Smoky Cheddar and Apple Cider Fondue Appetizer Recipe
For Christmas Eve, we decided to make things easy and have a fondue party. My six year old loved it because she felt like she was cooking her meal. Plus, she could eat whenever she felt like without me telling her. Basically, she had freedom for a day.
For an appetizer, I made a smoky cheddar apple cider fondue. I served it with cubed sweet bread and raw broccoli and carrots. It came out so great it is worth a try. The recipe calls for smoky cheddar cheese but if you don’t have it then don’t worry. I can’t find a specialty cheese here in the country, so I used a small amount of liquid smoke along with regular mild cheddar cheese. You won’t be able to tell the difference.
Also, just a word of warning, try not to use pre-shredded cheeses. They are coated with an anti-caking substance, and it makes it harder to melt properly. Try to always use block cheese and shred it yourself.
Cost to make this recipe.
The cost I have calculated for this appetizer only count the cheese dip. It does not include any fruits like apples or chopped up bread. If you use homegrown vegetables and fruits, then this appetizer cost nearly pennies for everything. Bread is inexpensive so adding this also doesn’t increase the price too bad.
Those prices need to be added to the cheese fondue of $5.83. I also guessed on how many servings this dip contains. Fondue is hard to judge servings but I think this fondue works great for about 12 people costing roughly $0.50 per person.
This recipe was adapted from an unknown source. All images and text are all my own and original to One Acre Vintage Homestead – Pumpkin Patch Mountain Homestead.
Smoky Cheddar and Apple Cider Fondue
Cooking Methods
- Fondue Pot and Accessories
Ingredients
- 1 cup apple cider, …[$0.38]
- 1 tbsp. lemon juice, …[$0.04]
- 1 tsp. liquid smoke, …[$0.13]
- 1 pound cheddar cheese, …[$5.00]
- 1 heaping tbsp. cornstarch, …[$0.04]
- 3 tbsp. apple butter, …[$0.24]
- Fresh vegetables and bread for dipping
Instructions
- Clean and cut up fresh vegetables, fruit, and bread. Cover and set aside.
- Shred cheddar cheese and toss in a large bowl with the cornstarch until it is covered.
- In a fondue pot, heat up the apple cider, lemon juice and liquid smoke until it is at a simmer.
- Add handfuls of shredded cheese to hot fondue pot and stir. Make sure cheese is melting before adding more cheese.
- Stir in the apple butter and serve hot immediately.