Description
French Onion Soup Bites are a delightful appetizer featuring caramelized sweet onions nestled in flaky puff pastry squares, topped with melted Gruyere cheese and a touch of thyme. These savory bites capture the essence of classic French onion soup in a perfect party-friendly mini snack.
Ingredients
Scale
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
Pastry and Topping
- 1 sheet frozen puff pastry - thawed
- 1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese or Swiss cheese
- 1 tbsp thyme - chopped
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 375℉. Lightly grease a 24-cavity mini muffin pan and set it aside.
- Caramelize Onions: Heat a large sauté pan over medium heat and add the butter. Once melted, add the sliced onions and stir to separate them. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions soften and begin to brown, about 25 to 30 minutes. Sprinkle sugar and black pepper over the onions during cooking. If onions cook too quickly, reduce heat to medium-low. Stir in the dry sherry or red wine vinegar at the end and remove from heat. Set aside.
- Prepare Puff Pastry: Lightly flour a clean work surface and roll out the thawed puff pastry sheet slightly. Cut the pastry into 24 equal small squares using a knife.
- Fill Pastry Cups: Press each puff pastry square into one cavity of the mini muffin pan. Spoon about one tablespoon of the caramelized onions onto each puff pastry cup.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese over the onions in each cup.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven until the pastry is puffed and golden brown, about 22 minutes. Keep an eye to avoid burning.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven and garnish with chopped thyme. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Use dry sherry for a deeper flavor; red wine vinegar is a good substitute for a slight tang.
- If you don’t have Gruyere, Swiss cheese or a mild cheese that melts well can be used.
- Watch closely during baking as puff pastry can brown quickly.
- For an extra touch, sprinkle a little extra thyme on top before baking.
- These bites can be prepared ahead and baked just before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bite
- Calories: 90 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
