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Fondue and fondant are very confusing. The two words sound similar and are derived from the French word, ‘fondre.’ Fondre means ‘to melt.’ Despite the similarities in their sound and derivation, the two words refer to completely separate things. This Fondant vs Fondue post is written to help clear any confusion you might have regarding the two. The most significant difference between fondue and fondant is that fondue is a dish with Swiss origins that is made using melted cheese, while fondant is used as a decorative for cakes. Read on to learn more about fondue and fondant and get the answers to any questions you might have about them. Fondant Vs Fondue: What Is Fondant? Fondant is an icing used to sculpt or decorate pastries and cakes. However, fondant is different from other cake decoratives as it has a unique texture. It comes in various forms, with poured fondant and rolled fondant being the most common. Rolled fondant has a clay-like texture that is stiff and unlike your typical cake decoratives. Poured fondant is a thick gelatinous liquid. Poured fondant is used as fillings or to cover cakes. Cadbury Creme Eggs are filled with poured fondant. Rolled fondant is almost exclusively used to dive a decorative touch to the surface of baked goods. What Is Fondant Made Of? Fondant is made from various ingredients which depend on the type of fondant. However, the basic ingredients in all types are water, sugar, shortening or vegetable fat, glycerol, and gelatin. For a vegetarian version of fondant, agar is used instead of gelatin. The ingredients in rolled fondant are water, corn syrup, and sugar. Gelatin or glycerin is added to help with shaping and sculpting. Fondant Vs Fondue: What Is Fondue? Fondue is a Swiss dish made with a combination of melted cheese and cognac, brandy, or wine. The dish is served in communal pots over a portable stove heated with a spirit lamp or a candle. A long-stemmed fork is used to dip bread into the cheese when eating fondue. The melted cheese is allowed to seep into the bread before biting it. In more creative recipes, other small pieces of food can be used to substitute the bread. The pieces of food are then dipped in a hot broth or oil before eating. Aficionados of the Swiss dish claim that the bottom of the communal pot usually holds the best flavors of the hot broth or oil. A rusty slab of cheese develops at the bottom as the meal is enjoyed. It is then scraped off and shared by everyone. What Is Fondue Made Of? Fondue is made of grated cheese, Swiss white wine, garlic, a few tablespoons of cornflour, and lemon juice. The cornflour binds the entire mixture to make the dish authentic. Some people add shallots and cherry brandy for more flavor, while others choose to season the fondue to taste using nutmeg, pepper, and other seasonings of their choice. The ingredients are then blended. Some recipes include other add-ins, such as paprika, mountain herbs, cayenne, tomato coulis, and mustard. The bread dipped into the fondue is either brown or white but is always sturdy. It is cut into small bite-sized pieces for dipping. Comparing Fondue And Fondant If you are still confused about the differences between fondant and fondue, here are a few simplified points to make it easier to understand the differences: Fondant is a type of icing used to decorate cakes and pastries, while fondue is a popular Swiss dish that is enjoyed communally. Fondant is made using water, sugar, glycerol, and gelatin, while fondue is made with alcohol, melted cheese, and sometimes chocolate. Fondant is best eaten at room temperature after it becomes hard and dry, while fondue is best enjoyed warm. Fondant has a sweet taste, while fondue tastes like cheese. Here are some frequently asked questions that can help you understand fondue and fondant better: Fondue FAQs Here’s what people want to know about fondue: Is Fondue Healthy? No, fondue is a very unhealthy dish. This is especially true for cheese fondue, which has cheese as its main ingredient. This is usually because the dish is meant to be a social and casual way to celebrate. Classic Swiss fondues start with rich cheese blended with a few spices and a splash of white wine. This creates a thick, savory sauce for dipping small pieces of bread or other bite-sized pieces of food. Is There Alcohol In Fondue? Yes, classic fondues are usually made of an alcoholic spirit, such as beer, white wine, cider, fruit brandy, and melted cheese. This makes a hot broth used for dipping bread, potatoes, vegetables, and other small pieces of food. What Foods Are Good For Fondue? Fondue can be enjoyed with various foods. However, the key factor is that the type of food used as a dipper should be good at soaking up the cheesy goodness of the hot broth. Such foods include bread, crispy potatoes, apples, broccoli, bell peppers, meatballs, sausage, and chicken. These foods are chopped up into bite-sized pieces that can rapidly absorb the hot broth to take in the delicious flavors. Is Broth Or Oil Better For Fondue? The choice between broth and oil depends on the foods you want to eat with your fondue. To enjoy your fondue with meat, consider broth for more flavor. This is because broths can be infused with spices and herbs that make the fondue flavor even richer. Use a broth that corresponds to the meat you will be eating. Oil is used for more traditional fondue dishes. For the best results in your dish, use canola oil. It is affordable, has little flavor, and has a high smoke point. Other good options for your fondue include peanut oil, sunflower seed oil, and grapeseed oil. Ensure not to fill your fondue pot more than halfway when using oil. What meat do you use for fondue? If you want to enjoy your fondue with meat, the best types are tenderloin, sirloin, and beef cuts such as filet mignon. Other great options for your fondue are pork, seafood, fish, and chicken. Fondant FAQs Here’s what people want to know about fondant: What temperature does fondant melt? Fondant melts at 35 degrees Celsius. This means that fondant can melt in hot weather, causing it to sag off your cakes. This happens regardless of how well you prepared the cake. Is icing the same as fondant? No, fondant is not the same as icing. The difference is that fondant includes dried glucose syrup, providing you with a glossy, smooth, and soft iced finish. Another difference is that icing is usually a thin and runny mixture, while the fondant is a thick and rollable paste. Icing is used for glazing cookies and cakes, while the fondant is perfect for king sponges, Bakewell tarts, and cupcakes. Fondant makes edible cake decorations. Can You Eat Fondant? Yes, fondant is edible. The ingredients used are edible and are meant for use on desserts and cakes. However, eating fondant is not very healthy. This is usually because of the high amount of sugar in fondant. Additionally, the presence of food coloring and the chewy texture of the cake decorative make most people avoid it. How long will fondant last? Properly stored and unused homemade fondant typically lasts up to two months. Commercially sold fondant has preservatives that give it a long lifespan of up to two years. Once you apply your fondant (both homemade and storebought) to your desert, the shelf life reduces to about four days. Can you refrigerate a cake with fondant? Yes, cakes decorated with fondant can be refrigerated. You can ut the cake into smaller slices to make storage easier. Ensure to wrap up the slices or store them in containers. This way, you can store the cake in your fridge for up to seven days. You do not have to worry about your fondant hardening in the fridge. Fondant does not harden when refrigerated; it firms up and returns to its former state when it reaches room temperature. How far in advance can you put fondant on a cake? You can put fondant on a cake a day before you eat the cake, but you can prepare it five weeks before you need to make the cake. After making or buying your fondant, store it in an airtight container or plastic wrap and keep it away from sunlight. There is no need to refrigerate the fondant; you can store it at room temperature. What can you replace fondant with? You can replace fondant with other pastry decoratives such as gum paste, isomalt, sugar candy, chocolate, and frosting. Bottom Line Even though the words fondant and fondue sound similar and are derived from the same root word, they refer to completely different things. Fondant is decorative for cakes and pastry, while fondue is a Swiss dish enjoyed with small pieces of bread and other foods. Hopefully, this post provided you with the information you needed to help you understand the differences between the two words.