Servings
Font
Back
4.9 from 138 votes

Gruyere Cheese Fondue Recipe

This cheese fondue is creamy, smooth, and by far the best! It's classic melted gruyère cheese flavored with caramelized shallots, apple brandy, and warm spices. It's an easy recipe that's perfect for seasonal gatherings, and it's ready in just 35 minutes!

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
35 mins
Servings: 3 cups
Calories: 288 kcal
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: French

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 6 ounces shallots finely minced (about 1 ½ cups)
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 14 ounces gruyere cheese finely grated (about 3 ½ cups packed)
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour for a gluten free version use 1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 ½ cups dry white wine such as a pinot gris or a sauvignon blanc
  • 1 pinch ground nutmeg
  • 1 small garlic clove finely minced
  • 2 tablespoons apple brandy like calvados
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Melt the butter over medium heat in a medium-sized frying pan. Add the shallots and cook for 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low, add the sugar and salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes. Lower the heat if the shallots start to brown.
  2. While the shallots are caramelizing, grate the cheese using the fine edge of the grater. Add to a large bowl and toss with the flour, or for a gluten-free fondue, toss with cornstarch.
  3. OPTIONAL STEP: Transfer the caramelized shallots to your blender. Add the wine and blend until smooth.
  4. Pour the blended wine and shallots (or add the minced shallots and wine - see notes) into a medium-sized pot and it to a boil for 1 minute. Lower the heat so it's very gently simmering. Using one small handful at a time, slowly begin to add the cheese. Whisk until the cheese has melted and the pot returns to a simmer before adding more. Continue until all the cheese has been added to the fondue.
  5. Remove the pot from the heat then whisk in the nutmeg, garlic, apple brandy, and black pepper. Be generous with the amount of pepper you grind in. Check for seasonings and add more salt and pepper as necessary.
  6. Serve the fondue hot, preferably in a fondue pot, with all your favorite dippers. See the below for a few ideas.

Notes

  • While leftover fondue can be reheated, it is best to make it fresh. To make your fondue party easier, you can prepare all your dippers, caramelize the shallots and blend them with the wine, and grate the cheese and mix it with the flour ahead of time. On party day, all you have to do is warm up the dippers and melt the cheese. Easy!
  • We've added the optional step of blending the shallots with the wine for those who want a silky smooth fondue with no signs of caramelized shallots. By blending them you'll get all the wonderful taste without little bits in your fondue. 
  • While bread is what is often served with fondue, there are many other things that you can use to dip.  Some of our favorites are spicy sausage, sautéed whole mushrooms, lightly steamed broccoli or cauliflower, prawns, tiny roasted potatoes, and slices of apples.
  • While bread is what is often served with fondue,
  • there are many other things that you can use to dip.  Some of our favorites are spicy sausage, sautéed whole mushrooms, lightly steamed broccoli or cauliflower, prawns, tiny roasted potatoes, and slices of apples.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1 serving = ⅛ of the recipe Calories 288kcal (14%) Carbohydrates 7g (2%) Protein 16g (32%) Fat 18g (28%) Saturated Fat 10g (50%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 5g Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 58mg (19%) Sodium 475mg (20%) Potassium 148mg (4%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 3g (6%) Vitamin A 515IU (10%) Vitamin C 2mg (2%) Calcium 515mg (52%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 3cups

Amount Per Serving

Calories 288

% Daily Value*

Serving 1 serving = ⅛ of the recipe
Calories 288kcal 14%
Carbohydrates 7g 2%
Protein 16g 32%
Fat 18g 28%
Saturated Fat 10g 50%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 5g 25%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 58mg 19%
Sodium 475mg 20%
Potassium 148mg 3%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 3g 6%
Vitamin A 515IU 10%
Vitamin C 2mg 2%
Calcium 515mg 52%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.