Easy Fondue Party
How to Fondue, Accessories and Recipes

We have a bit of a tradition among the group of ladies that you see in the picture below.

Over 10 years ago, we began taking an annual trip together that is fondly referred to as the "Spa Buddy Trip."

The trip got its name because when we first began, we went on a two day trip to a spa and had massages and manicures (in addition to ALOT of shopping, eating and partying!).

Quick Jump Links

Somewhere along the way, the tradition of having easy fondue parties began. I call them easy because all six of us get in the kitchen together and cook which is so much fun. We drink, chat, chop and giggle our way through the preparations.

When you have 6 ladies in the kitchen together, fondue cooking could not be easier.

Whether you want to host an easy fondue party with some friends or if you want to do it more regularly with your family, you can learn how to fondue in no time at all using my fondue cooking ideas.

How to Fondue

First, you will need to make a couple of important decisions.

• Type of Fondue Party -- Are you going to have a fondue party where everybody sits around a table like at a dinner party? Or are you going to have a more casual affair where fondue pots are set up on a buffet table or in your family room on a coffee table? This decision will help you figure your how many people you can invite to your fondue party and what kind of equipment you will need.
• Number of People -- If you are having a sit down fondue party, everyone will need to be able to reach the fondue pots so I would limit it to 6 or 8 people. If you want to have a larger party, set your fondue pots on buffet tables and around the house. That way everybody can graze when they want to.

Once you figure out the type of fondue party you are having and the number of people to invite, you can organize your fondue equipment and pick out your recipes.

I have hosted both sit down and buffet-type fondue parties. For the sit down parties, I serve two savory fondues, like Garlic Cream Cheese Fondue and Chili Cumin Cheese Fondue and one dessert fondue, like Grand Marnier Chocolate Fondue.

All three of these are served in my Rival Fondue Pots.

Check out the picture of my last fondue party at the top of this page. You can see two of the fondue pots in use.

For larger parties, I use a variety of other fondue pots (see some of them below) and set them up around the house. I also use the table in my kitchen to set up my Rival Chocolate Fountain which is a huge hit at all parties.

Learning how to fondue is not difficult. Figure out what kind of party you want to have and the number of people you are going to invite and then plan out your Fondue Recipes. Check out my Easy Fondue Recipes below.

Party Attire

Hosting a fondue party was a really popular thing to do in the 70's and then it fizzled out. Recently, it has made a huge comeback.

Why? Because with our busy lifestyles, people are getting away from having formal, sit down dinner parties and opting for more casual parties, like a Wine Tasting Party, a Bunco Theme Party or an Easy Fondue Party. Easy to plan, easy to execute and so much fun.

I love this trend! I say let's bring back the 70's-kind-of-casual-parties and fondue is the perfect fit.

And what could be more perfect attire for an easy fondue party than
tie dye? Invite your friends over and ask them to wear their favorite tie dye or 70's attire. Here are a few choices from CafePress:

Check out the entire selection of Cafe Press Tie Die T-Shirts.

Fondue Pots and Fountains

Fondue Pots

Having the right equipment will make your life as a host SO much easier. Over the years I have tried several different types of pots and have learned to have a variety of pots available so that you are ready for any situation.

There are many styles to choose from but basically it comes down to the heating source and the size of the pot. I am familiar with 3 different types of fondue pots:

• Electric Pot -- I own 3 of the Rival Fondue Pots shown below. For a party of 8 people, I usually use 2 of these for the savory recipes, like Hot Crab Fondue and Bacon Cheddar Fondue. What I like most about these pots, besides the fact that they are electric, is that they have an easy-to-clean interior so cheese fondue does not stick like it does in some pots.



• Sterno Pot -- The Divided Fondue Pot and the Green Rachael Ray Fondue Pot shown below are examples of Sterno Pots. These types of pots work well when you want to set up fondue away from electricity, like on a coffee table. You will not have to worry about people tripping over electrical cords.



• Tea Light Pot -- The Rick Bayless Fundido Pot shown below is an example of this type of pot. You can also find very small tea light pots that work well for chocolate fondue recipes.

  I have this exact Rick Bayless Pot and it is really high quality. Having dealt with pots that burn too hotly, I absolutely love this fondue pot, especially for cheese recipes.

  Not only is it gorgeous with its sundried tomato exterior and classy wrought iron base, but the pot is made of cast iron and the tea light is far enough away from the pot so you can keep dips warm, like Green Chili Dip and Buffalo Chicken Dip, without burning them.

  I have looked long and hard for such a product and have been so pleased with my Rick Bayless Fundido Pot.

Chocolate Fountains

For smaller fondue parties, say 8 - 12 people, I use my 3rd Rival Fondue Pot for dessert, but for larger parties, my Rival Chocolate Fountain is a HUGE hit.

The first one below is the Rival Chocolate Fountain that I have. It is reasonably priced, holds 2 pounds of chocolate and feeds up to 25 people.

Fondue Accessories

You are definitely going to need some Fondue Party Accessories at your party. There are all kinds of great fondue products on the market including recipe cookbooks, divided fondue plates, fondue forks and microwavable cheese and chocolate fondue.

Here are a few of my favorite fondue accessories from Amazon.com

Once you have your fondue pots and accessories, you are ready to choose your recipes.

Easy Fondue Recipes

To round out the meal, serve a side dish and depending on the kind of fondue you are serving, you may also want to include a couple of
fondue dipping sauces.

For more party recipes, check out the Recipes Hub.

• Cheese Fondue Recipes
  • Traditional Cheese Fondue
  • Beer Cheese Fondue
  • Chili Cumin Cheese Fondue
  • Garlic Cream Cheese Fondue
  
  
• Meat Fondue Recipes
  • Hot Crab Fondue
  • Bacon Cheddar Fondue
  • Pizza Fondue
  • Green Onion and Beef Fondue
  
  
• Broth Fondue Recipes
  • Beefy Onion Broth Fondue
  • Garlicky Beef Broth Fondue
  
  
• Dessert Fondue Recipes
  • Grand Marnier Chocolate Fondue
  • Butterscotch Coconut Fondue
  • Chocolate Caramel Fondue
  • Mocha Cinnamon Fondue
  • Lemon Cream Fondue
  
  
• Easy Side Dishes

  In addition to serving savory and dessert fondues, choose 1 or 2 easy side dishes to accompany the meal. I especially like serving a salad or rice dish like these:

  • Oriental Bok Choy Salad
  • Strawberry Salad w/Caramelized Almonds
  • Pancetta Goat Cheese Salad
  • Tex Mex Risotto
  • Cranberry Wild Rice Casserole
  
  
• Fondue Dipping Sauces

  Along with the dippers that are recommended with each recipe, like bread, broccoli and apples, offering a few quality dipping sauces really adds to your spread.

  You can easily make them yourself or you can choose to buy them from your local market or from on-line sources like the Galena Canning Company (see below)

  Make-Them-Yourself

  These go particularly well with the Broth Fondues.

  • Ginger Dipping Sauce
  • Hoisin Dipping Sauce
  • Balsamic Dijon Dipping Sauce

  Bottled Dipping Sauces

  My girlfriends (above) and I have made several trips to a quaint little town in Illinois called Galena, home of Ulysses S. Grant, the eighteenth President of the United States.

  On one of those trips, we were wandering in and out of all the cute little shops on Main street when we got a whiff of a mouth-watering BBQ smell coming up the street.

  We followed our noses to the Galena Canning Company where they were offering free meatball samples smothered in their Apple Hickory BBQ Sauce.

  We spent an hour in the store that day tasting their products and I ended up taking home the Apple Hickory BBQ Sauce and the Strawberry Rhubbarb Butter which is outstanding on English Muffins.

  The selection of Salsas, Pasta Sauces, BBQ Sauces, Chili, Relishes, Pickles, Hot Sauces, Mustards, Jams & Jellies, Fruit Butters, Syrups, Toppings, Flavored Oils and Vinegars offered by the Galena Canning Company is truly amazing.

  I didn't know it at the time but have since learned that their products have been featured on numerous high profile shows like, Good Morning America, Oprah, Jay Leno and Martha Stewart.

  I picked out a few of my favorites to use as Fondue Dipping Sauces. These four sauces will go with just about any savory fondue recipe you choose to make.

$5.99 / 12 oz. MAYAN GRILLING MARINADE The flavor of tomatoes combine with pineapple juice, vinegar, cane sugar, ancho pepper powder, orange peel, garlic powder, spices, and black pepper to make this unique marinade. Marinade chicken, pork, and beef for a unique South American flavor.	$4.99 / 8 oz. OLD ENGLISH HORSERADISH SAUCE Try the Old English Horseradish Sauce for added zesty flavor to your favorite steak or roast beef. Also makes an unusual dip for seafood.
$6.99 / 12 oz. APPLE HICKORY BBQ SAUCE The All American fruit and the great American pastime, apples and BBQ. Try this old fashioned, sweet - thick - smoky BBQ sauce on chicken, burgers or ribs. 4 years in a row 1st place winner!	$5.99 / 12 oz. SWEET BOURBON GLAZE Dark brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, bourbon, garlic, red peppers, and molasses make this glaze perfect for brushing on grilled salmon or on pork chops for a Kentucky Derby dinner party.

The most important thing to remember about hosting an easy fondue party is that it is meant to be casual. You do not need to go crazy with details. Fondue cooking is easy!

Just offer a couple different fondue recipes, some great sauces and dippers to go with them and your guests will be happy.