Switzerland’s national dish, fondue, started as a way to stretch leftover ingredients through the cold months in the Alps. Melting one food to dip another one into it is as resourceful a technique as it is delicious. While its origins come from humble Alpine folk, fondue is now associated with upscale dining, with entire restaurants and catering events surrounding this style of eating. Melting pots retail, but you can recreate the luxurious nature of fondue at home with a mini melting pot for under $5.
Dollar Tree sells mini ceramic wax warmers that fit tea light candles in the center. The ceramic warmers have a dip in the top that can hold melted wax, and the candle’s flame at the center warms this spot from below. Rather than wax, you can place any meltable food of your choice at the top for an easily dippable treat.
The trick to getting fondue right is melting the food without burning it, which proves tricky with certain chocolates and cheeses. The reason people invest in specific melting pots is to hit that temperature sweet spot, but with this DIY hack, you’ll have a portable fondue pot that’s perfect for date nights or snacking solo. Use Dollar Tree wooden toothpicks as the dipping sticks, or pick up metal fondue forks for a more reusable option.
This Dollar Tree hack makes room for cheese and chocolate fondue
The biggest pro of putting together mini ceramic fondue melting pots is that you don’t have to choose between chocolate and cheese. Making two of these crafts is still much cheaper than getting a large pot with only one melting option. You’d also be surprised at just how many foods go with both chocolate and cheese, so you don’t have to choose between sweet and salty cravings.
Fondue ingredients can be as fancy as you’d like them to be, and there are plenty of ways to find good snacks on a budget. Fresh fruits such as strawberries, grapes, pears, and apples (especially Granny Smith) add a lot of depth to dark chocolate and mild, nutty cheeses. Other snacks don’t need a dipping stick or fork at all. Pretzel rods, Takis, and veggie straws are two-in-one edible dipping sticks that bring out the best in white chocolate and sharp cheddar with their salty flavors.
Since the Dollar Tree ceramic melters are small in size and heated by a candle, you’ll want to select the smoothest chocolates and cheeses for melting. Make your melted chocolate richer with butter, and go with baking-quality bars or wafers for effortless portioning. For cheese, you’ll achieve the creamiest fondue consistency with Gruyère, Comté, cheddar, and American Muenster. When it comes to making incredible snacks, it’s never been easier to fondue them yourself.
