How to Make Cheese Fondue on Stove Top

Easy Vegan Cheese Fondue Recipe 🌱 A simply delicious recipe for preparing the best vegan cheese fondue with plant-based ingredients. Cashews, potatoes, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, white wine and kirsch blend together to create to this rich and creamy classic European cheese dipping sauce.

A fondue pot filled with easy vegan cheese fondue, surrounded with fresh vegetables.

Cheese fondue may be at the top of my list as the ultimate cozy, comfort food to share on a chilly night with family and friends. It's the perfect interactive dining experience where everyone can have fun dipping a variety of small bites into a pot of sumptuously scrumptious hot melted vegan cheese. In fact, fondue is right up there with a couple other favorite cheesy dishes like our vegan broccoli cheese pot pie, and easy vegan mac & cheese.

A fondue set with fresh veggies and a pot of easy vegan cheese fondue.

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Why you will love this recipe
🥕Fondue Fun Facts
Ingredients
🥕Serving Suggestions
Instructions
🥕Safety Reminder
Equipment
Easy Vegan Cheese Fondue Recipe
Food Safety

During a recent trip to Amsterdam, my family enjoyed an amazing meal at the popular vegan restaurant and plant-based cheesery Mr. & Mrs. Watson. The café is named after Donald Watson, the English animal rights advocate, and his wife Dorothy who co-founded The Vegan Society in 1944. On the menu was a fantastic Prosecco cashew fondue served with bread and seasonal vegetables. It was so good, we couldn't stop thinking about it.

We just had to try to recreate their luscious vegan cheese fondue. Using our recipe for easy vegan cheese sauce as a jumping off point, we added Prosecco and a splash of kirsh, (also known as Kirschwasser – a dry, colorless brandy distilled from cherries). Kirsch is a common ingredient in Swiss cheese fondue, so we decided to go with tradition and include some in our vegan version.

It turned out absolutely delicious or, as the Dutch would say "verrukkelijk!" The texture was thick and creamy, just as we experienced in Amsterdam and the flavor was rich and tangy with a cheesy tartness and subtle fruity undertone of the Prosecco and kirsch.

Why you will love this recipe

It's easy & so yummy!
Perfect to serve as a romantic meal for two, or a cozy party with family & friends.
No dairy or added oil.
Enjoy it with a variety of tasty small bites like veggies, fruit, bread or tofu.
Fondue is so much fun to eat!

A pot of easy vegan cheese fondue sprinkled with fresh chives. — We love this petite cast iron fondue pot from Boska. It's the perfect size to serve 2-4 people.

🥕Fondue Fun Facts

The word fondue originates from the French word "fondre" meaning "to melt".

Fondue is a method of cooking, heating or melting ingredients in a pot or chafing dish with a burner or heat source underneath. We often refer to fondue as something we eat much like we use other cooking words such as stew or roast as specific dishes.

In the 1960's & 70's, fondue was one of the most popular food trends. Many households had at least one fondue set proudly displayed in their kitchens.

How to prepare this easy vegan cheese fondue recipe

With just a few ingredients and simple steps, you'll be amazed how easy it is to whip up a batch of the best vegan cheese fondue!

Ingredients

Cashews – raw & soaked
Potatoes – we prefer russet potatoes
Nutritional yeast – we like this brand a lot
Salt
Pepper
Lemon juice – freshly squeezed
Non-dairy milk – your choice. We used oat milk.
Prosecco – or dry white wine
Kirsch – optional
Tapioca flour – for thickening
Garlic – fresh (optional ingredient)

🥕Non-alcohol version: If you prefer not to use alcohol, you can substitute the Prosecco and/or kirsch with additional non-dairy milk, vegetable broth, apple juice or sparkling cider.

Small bites for dipping

Fondue is all about dipping and this is where you can get as creative as you want! Imagine anything you enjoy with cheese. Here are some of our favorite dippers:

Bread – Baguettes, sourdough, rustic artisan bread – cut into cubes
Fruit – Fresh or dried apples, pears, apricots, dates.
Veggies – Broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, yellow squash, carrots, mushrooms, peppers, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, potato wedges, artichoke hearts, and pickles, just to name a few.
Vegan Meats – Firm tofu cubes or slices, seitan, meatless nuggets, or our favorite veggie meatballs.

🥕Serving Suggestions

It's a good idea to lightly cook the vegetables for a few minutes by steaming, blanching in boiling water, or roasting in an oven until they're slightly tender. It helps bring out the colors & flavors while making them easier to eat. See this recipe for creating the best Mediterranean roasted veggies for more tips!

Arrange your bread, veggies, etc. on a cutting board or in individual dishes or bowls. Provide small plates and fondue forks or disposable bamboo skewers for single use dipping (which isn't a bad idea when entertaining several people).

A cherry tomato dipped into easy vegan cheese fondue.

Instructions

First – soak the cashews.

Cashews need to be soaked before using if you want your vegan cheese fondue to be super smooth and creamy. If I know I'm going to make fondue the next day, I'll soak the cashews in water (refrigerated) overnight.

A faster method is to cover the cashews in boiling water and allow them to sit for a couple hours. You can also place the cashews covered in water in a saucepan and boil for about 10 minutes on the stovetop until they plump up and soften.

Gather & prep ingredients.
Rinse & drain the pre-soaked cashews.

Ingredients to make easy vegan cheese fondue.

Peel, cut & cook potatoes.
Place cashews, cooked potatoes, nutritional yeast, salt & pepper, lemon juice, milk, kirsch and tapioca flour in a blender.

Peeled and diced potatoes on a cutting board.

Easy vegan cheese fondue ingredients in a blender.

Blend at high speed.
Shut off blender and stir (as needed) in between blending, until smooth.
Transfer to a saucepan over medium-high heat. Fold in Prosecco or white wine.

Easy vegan cheese fondue ingredients blended.

Blended easy vegan cheese fondue ingredients in a saucepan.

Stir a few minutes until cheese is thick and a bit stringy. Remove from heat.

Cooked vegan cheese fondue in a saucepan.

Slice garlic in half and rub against the inside walls of your fondue pot (optional).
Light burner under fondue pot or plug-in (if electric).
Place on a non-flammable surface.
Pour fondue into pot. Sprinkle with chopped chives or freshly ground black pepper.
Enjoy with cubes of french bread, baguette or sourdough and a variety of veggies, sliced fruit, or vegan meats.

🥕Safety Reminder

Never leave a lit fondue pot unattended. Be sure to place the fondue pot on a flame-proof or non-combustable surface. Stir cheese occasionally to prevent it from burning on the bottom of the pot. Adjust or lower the flame as needed and make sure to fully extinguish it before the pot is empty.

A fondue pot with vegan cheese fondue and a cube of french bread dipped in vegan cheese on a fondue fork. — Pro Set Fondue Party by Boska and cast iron mini Dutch ovens

Equipment

Fondue pot & burner
Warming candle or fuel
Fondue forks or bamboo skewers for dipping
Blender
4 qt covered pot
Silicone spatula or whisk
Kitchen knife
Vegetable peeler
Citrus juicer
Medium bowl
Measuring spoons
Measuring cup

Bread dipped into a pot of vegan cheese fondue.

Fondue FAQ's

Where did fondue originate?

According to this article, fondue had its origins in 18th century Switzerland as a means for farm families to stretch their limited resources during the winter months. With some remaining cheese, some stale bread, and a dash of wine the family could gather around the hearth. In Alpine farm villages bread was baked only occasionally so whatever bread was on hand was usually stale. By dipping the bread in the melted cheese, the bread was softened and became delectable. From these simple beginnings, fondue became a Swiss winter tradition.

What is a fondue pot?

Fondue pots are typically small (2 quart or less) food-safe cooking vessels made of ceramic, stainless steel or cast iron that can be be heated directly underneath with a tea candle, Sterno or cooking fuel. Most fondue pots come with a flame-proof stand and burner. Some fondue pots are electric.

Do I need a fondue pot to make fondue?

No, you can prepare the fondue in a saucepan on a stove top and place the hot pan on a trivet or heat-proof surface without an added heat source underneath. You might need to occasionally re-heat the cheese to keep it warm, or place it on an electric hotplate.

How do I store leftover cheese fondue?

Since fondue is often served as a "communal" type dish, I do not recommend storing any leftover cheese that has been dipped into by others. If you think you might have more cheese than you will use at one time, package the untouched extra cheese into an airtight container and keep it refrigerated up to 3 days.

How can I make this vegan cheese fondue kid-friendly?

This recipe can be made kid-friendly by replacing the alcohol with dairy-free milk, vegetable broth, apple juice or sparkling cider. They'll love it!

Easy vegan cheese fondue in a fondue pot surrounded by fresh veggies, bread cubes and apple slices.

very vegan 🌱 very good

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you've enjoyed this recipe, please rate it in the comments below. Sharing your experience helps others decide if they should give it a try too. Thanks a bunch!🥕

Easy vegan cheese fondue in a pot surrounded by veggies and french bread for dipping.

Easy Vegan Cheese Fondue Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Soak cashews overnight: 8 hours

Servings: 4

Calories: 230 kcal

Print Recipe

Fondue pot & burner
Warming candle or fuel
Fondue forks or bamboo skewers for dipping
4 qt covered pot
Silicone spatula or whisk
Vegetable peeler
medium bowl

1.5 cups Cashews Raw and soaked
2 large Potatoes We prefer russet potatoes
1.5 tablespoons Nutritional yeast We like this brand
2 teaspoons Salt
¼ teaspoon Pepper
⅓ cup Lemon juice
½ cup Non-dairy milk Your choice. We used oat milk.
¾ cup Prosecco or dry white wine.
1 tablespoon Kirsch Optional
1 teaspoon Tapioca flour
1 clove Garlic Optional

Pre-soak cashews

Place cashews in a bowl. Cover with water and soak overnight in refrigerator. See notes below for quick method.

Prepare cheese fondue

Rinse and drain pre-soaked cashews. Place in a blender.
Peel and cube potatoes. Place in a 4 quart (or larger) pot. Cover with water and place lid over pot.
Place on high heat. Bring to a boil and lower to a simmer for about 15 minutes, until potatoes are tender. Remove from heat and drain.
Place cooked potatoes in blender. Add nutritional yeast, salt, pepper, lemon juice, vegan milk, kirsch and tapioca powder.
Place lid on blender and blend at high speed until very smooth. You might need shut off the blender occasionally and stir the ingredients a few times as it will be quite thick.
Transfer blended mixture to a 4 quart (or larger) pot. Place on stove over med-high heat.
Fold in Prosecco or white wine. Stir with silicone spatula or whisk for a few minutes until cheese is thick and a bit stringy. Remove from heat.
Slice garlic clove in half and rub the cut side on the inside walls of the fondue pot. (Optional).
Place fondue pot and stand on a non-flammable surface.
Light burner under fondue pot or plug-in (if electric).
Pour hot cheese into fondue pot. Sprinkle with chopped chives or freshly ground black pepper.
Enjoy with cubes of french bread, baguette or sourdough and a variety of veggies, sliced fruit, or vegan meats.

🥕Quick method for soaking cashews – A faster method is to cover the cashews in boiling water and allow them to sit for a couple hours. You can also place the cashews covered in water in a saucepan and boil for about 10 minutes on the stovetop until they plump up and soften.

🥕Dippers (Small Bites)

Bread – Baguettes, sourdough, rustic artisan bread – cut into cubes
Fruit– Fresh or dried apples, pears, apricots, dates.
Veggies– Broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, yellow squash, carrots, mushrooms, peppers, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, potato wedges, artichoke hearts, and pickles . . . just to name a few.
Vegan Meats – Firm tofu cubes or slices, seitan, meatless nuggets, or our favorite veggie meatballs.

🥕Serving Suggestions

🥕Non-alcohol version: If you prefer not to use alcohol, you can substitute the Prosecco and/or kirsch with additional non-dairy milk, vegetable broth, apple juice or sparkling cider.

🥕Safety Reminder – Never leave a lit fondue pot unattended. Be sure to place the fondue pot on a flame-proof or non-combustable surface. Stir cheese occasionally to prevent it from burning on the bottom of the pot. Adjust or lower the flame as needed and make sure to fully extinguish it before the pot is empty.