Description
French Onion Soup Bites are a delicious appetizer featuring caramelized sweet onions nestled in flaky puff pastry shells, topped with melted Gruyere cheese and a hint of thyme. Perfect for parties or a cozy snack, these savory bites combine rich, sweet, and tangy flavors with a golden, crisp texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Pastry
- 1 sheet frozen puff pastry - thawed
Onion Filling
- 3 medium sweet onions - thinly sliced (about 4 cups)
- 4 tbsp salted butter
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp dry sherry or red wine vinegar
Topping
- 1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese or Swiss cheese
- 1 tbsp thyme - chopped
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 375℉. Lightly grease a 24-cavity mini muffin pan and set it aside to prepare for baking.
- Caramelize Onions: Heat a large sauté pan over medium heat and add the butter. Once melted, add the thinly sliced onions and toss to separate. Cook the onions, stirring occasionally, until soft and starting to brown. Sprinkle sugar and black pepper over the onions, reduce heat to medium-low if cooking too quickly, and continue cooking for roughly 25 to 30 minutes until tender and caramelized. Stir in dry sherry or red wine vinegar, then remove from the heat and set aside.
- Prepare Puff Pastry: While the onions cook, lightly flour a clean work surface and roll out the thawed puff pastry sheet to flatten slightly. Use a knife to cut the sheet into 24 equal small squares.
- Assemble Bites: Press each puff pastry square into a cavity of the mini muffin pan. Top each pastry square with about one tablespoon of the caramelized onion mixture, then sprinkle with shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese.
- Bake: Bake the assembled bites in the preheated oven for 22 minutes or until the pastry is puffed and golden brown. Keep an eye on them to avoid burning.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the bites from the oven and garnish each with chopped thyme. Serve warm or at room temperature for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- You can substitute red wine vinegar for dry sherry if preferred for a similar tangy flavor.
- Gruyere cheese adds a rich nutty flavor, but Swiss cheese works well as a milder alternative.
- Ensure onions caramelize slowly to develop sweetness without burning; adjust heat as needed.
- These bites are best served on the day they are made but can be reheated in a warm oven to crisp the pastry before serving.
- For a dairy-free twist, use vegan butter and dairy-free cheese alternatives.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bite
- Calories: 110 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
