Fondue Party Fruit: Creative Choices For A Sweet Dip

Fondue parties are a fun and interactive way to spend time with friends and family. The perfect fondue experience is all about the right combination of cheese or chocolate fondue and tasty dippers. While the classics like bite-sized bread, apples, and cured meats are always a hit, branching out with unique fruit options can take your fondue party to the next level. So, what fruits should you bring to a fondue party?

Apples

Choosing the Right Apples

Select apples that are crisp, firm, and slightly tart. Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Pink Lady varieties work well. Avoid apples that are too soft or mushy, as they may not hold up well when dipped in the fondue.

Preparation and Presentation

• Wash and dry the apples before cutting them into thin slices or wedges. Removing the core is optional, but it can make the apple slices easier to eat.
• To prevent browning, you can squeeze some lemon juice over the apple slices or briefly soak them in a mixture of water and lemon juice.
• Arrange the apple slices attractively on a platter or board, leaving enough room for guests to easily pick up the pieces.

Pairing Apples with Cheese Fondue

• Offer a variety of cheeses with different flavours and textures, such as Gruyere, Emmental, Cheddar, or Swiss cheese.
• For an extra special touch, create a composed fondue by pairing specific cheeses with apple slices. For example, try pairing sharp Cheddar cheese with sweet apple slices, or a mild, creamy cheese like Fontina with tart apples.
• Consider adding some spices to your cheese fondue, such as a pinch of nutmeg or some freshly cracked black pepper, to enhance the flavour of the apples.

Pairing Apples with Chocolate Fondue

Chocolate-covered apples are a delicious treat, and fondue provides an interactive way to enjoy this combination. Here are some suggestions:

• Use a good-quality chocolate for your fondue, such as bittersweet or semisweet chocolate. You can also add a liqueur, such as Grand Marnier or bourbon, to give it an extra kick.
• Cold apples will hold the chocolate better and result in fewer drips, so keep the apple slices chilled until you are ready to serve them.
• In addition to apples, offer a variety of other fruits and dippers for your chocolate fondue, such as bananas, strawberries, pretzels, or pound cake.

Fondue Etiquette and Tips

To ensure your fondue party goes smoothly, keep these tips in mind:

• Provide each guest with a fondue fork or skewer. If using bamboo skewers, you can colour-code the ends to help guests keep track of their skewers.
• Remind guests to use their fondue forks only for dipping and to transfer the food to a plate or fork before eating. Double-dipping is a big no-no!
• Arm your guests with napkins to protect their clothes from any drips or spills, and cover your table with an easy-to-clean tablecloth.
• Most of the preparation can be done before the party, such as chopping the apples and other dippers. However, it's best to wait until your guests arrive to heat the fondue ingredients to avoid over-thickening.

Grapes

If you want to elevate your grapes, consider smoking them. Smoking grapes adds a slight smokiness that balances the crispness of the fruit, creating an unforgettable dish that your guests will rave about. To smoke grapes, you'll need a smoker and some wood. Lighter fruitwoods like apple or cherry work well, but you can use whatever wood you have available. Place the grapes directly on the grates or in a vented metal basket and smoke them for 15-20 minutes.

When choosing grapes for your fondue party, opt for California grapes, which are grown in a variety of colours, including green, red, and black. All colours will taste delicious and present beautifully, with the smoke adding a gorgeous bronzed hue to the grapes.

Whether you serve them raw or smoked, grapes are a perfect fruit to bring to a fondue party. They are a simple yet impressive offering that your guests will surely enjoy.

Bananas

One simple way to prepare bananas for fondue is to slice them into bite-sized pieces. This makes it easy for guests to skewer the banana pieces and dip them into the fondue pot. You can slice the bananas diagonally to create aesthetically pleasing, uniform pieces. Bananas are soft and easy to bite into, making them a convenient fruit option for fondue.

If you want to take your banana fondue offering a step further, you can coat the banana slices in a batter and fry them. This adds a crispy texture to the soft fruit, creating a delightful contrast. The fried bananas can then be dipped into the chocolate fondue, resulting in a decadent treat.

Another creative way to incorporate bananas into your fondue party is to make a banana-based fondue sauce. You can combine melted chocolate with peanut butter and dip the banana slices into this delicious concoction. Alternatively, you can create a Bananas Foster Fondue by melting white chocolate and adding a mixture of brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and banana liqueur. For a show-stopping presentation, flambé the fondue with rum and sprinkle cinnamon into the flames for a sparkling effect.

When selecting bananas for your fondue party, opt for ripe ones with a yellow hue. Avoid bananas that are overly ripe and brown, as they may become mushy when dipped into the fondue. Additionally, consider the size of the bananas and choose those that are medium to large, ensuring that you have enough fruit to feed your guests.

In conclusion, bananas are an excellent choice for a fondue party, offering versatility, flavour, and a unique twist to the traditional fondue experience. From simple banana slices to more elaborate preparations, your guests are sure to enjoy this fruit's sweet taste and creamy texture paired with a variety of fondue options.

Strawberries

To make a strawberry fondue, you will need frozen strawberries (with sugar), cornstarch, maraschino cherry juice, and water. The process is simple: blend the strawberries, add the cornstarch and water, heat the mixture until it thickens, and then stir in the cherry juice. The fondue can be served warm or cold, and you can add a dollop of whipped cream on top or use it as an additional dipper.

Whether you use strawberries as a dipper or as an ingredient in the fondue, they are sure to be a delicious addition to your fondue party!

Pears

When choosing pears for a fondue, opt for ripe but not mushy varieties such as Bartlett, Red Bartlett, Anjou, or Starkrimson. You can also select a few different types of pears to create a beautiful and colourful presentation. Cut the pears into bite-sized slices or halves, and toss them with a bit of lemon juice to prevent browning.

If you want to get creative, you can even incorporate pears into your fondue recipe. For instance, you can make an English Stilton fondue with cider, where the pears are dipped into a rich stilton sauce. Alternatively, you can use pear cider as the base for your fondue instead of traditional white wine, adding a distinctive autumnal flavour.

So, if you're looking for a fruit option to bring to your next fondue party, pears are a refreshing and delicious choice that will surely impress your guests!

Frequently asked questions