Crackers (Note: not a typical dipping ingredient but popular with the kids)

Directions:

1. Put the shredded cheese in a Ziploc bag with the tablespoon of flour. Shake the bag until the cheese is coated with flour. Let it stand for 30 minutes at room temperature.
2. Rub garlic on the bottom and sides of the pot, then discard the garlic. Add the white wine to the pot. Heat over low until bubbles just rise to the surface (do not boil). 
3. Stir in lemon juice. 
4. Gradually add the cheese mixture (about 1/2 cup at a time). Make sure that each round of cheese has melted before you add another round of cheese. Gently stir constantly with a wire whisk over low heat. DO NOT stir too vigorously or the cheese becomes stringy. 
5. Once cheese is all melted and it is a sauce/fondue texture, stir in brandy. 
6. Transfer to crockpot or fondue pot and keep warm over low heat. 
7. Spear dipping ingredients (bread, apple, carrots, and sausage) and dip in fondue to enjoy! If fondue becomes too thick while eating, stir in a small amount of wine. 

Chocolate Fondue

Ingredients for fondue:

• 1 1/4 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup of dark chocolate chips
• 1 1/2 cup of heavy cream
• 1/2 tsp of salt

Ingredients for dipping:

• Marshmallows
• Bananas and other fruit (strawberry, pineapple, etc.)
• Cookies
• Graham crackers

Directions:

1. Add chocolate chips, heavy cream and salt to the pot over medium-high heat, stirring every couple of minutes. 
2. Once fully melted, transfer to crockpot or fondue pot on low heat.
3. Spear dipping ingredients and dip in fondue to enjoy. If fondue gets too thick while eating, stir in a little bit more cream.