Savory French Onion Soup Bites for Cozy Gatherings Recipe
These Savory French Onion Soup Bites are perfect for cozy gatherings, combining rich caramelized onions with melty Gruyère cheese in a flaky crescent roll crust. A delightful appetizer that captures the classic flavors of French onion soup in bite-sized form.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 24 mini bites 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Onion Mixture
- 2 cups yellow onions (thinly sliced)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter (can substitute with vegan option)
- 1 cup beef broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarian option)
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar (or apple cider vinegar for a milder flavor)
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves (can substitute with Italian seasoning or omit)
Dough and Cheese
- 1 package crescent roll dough (all-purpose flour variant)
- 1 cup Gruyère cheese (can substitute with any melting cheese or vegan cheese)
Instructions
- Caramelize the onions: In a large skillet, heat olive oil and butter over medium heat. Add thinly sliced yellow onions and cook slowly for about 30 minutes, stirring frequently, until they are deeply caramelized and golden brown.
- Simmer with broth and vinegar: Stir in the beef broth and white vinegar. Let the mixture simmer for about 5 minutes until most of the liquid has absorbed, intensifying the onion flavor. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Prepare the oven and dough: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Unroll the crescent roll dough and cut it into rectangles that will fit into a greased mini muffin tin.
- Form dough cups: Press each dough rectangle firmly into the bottom and sides of the mini muffin tin wells to create little cups ready to hold the filling.
- Fill with onion mixture and cheese: Spoon the caramelized onion mixture evenly into each dough cup. Sprinkle the tops generously with Gruyère cheese.
- Bake: Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the dough is golden-brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Cool and garnish: Let the bites cool in the pan for about 10 minutes to firm up. Gently remove them from the muffin tin, garnish with fresh thyme leaves, and serve warm for the best flavor.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, substitute beef broth with vegetable broth and use a vegetarian cheese or omit the cheese as desired.
- The butter can be replaced with a vegan butter alternative to make the recipe dairy-free.
- If fresh thyme is unavailable, Italian seasoning or dried thyme can be used instead.
- Make sure to caramelize the onions slowly for the best depth of flavor; rushing this step will result in less sweetness.
- These bites can be prepared ahead and warmed before serving for convenience during gatherings.
Keywords: French onion soup, appetizer, savory bites, caramelized onions, Gruyère cheese, crescent roll
