*Updated December 11, 2024*

My family has had a tradition of having fondue on Christmas Eve for as long as I can remember—probably since fondue’s heyday in the 1970s!

A fondue dinner party is an easy way to prepare a fun meal for friends and family.

I remember when the American Girl doll Julie came out. When I saw her 70s-era fondue pot, I said, “Hey, we have the same one!”

Ha ha. We gather on Christmas Day, but fondue is the high point of the Year’s Eve celebration and our holiday.

Although we have always eaten fondue at Christmas, I’ve found it easy to adapt to specialized diets, including my husband’s low-carb preferences.

Here is how to host your Christmas and Year’s Eve party and have a low-carb Christmas feast during the holiday season.

 

Christmas Fondue Party: A Low-Carb Feast on Christmas Eve

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Planning the Perfect Fondue Party

Planning a fondue party can be a delightful and exciting experience. It is perfect for bringing friends and family together and is ideal for small gatherings, typically 2-8 people.

A great fondue experience involves selecting the perfect fondue set. A fondue set consists of a pot heated with a candle or an alcohol burner and forks for dipping.

Start by deciding the type of fondue you want to serve—cheese, chocolate, or a combination. For chocolate fondue, popular dippers include strawberries, bananas, and pound cake.

Various meats and vegetables can be used for the main course fondue, typically cooked in oil or broth. Consider the number of guests you’ll be hosting and the size of your fondue pot.

A good rule of thumb is to have one fondue pot per four people to ensure everyone gets their fair share of melty cheese or decadent chocolate.

Cordless fondue pots are easy to place in the middle of the table for guest access. Electric fondue pots often feature a nonstick interior and safety cords.

It is recommended that the fondue be prepared on the stovetop before being transferred to the pot. Gel fuel is often used for fondue pots to ensure a steady and consistent burn.

Every guest should receive a fondue fork, a medium bowl, a regular appetizer fork, and a small plate.

List your ingredients and supplies, including fondue forks, plates, and napkins. Don’t forget to plan some fun activities and games to keep your guests entertained throughout the evening.

You can serve multiple types of fondue throughout the event.

Whether you play a holiday-themed trivia game or compete with friends to create the most creative dipper combination, these activities will add more fun to your holiday fondue party.

Fondue etiquette includes using the dipping fork only for dipping. Double-dipping is considered a faux pas during a fondue party.

Choosing the Right Fondue Pot

Choosing the right fondue pot is crucial for a successful fondue party. Several types are available, including ceramic, stainless steel, and cast iron.

Each type has advantages, so consider the type of fondue you’ll serve.

Ceramic pots are great for cheese and chocolate fondue because they distribute heat evenly. In contrast, stainless steel and cast iron pots are better for oil—or broth-based fondues because they can maintain higher temperatures.

Consider the pot’s size and the number of guests you’ll host. A larger group may need a larger pot to ensure everyone can dip comfortably.

Some fondue pots have a built-in thermometer, which can help maintain the perfect temperature for your fondue.

With the right fondue pot, you’ll be well on your way to hosting a memorable dinner party. Labeling each fondue pot helps guests know what they are dipping into.

Preparing for the Party

Preparing for a fondue party involves several steps to ensure everything runs smoothly. First, make sure you have all the necessary ingredients and supplies.

Chop up the bread, vegetables, and fruits you’ll serve with the fondue. You can also prepare the fondue recipe and store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve.

Set the table with fondue forks, plates, and napkins. Decorative elements like candles and flowers can enhance the festive atmosphere and overall experience.

With a great idea and everything in place, you’ll be ready to welcome your guests to a delightful and delicious fondue party.

Setting the Fondue Table

Setting the fondue table is essential to creating a festive and inviting atmosphere. Start by placing the fondue pot in the center of the table, making it the focal point of your setup.

Arrange the fondue forks, plates, and napkins around the pot, ensuring everything is within easy reach for your guests.

Consider using red and green tablecloths and decorations for your Christmas Eve fondue party to add a touch of holiday cheer.

Candles, flowers, and a festive tablecloth can transform your fondue table into a cozy and welcoming space. With the right setup, it will be the perfect backdrop for a memorable holiday gathering.

Options:

Vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, cherry tomatoes, and peppers can be used as dippers.

Grilled meats like shrimp, steak, and sausage make great fondue dippers.

Christmas Eve Fondue Party: A Low-Carb Christmas Feast

Cheese Fondue

We dip our main course items in cheese, making it a delightful cheese course.

There’s a legend that we’ve tried using hot oil to cook meat, but I don’t remember that. It sounds too scary to use around small children.

Sometimes, someone will bring a marinade for the lactose intolerant, but the main feature is cheese. We also add lemon juice to the cheese fondue preparation to enhance flavor and texture.

Many good recipes are online, but we melt down a few blocks of farmhouse cheddar from Hickory Farms and thin it with some milk, creating a delicious melted cheese.

Cheese fondue is typically made with Swiss and Gruyere cheese and white wine. To prepare cheese fondue, cheese is mixed with cornstarch and combined with wine and garlic before melting.

Roasted potatoes can be served as dippers with cheese fondue. Other options for dippers include pretzels and cookies.

Here’s what we dip:

Carrots, tomatoes, mushrooms, broccoli, cauliflower, Potatoes, Ham, steak, beef sticks, turkey sticks, and sausages are browned and served.

For my father’s pre-dinner toast to New Year’s Eve with family members, we served pickles, olives, breadsticks on the side, glasses of Clamato, and red juice in fancy goblets.

Bite-size bread is a traditional dipper for cheese fondue.

Serving wine alongside fondue enhances the dining experience.

Chocolate Fondue

After cheese, we go to church; when we return, it’s a Christmas Eve Fondue Party!

The cheese fondue is a formal candlelit meal with china and crystal, but for chocolate, we ring the room with chairs, invite some friends, play games, and eat on fun holiday paper plates.

Our chocolate is just melted chocolate chips, but we have sometimes used a chocolate fountain for our dessert fondue in recent years.

Cubed pound cake is a common dipper for chocolate fondue. Marshmallows are a favorite dipping item for chocolate fondue.

Chocolate Dippers:

Chocolate fondue can be made by melting chocolate with coconut oil.

Enjoy Bananas, apples, clementines, Asian pears, dried apricots, Shortbread, pretzels, strawberries, bananas, and pound cake.

Angel food cake is another delightful dipping option that pairs well with various fruits.

Fresh fruit like strawberries, cake, and marshmallows can be served with dessert fondue.

Pound cake is also a popular dipping option, especially during dessert settings.

We refresh ourselves with eggnog and spiced coffee, and on Christmas morning, we eat all of our leftovers for breakfast.

I’m ready for Christmas now!

What are your special Christmas meal traditions?

Tips for a Successful Fondue Party

Here are some tips for a successful fondue party:

• You should have various dipping options, such as crusty bread, vegetables, and fruits.
• High-quality ingredients, such as fresh cheese and milk chocolate, ensure the best flavor.
• Keep the fondue at the right temperature—between 105°F and 115°F for cheese fondue and between 105°F and 115°F for chocolate fondue.
• Encourage guests to get creative with their dipping options and try new combinations.
• Have fun and be flexible! A fondue party is a relaxed and casual affair, so don’t stress too much about the details.

With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to hosting a successful and enjoyable fondue party that your party guests will remember for years.

Leftover fondue should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Check out these wonderful Christmas articles; Easy Ripped Paper Tree Craft, How Stay at Home Moms Can Save Money for Christmas ,and 10 Things that go On Sale after Christmas.