Organizing a Fondue party is easy and fun, but there are a few things to consider. Check out my tips on planning a fondue party that is fun and delicious!
A fondue party is a fun way to get together and enjoy dinner. Everyone can enjoy the different flavors in a festive make-it-yourself party idea. This is a great party idea for the holidays but is also nice for a fun family dinner.
Hi Friends!
Holiday festivities have already started in our neighborhood. Recently we had a fondue party with friends and I wanted to shar with you. If you have never tried fondue or have never been to a fondue party, let me tell you they are one of the most social and fun parties ever.
Here are some tips to organize a fondue party:
Fondue Pots - It is best to have more than one fondue pot, so you may want to borrow one from a friend and depending on how many people you are expecting, you may want to have several available. If you do not have a fondue pot and are considering buying one, there are many nice ones available now that are electric.
A good rule of thumb is one pot for every three people. The electric pans heat up faster and more controllable than the sterno type of pots. This one here, is my favorite.
Not all fondue pots are created equally. You want one that is sturdy and has a solid base.
Most pots come with skewers, but you may want to have some wooden ones available. They are easier to use when dipping in different sauces.
Fondue Menu Ideas
Best Meats for Fondue
When we fondue, we usually have shrimp, chicken, and beef. You can also use scallops, meatballs, bread and vegetables. Figure about ⅓ - ½ pound of meat per person. Whatever you choose will need to be cut up in bite-size pieces before the party.
Remind people that chicken takes longer to cook and should be cooked unti juices run clear and reaches 165° F.
Vegetables
By all means, include vegetables in your fondue if you wish. I recommend just having a couple on the menu. Great choices for vegetables are hearty veggies that will stand up to a hot dip and yet not requiring pre-cooking.
My top choices are:
- Cherry tomatoes
- Bell peppers
- Cucumber
You can of course precook heartier vegetables like potatoes or broccoli, but that is a lot of work and the whole idea is to enjoy the party with little fuss.
We also usually add a salad or two to the menu to round out the main meal.
Cooking Essentials
Once you determine the types of foods you will use for the fondue, you will want to decide if you want to use broth or oil to put in the fondue pots. If you use oil, I would recommend peanut, vegetable or canola oil as those types tend to smoke less.
If you use broth, you can use any flavor you like.- chicken, beef or vegetable all work well Follow heating directions according to your fondue pot as all are not exactly alike. The seasonings in the broth add a nice flavor to the meats.
Fondue Sauces
Next come the dipping sauces. It is nice to have a few available. and you can use store-bought (easy!) or make them yourself.
Some suggested dipping sauces are
- Cheese Fondue
- BBQ
- Teriyaki
- Sesame
- Honey Mustard
- Cocktail
- Steakhouse
- Blue cheese
- Horseradish
- Ginger.
Arrange the sauces in small containers so that each person (or couple) can have their own sauce.
This is a good time to put these into ramekins that usually come with the pot.
Fondue Forks - Most fondue pots come with six different colored forks so that people will not get confused. You can also use wooden skewers and have people mark them with markers or some other type of ornament so they know which one is theirs.
Dessert Fondue
Don't forget Dessert - Dessert is one of the best items on the menu. In fact, you can just have a fondue dessert party if you want to keep things simple. Usually, we do a couple of main dish items and then follow with dessert.
We like to do it potluck style and everyone bring a part of the meal. I would recommend chocolate as your fondue with fun food to dip such as marshmallows, angel food cake, and fruit.
Chocolate Fondue Recipe
Chocolate Fondue
Ingredients
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup milk or heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Mix the chips and milk or cream in the fondue pot. Add the vanilla when chips are completely melted and blended. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Keep in mind that a fondue party is suitable for teens or adults. In fact, it is a great party theme for teens. It is a great way to add socialization to your party. If you have a party with young children, you may just want to have fondue appetizers for the adults in a supervised area.
Equipment Needed for A Fondue Party
- Fondue Pot - figure one for each 3-4 people, six at the most. You can ask friends to bring their own.
- Fondue Forks - I like to have extras. These sturdy fondue forks work well and are inexpensive.
- Ramekins or small bowls - for dipping sauces. You usually get 4-6 with each pot but you need more. This sauce bowl set works great for many occasions.
- Knife - for preparing meats, fruits, and bread
- Cutting Board- For use in preparing food ahead of time
- Serving Plates and/or bowls - For all of the ingredients.
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Here are some additional great items to get started:
Jamie
I love fonduing but I must say I usually stick to just the desserts 😉
Organizedisland
Desserts are my absolute favorite!
Paloma
Oooh! Yummy! BTW ... I love all the changes you keep doing to your blog! Very organized! Just like you 🙂
Organizedisland
Thank you sweet Paloma! Hope you are doing well!
Nic from Thriving Wives
I have an unhealthy obsession with cheese, so you better believe fondue is my FAVORITE meal ever. Runner up in that obsession is chocolate, so really this is my perfect meal. I'm not much of a meat eater, but I like cooking veggies and (cheese) raviolis in broth for the main course. My mouth was literally watering reading this whole post!!
Strive to Thrive,
Nic
http://www.Thriving-Wives.com
Organizedisland
Oh I love cheese too! Now I am hungry after reading your comment. Thanks for stopping by Nic!
Sandra J.
Love fonduing. Have you tried 'Dutch fondue' which uses small fry pans over a 2-burner grate. We use the same types of food meat/veggies but it's stir-fried rather than deep fried. For dessert we make crepes with assorted fillings. I have enough fondue equipment of both kinds to feed an army!
Organizedisland
Oh the Dutch fondue sounds great. I have not tried it but will!
Heidi
Yum! I haven't had fondue in years. Thanks for joining the party at One Creative Weekend! I hope you have a great weekend.
Jessi @ Practically Functional
Great tips! I love fondue. 🙂 Thanks for sharing at The Fun In Functional!
Sharon
Oh.my.gosh. This sounds absolutely delicious! :)! Great ideas, especially the desserts (my personal favorite!)
Organizedisland
Thanks Sharon! It is a lot of fun! Yes, the desserts ARE the best 🙂
Lynne @ 365 Days of Baking & More
Raquel, you've absolutely pulled at my heart strings!! It SO brings back memories of growing up in the 70's when mom used to make fondue. LOVE it!! I have a pot collecting dust in my cupboard - I think it's time to clear the cobwebs from it. I am SO happy that you brought this to our Wicked Good Wednesday Party!! Thank you for the memories!!
Organizedisland
Yes, break out the fondue party and have some fun! You will not be disappointed.
Rachel @ I Love My Disorganized Life
Raquel, I love this idea! I remember my mom had a fondue pot and she used to put cheese in it. We would dip veggies and bread...YUM! We didn't do it very often, so it was a real treat. Thank you for a great idea for a fun gathering! I'm so glad you shared it with us at Wicked Good Wednesdays!
Organizedisland
Thanks Rachel! Fondue is really a lot of fun! Hope your week is great!
Christie - Food Done Light
We like to have fondue on New Years Eve. It is a great social way to enjoy dinner. I enjoyed reading about your fondue tips. Thanks for sharing on Thursdays Treasures
Organizedisland
Oh I think fondue is great for New Year's!
Sheila Skillingstead
Thanks for the beautiful pictures. I grew up through a fondue craze and never got a pot. A dessert party would suit our family. Enjoy your SITS Day.
Heather
Happy SITS Day! All this talk of Fondue is making me hungry!
Rabia @ TheLiebers
I have never had fondue. In fact, I gave my fondue set to a friend because I hadn't used it in the over five years that I had owned. She's promised to invite me over for a fondue party, but our schedules haven't worked out yet.
Organizedisland
Oh you need to try it Rabia! It is so much fun and a great way to interact!
Adrienn
I've never had fondue...but readin this post makes me want to have a fondue party!
Organizedisland
It is really simple to put together once you have the pot. I hope you try it Adrienn.
Corinna
I absolutely love fondue and all things cheese! Happy SITS Day!
Organizedisland
Me too Corinna! Thanks for stopping by!
Danielle
I love fondue and while it might seem intimidating for a lot of people you make it seem downright easy! Happy SITS Day!
Organizedisland
It really is pretty easy once you have the fondue pot - and a whole lot of fun! 🙂
Mel
This is such a great idea. I love fondue!! I'm going to do this with my family. Thanks for the ideas
Raquel
Thank you Mel! They are a lot of fun!
Keri
Yum! I love the idea of having everyone bring a few things for a potluck version.
Raquel
It's a fun way to celebrate together!
Sue Helms
I hosted a Fondue party with fellow teacher friends several years ago. I have bought 6 pots at auctions. I had a sign up sheet for everyone to bring something. It was a hit! Next month, I'm hosting another for our church group. Several gals have Neve had the experience. I have the same sign-up sheet, but have tweaked it some to fit the group. I also offer recipes if they need it. I can't wait!