Aged Gouda Fondue with Caraway Croutons

Preheat the oven to 350°. In a small skillet, toast the caraway seeds over moderate heat for about 1 minute, shaking the pan frequently. Add the butter and let it melt. In a large bowl, toss the bread cubes with the caraway butter until evenly coated and season lightly with salt. Spread the bread cubes on a large rimmed baking sheet and toast, turning once, until lightly browned and crisp, about 10 minutes. Transfer the croutons to a basket, reserving 1 teaspoon of the caraway seeds.

Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, simmer the heavy cream over moderate heat until reduced to 2 cups, about 15 minutes. Whisk in the Gouda until melted. Strain the cheese sauce through a fine sieve set over a heatproof bowl or fondue pot and season lightly with white pepper. Sprinkle with the reserved caraway seeds then serve hot with the croutons and either toothpicks or skewers.