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🧅 Classic Cheesy French Onion Soup

A slow-cooked comfort recipe for cozy, grounding moods
🧘 Mood Pairing
Cozy • Comforting • Grounding • Calm evenings
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Servings: 4 Bowls
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • For the Soup
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 4 large onions yellow or white, thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon sugar optional, helps caramelization
  • 2 cloves garlic finely chopped
  • ½ cup dry white wine
  • 6 cups beef stock warm
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 4 –5 fresh thyme sprigs or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 –2 teaspoons sherry vinegar optional, for depth
  • For the Topping
  • 1 French baguette sliced
  • 1½ cups grated Gruyère or Swiss cheese
  • Olive oil or butter for toasting bread

Method
 

  1. Caramelize the onions
  2. Melt butter in a heavy pot over medium-low heat. Add sliced onions and salt. Cook slowly, stirring often, until onions soften and begin to turn golden. This will take about 30–40 minutes. Sprinkle in sugar if using and continue cooking until onions are deep brown and jam-like.
  3. Build the flavor
  4. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in white wine and scrape the bottom of the pot. Let it simmer until mostly reduced.
  5. Simmer the soup
  6. Add warm beef stock, bay leaves, thyme, and black pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer. Cook uncovered for 20–25 minutes to allow flavors to blend. Remove herbs and bay leaves. Stir in sherry vinegar if using. Adjust seasoning.
  7. Prepare the bread
  8. Toast baguette slices with a little butter or olive oil until crisp and golden.
  9. Assemble
  10. Ladle soup into oven-safe bowls. Place toasted bread on top and cover generously with grated cheese.
  11. Bake & broil
  12. Place bowls under the broiler until cheese melts, bubbles, and turns lightly golden. Let cool slightly before serving.