French Onion Cob Loaf

🤍 Recipe Highlights

I have summarised everything that you will come to know and love (LOVE ❤) about the recipe in the points below:

• Simple ingredients: all of the ingredients needed to make the recipe are simple and easy to get your hands on at the local shops.
• Back to basics: this is an easy homemade dip recipe. We give the bacon a quick fry, then combine it with the other ingredients, pop them into the hollowed bread bowl then oven bake it. The recipe is suitable to be cooked across all ranges of abilities from beginners to advanced.
• French onion dip: mmmmm hmmm, you know what I am saying 😂👌👍.
• Comfort food: there is bacon…cream cheese…pecorino romano cheese…and the French onion soup mix….and did I mention that there is crispy bread pieces for dipping and dunking 👌😂.
• Taste and texture: bacon and bread are a winning combination any day of the week. Add a cob loaf, some cheese, French onion soup mix and you have yourself a home run.
• Freezer friendly: you can make this dip and freeze as a whole for serving at a later date when you simply have to cook it in the oven. Or make and cook the day before, then simply reheat and let the guests eat the day of the gathering.

🥗 Ingredients

The photo below is to show you everything you need to make the French onion cob loaf dip recipe. Please refer to the printable recipe card for specific ingredient measurements as well as detailed instructions.

As you can see the recipe calls for:

• Olive oil: the olive oil doesn't go in the dip itself. Rather, we use it around the cut surface of the bread as a means to crisp this up as it cooks in the oven. I also like to give the cut pieces of bread a quick spray with olive oil to allow them to toast nicely too.
• Chives: fresh with onion flavor. These are used to compliment the flavor of the French onion.
• French onion soup mix: this is a dried packet mix. It is loaded with flavor and perfect to use in dips.
• Greek yogurt: a lighter option than sour cream. We use this with the cream cheese to create the creamy cheesy dip filling.
• Cream cheese: we use 1 standard block of cream cheese. It is excellent to use for dip recipes like the Cranberry Jalapeno Dip, Chili Cream Cheese Dip or the Cream Cheese Onion Dip 😁👍.
• Pecorino romano cheese: this is a cheese made from sheep's milk. We want to use a micro plane zester to grate it. It has a lovely sweet cheese flavour about it. Or...use a store bought blend of grated cheese to keep things easy.
• Bacon: chunky store bought diced bacon will give the best texture in the dip.
• Cob loaf: this is a popular round white loaf of bread. Commonly sold at bakeries and grocery stores. It is excellent to use for dips!

Top Tip: I like to provide you with a number of substitutions and variations giving you an array of options when making my recipes. If in doubt of any of the above ingredients, or wanting alternatives, read this section (further below) before jumping into the instructions on how to make the recipe which are coming next 😉👌.

🍳 Instructions

Here are the step by step instructions to make the recipe. We start by preparing the bread. You will need a knife and cutting board for these initial steps.

• Cut the top off the bread using a serrated knife (Photo 1)
• Remove the soft white bread (Photo 2)
• Roughly chop the bread and top (Photo 3)
• Cook the bacon (Photo 4)

👩‍🍳 How to Make French Onion Cob Loaf

To make the French onion cob loaf we start by using a bread knife to cut the top off the bread. Then set this aside whilst you pull the soft white fluffy bread out to create a round hole with a thick perimeter.

Next use the knife to roughly chop the bread that was removed. As well as the top that was cut from the bread.

Then place a large sauté pan or frying pan onto the stove top and turn the heat to high. Add the diced bacon and cook for 4-5 minutes until it gets a little brown and crispy.

Next start to add the dip ingredients to a medium sized mixing bowl. Start with the Greek yogurt, followed by the cream cheese, pecorino romano and French onion soup mixture.

• Add the Greek yogurt (Photo 5)
• Then add the cream cheese (Photo 6)
• Add the pecorino romano cheese (Photo 7)
• Add the French onion soup mix (Photo 8)

Next we add the chives as you see me doing in the photo below.

• Add chives (Photo 9)
• Then stir to combine (Photo 10)
• Add most of the cooked bacon (Photo 11)
• But keep a little bit for the top (Photo 12)

Once you have added the chives use a spatula or electric beaters to stir and combine the dip filling till it is consistently mixed together.

Then add most of the cooked bacon, keeping a little of it to use for presentation.

• Stir again to combine (Photo 13)
• Transfer the dip into the bread (Photo 14)
• Oven bake (Photo 15)
• Garnish with extra chives (Photo 16)

Preheat the oven and line a baking rack with a silicon mat. Then place the cob loaf and extra bread pieces onto the silicon mat.

After adding the bacon, use the spatula to gently stir and fold it into the combined dip. Then transfer the French onion dip into the hollowed bread bowl.

Once done give the bread pieces a light spray with olive oil then place the baking tray into the oven. Let the bread pieces cook for 10 minutes then use oven mitts to remove the baking tray, use tongs to remove the golden brown toasted bread from the tray then return only the dip to the oven for a further 15 to 20 minutes.

Once the dip is cooked (you can test this using a skewer). If the skewer comes out warm from top to bottom the dip is ready. If the tip of the dip on the skewer is still cold, cook it for a little bit longer.

Then use the oven mitts to again remove the oven tray and place it on a heatproof surface. Next use the oven mitts on the sides of the cob loaf to transfer it to a serving platter.

Scatter the extra bread around the base of the cob loaf, then get the bacon pieces you reserved and sprinkle them over the top of the dip like you see me doing below.

• Then add the reserved bacon (Photo 17)

Once you have garnished the dip it is ready to go! This is always the best part right 😁👍.

🍽 Serving Suggestions

A cob loaf is a great way to start any party, family gathering or Christmas dinner. Serve it when opening the presents and it will be long gone before main event.

These dips are notorious for being loved and enjoyed by a wide variety of people. Young, not so young and old, it will go down a treat with all ages.

I like to keep them simple and serve them with the toasted bread pieces as it is easy to do and the bread is warm and crisp from the oven.

You can also use vegetable sticks like celery, cucumber and carrot as a way to serve the dip. Whatever dip pairings take your fancy.

👍 How to Guide

How to Store

Store leftovers (If you have any 😂😂) in a sealed airtight container in the fridge. They can be kept for 2 days.

How to Freeze

You can make the dip, put the top back on and freeze it in the original plastic bag that the bread came in if you wish too.

Then when needed remove it from the freezer and oven bake until it is heated through.

It is not recommended however, to freeze leftovers of the cooked dip.

How to Reheat

Place leftovers of the cob loaf dip into the oven and reheat for 5 to 10 minutes until warmed through.

😉 Substitutions and Variations

Here are my sub ins and outs that you might be thinking about as you read the post and I will tell you if I think they will work or why they won't:

• As we have both the bacon, cheese and the French onion soup mix in the recipe, I don't recommend adding additional salt.
• You can use sour cream in place of the Greek yogurt if you wish too.
• For other cheese options you can use tasty cheese (cheddar), colby, parmesan cheese or a mixed blend like pizza cheese.
• You can use chopped green onions in place of the chives if you wish too. In which case, I would recommend lightly frying them with the bacon to allow them to soften slightly before adding to the bowl with the other dip ingredients.
• I have sometimes used 2 x packets of the soup mixture for extra flavor in the dip. You can too if you wish too 😁👍. However, if you have people who are sensitive eaters (don't like intense or loaded combinations I recommend sticking to the 1 packet only).

💡 Tasty Tips

Here are my top tips and tricks that I want to share with you so that you master the recipe from the get go:

• If you grab the cream cheese out as a starting point and let it sit on the bench it will soften and then be easily able to combine with the rest of the ingredients in the bowl. Or you can use electric beaters (only before adding the bacon) to ensure that the dip is consistently mixed together.
• When cutting the top off the bread we don't want to cut too far down into the bread. Only the top straight across. You can use the photo in the process shots as a guide.
• Also when tearing the bread out, we want a thick base and sides so that the dip doesn't leak out so we only take out enough that the dip will fit into.
• If you love dips and want more ideas try the Camembert Cob Loaf, Spinach Artichoke Cob Loaf, Green Olive Dip, Corn Dip With Cream Cheese, Smoked Trout Dip, Cream Cheese Spinach Dip or the Chili Cream Cheese Dip 😉👌.
• Or if cheese appetizers are your thing then try the Microwave Brie, Baked Brie with Garlic, Cranberry Brie, Baked Brie with Honey, or the Baked Camembert with Cranberry Sauce.
• Love recipes that have a French Onion flavor profile? Then try the Slow Cooker French Onion Pork Chops or Slow Cooker French Onion Chicken 😍👍.

🤓 Frequently Asked Questions

Why does French onion soup taste so good?

The combination of ingredients used to make the dried soup mixture is why it tastes so good.

What are 3 food items to serve with dip?

Toasted bread pieces, celery sticks and carrot sticks are 3 food items that are great to serve with dip.

What chips go best with dip?

Thick chips that can be dipped without breaking are the best type to serve with dip.

😍 More Easy Appetizer Recipes

If you feel like you have a handle on your chip and dip game but are looking for more recipes to entertain with when the guests arrive, I have some ideas. These recipes have a variety of cook times, methods and flavors about them.

• Savoury ideas: Savoury Mince Pies, Cheeseburger Sausage Rolls, Caramelised Onion Sausage Rolls.
• Fun ideas: Olive Platter, Chicken Ribs, Mini Croissant Sandwiches, Chicken Sausage Rolls, Mini Meatballs, Cocktail Sausages, Roast Beef Sliders, Pinwheel Sandwiches, Roast Beef Roll Ups, Wagyu Meatballs.
• Vegetarian ideas: Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates, Goat Cheese Log, Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Bites, Caramelised Onion Tarts.
• Cream cheese starters: Honey Pecan Cream Cheese, Honey Pecan Cream Cheese.
• More cheese: Baked Brie with Garlic, Microwave Brie, Caramelized Onion Brie, Baked Camembert with Cranberry Sauce.
• Other dips: Smoked Trout Dip, Green Olive Dip, Black Olive Dip. Easy Green Olive Tapenade, Black Olive Dip, Kalamata Olive Dip.
• Spreads: Chilli Tomato Jam, Tomato Bacon Jam.

It is time to get our cob loaf on my friend! Try it out at your next party 😍. You can also find all of my appetizer recipes or dips and spreads recipes in the one spot.

Adrianne

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