Description
French Onion Soup Bites are a delightful appetizer that captures the rich, savory flavors of classic French onion soup in a convenient, bite-sized form. Caramelized onions simmered with sherry vinegar and beef broth are nestled inside crispy crescent roll dough, topped with melted Gruyère cheese and fresh thyme for an elegant and flavorful treat perfect for entertaining.
Ingredients
Scale
Onion Mixture
- 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter
- 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1/2 cup low-sodium beef broth
- 2 Tbsp. sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar
Bites
- Cooking spray, for greasing pan
- 2 (8-oz.) cans crescent rolls
- 4 oz. Gruyère cheese, grated
- Fresh thyme, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the Onion Mixture: Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the thinly sliced yellow onions, seasoning with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cook the onions slowly, stirring occasionally until they are deeply caramelized and golden brown, about 30-40 minutes.
- Deglaze and Finish Onions: Pour in the low-sodium beef broth and sherry vinegar (or red wine vinegar) to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits. Simmer the mixture until the liquid reduces and thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.
- Prepare Crescent Roll Dough: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Spray a mini muffin pan with cooking spray. Unroll the crescent rolls and separate into individual triangles. Cut each triangle into smaller pieces to fit into the mini muffin cups, pressing the dough into the bottom and up the sides forming a small cup.
- Fill Bites and Add Cheese: Spoon a generous amount of the caramelized onion mixture into each crescent dough cup. Top each with a sprinkle of grated Gruyère cheese.
- Bake the Bites: Place the muffin pan in the oven and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the crescent dough is golden brown and the cheese has melted and begun to bubble.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the bites from the oven and let them cool slightly. Garnish each with fresh thyme leaves before serving warm for the best flavor experience.
Notes
- Caramelizing onions slowly is key for deep flavor—do not rush this step.
- Low-sodium beef broth keeps the flavors rich without overwhelming saltiness.
- Gruyère cheese can be substituted with Swiss or mozzarella for a milder flavor.
- These bites can be made ahead and reheated gently in the oven before serving.
- Fresh thyme can be replaced with rosemary or parsley according to preference.
