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How to make authentic Alpine cheese fondue at home
The Authentic Alpine Cheese Fondue Recipe
Ok, I’m going to jump straight into the recipe and instructions because I hate those recipe blogs that tell you their life story before giving you the goods! I will just say this recipe is super simple, and we learned it from our good friend Bertrand, owner of Oxygene Ski School. The only change we have made is to use less garlic, as he must have used about 6 cloves!
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French Savoyard cheese fondue ingredients
- 200g of cheese per person: 100g Beaufort, 33g Abondance, 33g Emmental de Savoie, 33g Gruyère
- 90ml white wine (preferably Savoyard Apremont or Chignin)
- 2 cloves of smashed garlic (add more or less to your personal taste)
- Pinch of salt & pepper
You can substitute most of the cheese fondue ingredients for similar cheeses or wines. But if you want to make a traditional Savoyard French cheese fondue, then you do need the classic Savoyard cheese and wines.
Cheese fondue dippers
- Baguette – some prefer it harder e.g., a day old, but we prefer it softer!
- Boiled potatoes
- Pickles: cornichons, mini pickled onions
- Green salad
- Charcuterie and cured meats – whatever your preferences from the deli. If you want to use the classic Savoyard meats, look for:
- Jambon Cru (like a Pancetta)
- Grissons
- Rosette
- Coppa
Additional Dippers for Cheese Fondue
Alongside the classic cheese fondue dippers listed in the recipe, you can get fancy. Or simply include whatever your kids are going to actually eat! Try:
- Apple slices
- Large veggies like red peppers, celery sticks, carrot sticks, etc
- Jalapenos
And for the kids:
- Chips
- Meatballs
- Sausages
You really can experiment with whatever you fancy and find the dippers that take your cheese fondue to the next level!
Fondue equipment
- Fondue pot – we prefer an electric set rather than an alcogel set up with a naked flame. They are much safer around young children, and they cook the cheese more consistently and maintain the melted cheese at a perfect consistency.
- Fondue forks are longer than classic forks, which makes dipping easier. Keep an eye on kids using these, as they are sharp!
- Cheese grater – or ask your cheese deli to grate it for you!
Drinks to enjoy with Savoyard cheese fondue
Traditionally, you should enjoy Savoyard white wine with your cheese fondue:
- Apremont
- Chignin
- Abymes
- Cocktails – stiffer drinks such as Martinis or Manhattans. Nothing too sweet. Check out these après ski drinks recipes.
The main advice is to avoid drinking water when enjoying your cheese fondue, as they can solidify together in your tummy!
Perfect digestifs after your cheese fondue
- Génépi – for something really local, we love Génépi Arpin.
- Chartreuse
- Cognac
- Rum
- Kirsch (a French cherry brandy)
Cheese Fondue Instructions
- Peel garlic and rub a clove of garlic around your fondue pot (before its hot!)
- Mash the garlic so it’s super small and not chunky
- Add grated cheeses and mashed garlic, with a pick of salt and pepper to the fondue pot.
- Pour in the wine
- Switch on the fondue pot to heat up, and use one of the mid-temperature options. Cooking too high and too quickly can cause your cheese to turn into a rubbery lump! When the cheese starts melting, keep stirring until it’s fully combined with the wine and garlic. This should take 5 – 10 minutes, depending on how much cheese you’re using.
- If you are enjoying your cheese fondue with kids, then rest assured that the alcohol is cooked off before you start eating. The general rule is that if the fondue still smells alcoholic, then it needs to cook a little longer. Simply turn up the temp and let some of the liquid and wine cook off.
TOP TIPS: we find the consistency does change from fondue to fondue, depending on the cheeses. So it’s often a good idea to have a little extra cheese and wine left over so you can thicken it up with more cheese or loosen it up with a bit more wine.
How to make cheese fondue on your ski holiday
If you are on holiday in the Alps and want to have an ‘at home’ fondue evening, then follow these steps:
- Check your ski holiday accommodation to see if it includes a fondue pot, if not, you can rent from local cheese shops and restaurants in resort. Often, the cost of the fondue set rental is included if you are buying cheese from them as well.
- To get your cheese, find the cheese deli. You can usually simply order fondue for 4, and they will grate up their local selections of cheese to the quantity you need.
- The same cheese deli will also stock all the local wines to use for fondue – and for drinking!
- Head to the boulangerie (bakery) to get your baguette – if you explain it’s for fondue, they will usually chop it up for you or have some pre-cut. Just be aware this will be harder. So, if you want a softer baguette, just buy a traditional baguette.
- Charcuterie and cured meats can be chosen from the butcher in the resort, or head to the mini Spar supermarket, and you’ll often find a fondue or raclette selection in the chillers.
Why Cheese Fondue is Perfect for Kids and Families
The family-style dining nature of cheese fondue turns simple dinner times into fun, shared adventures! It’s the ideal choice for family gatherings. We will often do this if we are hosting other families because the prep is quite simple and not too time-consuming. You just need to make sure everyone can reach the fondue pot!
It ends up in silliness because we make up games and challenges with the kids – who can stretch their cheese the furthest / do a forfeit if you drop your bread in the cheese. It all adds to the fun.
If you’re starting out with the kids for their first fondue, then it can be super fun to have lots of different dippers on the table. For example, we would never have added apple slices, but we did because the kids love apples, and now it’s become part of our standard setup. Even the pickiest eaters will find something they enjoy on the tale, and you’ll find the kids eating lots whilst enjoying themselves with you.
And if you want to take it to another level, or if your kids are older, then you can talk about the history and culture of cheese fondue. For example, the differences between French and Swiss styles, understanding different cultures, and international foods.
The one safety note I would make is to keep an eye on your little ones as the fondue pot is hot, and they will hurt themselves if they touch it. Also, the fondue forks are quite sharp and long – perfect for poking your brother with! So do be careful with them and encourage your kids to put their dippers on their plates to eat them and not to eat directly off their fondue forks in case they poke their mouth with them or burn themselves on hot cheese.
That’s La Plagne & how to make authentic Savoyard cheese fondue
Now, it's your turn to bring the Alpine warmth to your own dining table with a classic cheese fondue night. Embrace the adventure and bring back memories of your own ski holidays. So, gather your loved ones, set the stage with a bubbling pot of cheesy delight, and get dipping!
Whether you're a seasoned fondue enthusiast or a first-time adventurer, let the spirit of the French Alps guide you in crafting moments that will be savoured long after the last dip.
See you on the slopes!
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