Baked Gruyere “Fondue” with Smokie and Apple Jam
Little smokies come out from under their traditional "wrapping in a blanket" and cozy up to apples and onions in a delightfully sweet and savory jam baked on a base of melted oo-ey go-ey cheese akin to cheese fondue. Finish with fresh thyme and honey and serve the cheese fondue on top of crostini. Super easy to prep in advance, this gets rave reviews -- and kids LOVE it!
Equipment
- large skillet
- baking sheet
- casserole or baking dish
Ingredients
- 16 inch ” baguette sliced in ⅓” slices
- ⅓ cup olive oil divided
- 2 large apples (Fuji, Honeycrisp or Cosmic Crisp), one peeled and diced, reserve the other
- 12 ounces little smokie sausages sliced in ¼” slices
- 1 yellow onion diced (about 1-½ cups)
- 1 teaspoon + 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup apple cider
- 1 pound gruyere or fontina cheese or a mix, cut in ½ Inch cubes
- 1 tablespoon honey
Instructions
- Preheat oven to broil.
- For crostini, brush bread slices with olive oil and arrange on a baking sheet. Broil until lightly browned. Turn over and repeat. Reserve.
- Reduce oven to 375°F.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté the little smokie slices until lightly browned. Transfer to a paper towel and reserve.
- Add 2 Tbsp. olive oil to skillet and sauté diced onion and apple until starting to caramelized, about 10 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, salt and pepper and stir to combine. Increase the heat to medium-high and add brown sugar and apple cider and cook until apple cider has reduced.
- Reduce the heat to low and stir in the reserved smokies and simmer for about 8 minutes. It should be the consistency of jam.
- In an 8” - 10” oven proof casserole or dish, mound cheese cubes. Drizzle with honey and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon thyme. Spoon Smokie and Appe Jam around the mounded cheese.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- While baking, core and slice remaining apple in ¼” slices.
- Serve immediately with apple slices and crostini – and a spoon to pile on that sweet and savory goodness.