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Cozy French Onion Soup Recipe with Easy Melted Gruyère Toast

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A comforting French onion soup featuring slow caramelized onions and savory beef broth, topped with perfectly melted Gruyère cheese on toasted baguette slices. Easy to make and perfect for cozy nights or impressing guests.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 6 cups beef broth (low-sodium recommended; vegetable broth for vegetarian option)
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine (or extra broth as substitute)
  • 2–3 sprigs fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 8 baguette slices (day-old preferred)
  • 2 cups shredded Gruyère cheese

Instructions

  1. Peel and thinly slice about 4 large yellow onions to roughly 1/8-inch thickness.
  2. In a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, melt 3 tablespoons unsalted butter with 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat.
  3. Add the sliced onions and stir to coat. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook slowly, stirring every 5 minutes, for 40-45 minutes until onions turn golden to deep amber. Add a splash of water if onions start to stick.
  4. In the last 2 minutes of caramelizing, stir in 2 minced garlic cloves and cook until fragrant.
  5. Pour in 1/2 cup dry white wine, scraping up browned bits from the pot bottom. Simmer until mostly reduced, about 3-4 minutes.
  6. Add 6 cups beef broth, 2-3 sprigs fresh thyme, and 1 bay leaf. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook uncovered for 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper toward the end.
  7. While soup simmers, preheat oven broiler. Arrange baguette slices on a baking sheet and toast under broiler for 1-2 minutes per side until golden and crisp.
  8. Sprinkle about 1/4 cup shredded Gruyère cheese on each toast slice. Broil again for 1-2 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly, watching carefully to avoid burning.
  9. Ladle hot soup into oven-safe bowls, float the cheesy toast on top, and place under the broiler for 1-2 minutes more if desired for extra bubbly and browned cheese.
  10. Serve immediately.

Notes

Keep heat medium-low to avoid burning onions and stir frequently. Use good-quality dry white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio. Toast bread until crispy before adding cheese to avoid sogginess. Watch cheese closely when broiling to prevent burning. For faster caramelization, a pinch of baking soda can be added but slow cooking yields better flavor. Store cheese toast separately to keep crisp.

Nutrition

Keywords: French onion soup, caramelized onions, Gruyère toast, comfort food, easy soup recipe, cozy dinner, melted cheese toast

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