The most important part of a New Year’s Eve party is the ball drop at Midnight. Or is it?

We’d argue the most important part of a fabulous fete is the food. Not sure what to serve this year, but you know you want it to be fun and certainly not ordinary? Go for an unexpected twist with a NYE cheese fondue party!

The Food Selection

Your guests will spend the night dancing and mingling, so you don’t want to serve anything too formal. Instead, set a fun, casual scene that your guests can gather around and keep the conversation flowing. Prepare a few different versions of cheese fondue using a variety of imported cheeses, along with different varieties of fruits, nuts and breads for dipping. Try these:

• Simple Gruyère fondue with tangy apples
• Mushroom and Brie fondue with French bread
• Sharp Cheddar and beer fondue with soft pretzels
• Aged Gouda and white wine fondue with tart grapes
• Creamy Havarti and spinach fondue with slices of salami or turkey

You can also offer up a chocolate fondue for dessert dipping, along with a selection of other fruits, nuts, cookies and cakes set up around the table.

Try our fun and easy Fondue recipes at your next gathering:
Our Imported Emmental and Beer Fondue is spiked with crisp beer and goes great with bread, pretzels or sausage.
Our Imported Havarti fondue with Spinach & Artichokes is so comforting. You’ll love it with veggies and bread.

The Party Set-Up

No formal table setup needed here!

Instead, set the fondue up buffet-style with plates, napkins and skewers on one end, followed by the finger and dipping foods set-up on tiered trays. Prepare the fondue right before guests arrive and keep it warm — and fresh — by keeping it on a warming tray or with sterno warmers underneath.

Guests can dip directly into the pots with their skewers, but you can put out little bowls so guests can mix and match their cheese fondues as they like.

As for drinks, ask guests to bring their favorite drinks to share, like craft beer, wine and soda. Supply the bubbly — and have it waiting for the countdown!

The Entertainment

The buffet-style setup encourages your guests to mingle and compare their cheese fondue combinations throughout the night.

Party games and other fun forms of entertainment can round out the gathering until the clock strikes midnight. Pass out the bubbly and celebrate as you usher in a new year with your closest friends and family.