I Tried the New Trader Joe’s Holiday Appetizer Everyone’s Talking About, and It’s Even Better Than Promised

Trader Joe’s holiday releases are something of a celebration in themselves. I mean, the retailer is stocking 475 festive products this season alone! And of the hundreds of returning favorites and new launches, there has been one that has practically stolen shoppers’ hearts: Trader Joe’s La Fondue. 

This easy, five-minute microwavable fondue is everywhere — and quickly disappearing off the shelves. I knew I had to snag one for myself to see if it’s really worth the hype. I checked my local Trader Joe’s in North Carolina over the Thanksgiving holiday and, to my devastating surprise, it was out of stock. 

But I’m never one to give up, so a few days later I checked at a location near my home in New York and was delighted to see them being freshly stocked! So is the fondue really that good? Let’s just say that it’s going to be at all of my holiday parties for the foreseeable future. 

This ready-to-eat fondue is made in France and contains three cheeses: Gruyère, Comté, and Emmental. It’s found in the cheese section of the grocery store, alongside the blocks, wheels, and wedges, and comes in a plastic cup. It’s microwaveable and ready in just five minutes (a dream!). 

The fondue is sold in a 17.9-ounce container for $7.99. I’m not sure how much longer it’ll be in stores, but I assume it’ll be on shelves throughout the holidays (or until it sells out entirely, which happens!). 

To save you a bit of time — because you need to grab your keys and get to Trader Joe’s, now — this fondue is awesome. I was a bit skeptical at first, knowing how involved fondue is, and I was even more skeptical after I heated it only to find a thick puddle of oil on the top. But, after a little mix it completely smoothed out and transformed into a velvety and creamy cheese dip that I couldn’t wait to get into. 

I had an assortment of dippers: Honeycrisp apple slices, cookies, crackers, and carrots. All deliciously (and glamorously) went into the cheese dip with stunning ease and made for one of the most fun lunches I’ve had in awhile. 

The three cheeses — again, Gruyère, Comté, and Emmental — coupled with garlic, salt, and a splash of Sherry, was so beyond decadent and did not taste like it was just $7.99 (or made in the microwave!). It’s got a mild, creamy cheese taste with tons of garlic that I loved. It looked even better once I poured it into a lemon-yellow ceramic bowl and continued to enjoy it throughout the afternoon. 

The dip itself has a surprisingly long melted time (roughly half an hour), and because it comes together so fast if you’re serving it at a party, I’d recommend preparing it once guests arrive to make the most out of it. I’ll absolutely be stocking up on the Trader Joe’s La Fondue as an impressive party trick for the rest of this season. 

Find it in stores: Trader Joe’s La Fondue, $7.99 for 17.9 ounces

Have you tried TJ’s La Fondue? Tell us about it in the comments.