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Imagine sinking a piece of crusty bread into the rich, sweet flavours of brown sugar caramelized onions, cream cheese, sour cream, and loads of shredded gruyère. This caramelized onion dip, also known as my French Onion Dip recipe is the perfect balance of sweet & savoury, and is the most delicious crowd pleasing appetizer. You’ll want to save this recipe because I promise your friends will ask you for it!
SO, I accidentally made the best recipe ever you guys!? My French Onion Dip recipe is truly perfection. Each bite is the most delicious balance of sweet & savoury and the flavours complement each other so well. The jammy caramelized onions with the creamy base which includes cream cheese, sour cream and mayonnaise creates the most delicious creamy texture to the dip. Perfect for around the holidays, game day, or a dinner party where you want to simply wow your guests with an unforgettable appetizer.
🧅 Why You’ll Love French Onion Dip
Rooted in flavour: the combination of caramelized onions brings out a natural sweetness, while the richness of cream cheese and sour cream creates the most rich and delicious texture.
Comfort food: at its finest! Warm, rich, creamy, everything you could want in an appetizer.
Versatile: serve with crisp veggies, warm bread or tortilla chips.
🗒 Ingredients You’ll Need To Make French Onion Dip
Olive oil & butter: essential for caramelizing the onions.
Yellow onions: the star of the show! When deeply caramelized they become tender, sweet and so flavourful.
Brandy & balsamic vinegar: adds a depth of flavour and acidity to the French onion dip which compliments the creamy base.
Brown sugar: enhances the sweetness of the caramelized onions.
Cream cheese & sour cream: provides the creamy base of the French onion dip.
Mayonnaise: adds substance and slightly thins out the texture of the dip.
Gruyère: adds a distinctive, nutty, cheese flavour.
Mozzarella: adds a mild flavour, and when melted gives a cheesy pull.
Dried thyme: adds a herbaceous, earthy flavour.
Garlic powder: adds a subtle garlic flavour without being overpowering.
✍🏼 How To Make French Onion Dip
- Prepare the onions: first, caramelize the onions for 30-45 minutes. Then, add the brandy, balsamic vinegar and brown sugar.
- Prepare the dip: secondly, mix together the cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, gruyère, mozzarella, dried thyme, garlic powder, black pepper and add the caramelized onions.
- Bake: finally, pour the French onion dip into a large baking dish, cover, and bake until warm and bubbling.
🗒️ Variations & Substitutions
Onion variations: for example, white onions or sweet onions will also work. Keep in mind that sweet onions will caramelize faster due to their higher sugar content.
Brandy variations: feel free to omit the brandy if you don’t have it on hand. Alternatively, add a splash of dry sherry, red wine vinegar or lemon juice.
🤝 Pairs Well With
🤔 FAQ’s
To prepare ahead, simply follow the recipe card and hold off on baking until you are ready to serve. In addition, you can assemble the dip the night before, refrigerate, and bake once ready to serve.
You need a bit of patience when making this French onion dip, as the onions will take 30-45 minutes to caramelize. First, thinly slice the onions. Then, cook slowly over a low/medium heat until golden. Finally, deglaze the pan and allow to cook for a few more minutes until soft, tender and jammy.
🍴 Leftovers? Lucky you.
Storage: refrigerate and store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Reheat: add to an oven safe baking dish, cover with foil and bake at 375 °F until warm.
👩🏻🍳 Hungry For More?
💌 Let’s Stay Connected
Keep in touch with me on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest! If you do make this recipe (or any recipe of mine) don’t forget to leave a review.
French Onion Dip
Equipment
- 1 Large frying pan
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil, extra virgin
- 2 tbsp butter
- 5 yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 3 tbsp brandy, or cognac
- 2 tsp balsamic vinegar
- 2½ tbsp brown sugar
- 1 250 gram block cream cheese, room temperature
- 1½ cups sour cream
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1½ cups gruyère cheese, shredded
- 1 cup mozzarella, shredded
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- salt, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the onions: begin by peeling and slicing the onions.To a large non-stick pan set to low/medium heat, add the olive oil and butter.Add the sliced onions and begin cooking for 30-45 minutes, stirring often. After the onions have been cooking for about 30 minutes, deglaze the pan with the brandy and season with salt and pepper.Allow the brandy to reduce, about 2 minutes. Add the balsamic vinegar and brown sugar and let simmer until the brown sugar has melted. About 2 minutes.Continue cooking for another 15 minutes if needed, just until the onions are deeply golden, thick, and have a jam-like consistency.Remove from the heat and set aside until ready to use.Sammy's tip: be sure to cook the onions on low/medium heat to avoid them from burning. If you notice the onions have little moisture left and appear to be burning, reduce the heat and deglaze with a tsp or 2 of water.
- Preheat the oven: once the onions are nearly finished, preheat your oven to 375 °F.
- Prepare the dip: to a large mixing bowl combine the cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise.Using a hand blender or large wooden spoon, mix to combine until you reach a smooth creamy consistency.Add the gruyère, mozzarella, dried thyme, garlic powder, a 1/4 tsp of black pepper and mix again.
- Add the onions: add the caramelized onions and gently mix to combine. Taste to see if you want to add any additional salt.
- Bake: pour into a large baking dish, cover, and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until bubbling.
- Serve: with bread, tortilla chips, or fresh veggies.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Sammy, your recipes always work. Thank you for sharing these with us.
Thank you, Lori! That is such a nice comment! – Sammy
Your recipes are amazing
Thank you, Sharon!
This was the hit of the party! I made it in the morning and then sprinkled some Gruyère on top and baked it before the party. So delicious and goes with veggies and chips. Thank you for an amazing recipe that I will be making on repeat.
Hi Brenda! Thank you for this review! I am so happy you loved the recipe! – Sammy
What kind of brandy do you use or recommend?
I used a VSOP – but honestly, any will work!
Aaaaaaaaamazing!
Hi Dana, thank you for this review! Happy you enjoyed this one 🙂 -Sammy
Hi there- this recipe looks incredible!! I want to make it for Xmas eve
Question : do you think I can make ahead, wrap up and refrigerate and then bake a few hours later?
Hi Anita, absolutely I do!
I made this for Thanksgiving and it was fantastic! Such a crowd pleaser!
I’d love to make it again but my kiddo is allergic to eggs and can’t have the mayo. What substitute would you recommend?
Hi Kelsey, you can try full fat plain greek yogurt!
Hi! Hoping to make this for Christmas Eve! Wondering if I can cook it in a crockpot instead of baking it in the oven? Or, could I bake it then transfer to a crockpot to keep warm? Thank you!
Hi Maria! You can totally pop this into a crockpot after assembling! Just keep it on low and allow it to cook for about an hour or 2. Just until it’s warm throughout, and slightly bubbly. I hope you enjoy – Sammy
Want to make this for Christmas, any substitution for the brandy/cognac?
I recommend using a splash of apple cider vinegar in place! Hope this helps – Sammy
If I could give this 10 stars I would. I made this for our friends holiday party and my god, no one could step away, it was that good. I’m making this again for an xmas day app!