Melting Pot Cheese Fondue & Fireside Hot Cocoa Bar

For a delicious appetizer that everyone will love, give this garlicky Melting Pot cheese fondue a try! Serve it up fireside with our holiday hot cocoa bar for a fun and festive get-together.

Melting Pot Cheese Fondue

Ever since I first ate at the restaurant over ten years ago, I knew I wanted to re-create the delicious Melting Pot cheese fondue. Using BRIANNAS Homestyle Asiago Caesar Dressing, we can get that amazing garlic flavor you know and love from the Melting Pot!

We love their dressings and use them in a variety of recipes including our girls brunch roasted balsamic potatoes and apple cider chicken marinade.

This delicious recipe is the perfect appetizer that can be served in a big fondue pot for everyone to enjoy family style or in individual fondue cups for a more sanitary experience. Either way, it is sure to please! Serve it up fireside next to a delicious hot cocoa bar for a lovely holiday set up.

Now, what do you serve with your cheese fondue? Having a variety of options both fresh and prepared give people plenty of choices. Here are some of my favorites…

Cheese Fondue Dippers

• Gluten-free sourdough bread
• Gluten-free crescent rolls
• Carrots
• Broccoli florets

• Celery
• Peppers
• Salami
• Gluten-free pretzels

Fireside Holiday Gathering

Doesn’t a beautiful fire make you think of quintessential holiday moments? It is so warm and cozy making everyone feel relaxed and happy. Add some warm, ooey gooey cheese fondue and rich, decadent chocolate fondue and you have the perfect winter meal in the best setting.

I love that a fireside gathering isn’t pretentious even though fondue can feel kind of fancy. Nothing has to be planned because the conversation flows so nicely next to the mesmerizing flames…

This can be done outside by a bonfire or inside like we did here. I recommend draping a holiday blanket near the fireplace and using wood chargers to put the fondue dippers on. They look so rustic!

Holiday Hot Cocoa Bar

There is nothing better during the cold winter months than a beautiful hot cocoa bar! I think everyone can agree, that chocolate makes the world a better place and adding some other delicious toppings to your favorite hot cocoa make it extra fun. 

Set it up cute by finding a Christmas themed woodbox and filling it with all of your favorite toppings. It also makes a great place to put the cups and lids.

Drape it with a cute holiday felt ball garland and adorn it with gold, red and candy cane stripe bottle brush trees. I also love a candy ribbon tree for an extra whimsical look.

Get a white cake stand and top it with your favorite cookies. Store-bought or homemade work great! I love these decorated sugar cookies or our gluten-free ginger molasses cookies personally…

Cute recycled holiday cups with a cheery sleeve make this hot cocoa bar extra special. Plus, then you don’t have to clean all those mugs!

We LOVE our hot cocoa maker and I can’t recommend it enough! But a Keurig works great too and looks fantastic on the table with a bunch of hot cocoa pods in a carousel. My 9 year old actually asked for one for Christmas just for that purpose.

Hot Cocoa Bar Toppings

• Marshmallows
• Marshmallow skewers
• Chopped candy canes

• Chocolate covered spoons
• Chocolate stirrers 
• Whipped cream

• Chopped nuts
• Coconut flakes
• Chocolate chips (because you can never have enough chocolate)

Chocolate Fondue

When making your chocolate fondue, start with REALLY good chocolate. I recommend Guittard brand through and through. It’s actually what See’s uses to make their delectable chocolates!

Here is a great recipe for perfect chocolate fondue. You can get creative though and use white chocolate, butterscotch chips, dark or milk chocolate.

Chocolate Fondue Dippers

• Bananas
• Strawberries
• Gluten-free pretzels
• Rice krispies
• Gluten-free brownies (be sure to use our gluten-free brownie recipe)
• Gluten-free ginger molasses cookies

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Melting Pot Cheese Fondue

4.8 from 10 votes

For a delicious appetizer that everyone will love, give this garlicky Melting Pot cheese fondue a try! Serve it up fireside with our holiday hot cocoa bar for a fun and festive get-together. 

PRINT RECIPE

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 15 mins

Total Time: 25 mins

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: French

Keyword: cheese, fondue, melting pot

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 394kcal

Ingredients

• ▢ 1/2 lb gruyere cheese
• ▢ 1/2 lb fontina cheese
• ▢ 2 tbsp cornstarch
• ▢ 1/2 C chicken or veggie broth
• ▢ 1 C Asiago Caesar dressing (we use BRIANNAS brand)

Instructions

• Grate cheeses and toss them in a medium bowl with the cornstarch
• In a saucepan, stir a little cheese with broth and dressing then simmer over medium-low heat
• Add the remaining cheese a little at a time, stirring well between each addition
• Carefully pour the fondue into a fondue pot or individual fondue cups and serve with fondue forks or wooden skewers and a variety of dippers like we've listed above

Nutrition

Calories: 394kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 76mg | Sodium: 677mg | Potassium: 50mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 538IU | Calcium: 457mg | Iron: 1mg