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Ultra close-up macro of warm bubbling caramelized onion and gruyere dip in cast iron skillet with golden blistered melted cheese

Warm Caramelized Onion & Gruyere Dip

Sweet, jammy caramelized onions folded into a velvety blend of Swiss Gruyère, cream cheese, and sour cream, baked until bubbling with a golden blistered crust. The ultimate crowd-pleasing warm holiday party appetizer.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Appetizer, Party Food
Cuisine: French-American, Holiday Entertaining
Calories: 260
Ingredients Method Nutrition

Ingredients
  

For the Jammy Caramelized Onions
  • 3 large sweet yellow Vidalia onions thinly sliced pole-to-pole (about 5-6 cups)
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 0.5 tsp fine sea salt draws out moisture for caramelization
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves finely chopped
  • 0.25 cup low-sodium vegetable or beef bone broth or splash of apple cider for deglazing (alcohol-free)
For the Luscious Gruyère Cheese Dip Base
  • 8 oz cream cheese softened to room temperature
  • 0.5 cup sour cream or full-fat Greek yogurt
  • 0.33 cup mayonnaise for silky emulsion
  • 4 cloves garlic finely minced or grated
  • 1.5 cups shredded Swiss Gruyère cheese freshly grated, divided (1 cup inside, 1/2 cup for topping)
  • 0.5 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano aged parmesan
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce for savory umami depth
  • 0.25 tsp cracked black pepper
  • 1 pinch ground cayenne pepper subtle background warmth

Method
 

Slowly Caramelize the Onions to Golden Perfection
  1. Heat 2 tablespoons butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large heavy skillet (stainless steel or cast iron) over medium heat.
  2. Add all sliced onions, salt, and fresh thyme. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes until softened and translucent.
  3. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook slowly for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring every few minutes, until the onions are deeply caramelized, sticky, and rich mahogany brown. Pour in the broth or apple cider to deglaze and scrape up every bit of sweet caramelized fond from the pan bottom. Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes.
Mix the Creamy Cheese Base & Fold
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease an 8-inch cast iron skillet or 1.5-quart ceramic baking dish with butter.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, beat together softened cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, and cayenne until smooth and creamy.
  3. Fold in 1 cup of the shredded Gruyère cheese, all the parmesan cheese, and 85% of the warm caramelized onions (reserving 2 tablespoons for garnish). Stir until evenly distributed.
Bake to a Golden Blistered Bubble
  1. Spread the dip mixture into your prepared baking dish. Top evenly with the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded Gruyère cheese and scatter the reserved caramelized onions over the top.
  2. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20 to 22 minutes until bubbling vigorously around the edges. Turn on the broiler for the final 2 minutes to achieve a gorgeous golden-brown blistered cheese crust.
  3. Remove from the oven, garnish with fresh thyme leaves, and let rest for 5 minutes before serving hot with toasted baguette crostini, pita crisps, or sturdy vegetable dippers.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 260kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 9gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 55mgSodium: 320mgPotassium: 145mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 620IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 240mgIron: 0.8mg

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