Description
French Onion Soup Bites are delicious puff pastry appetizers filled with sweet caramelized onions and melted Gruyere cheese, perfect for parties and gatherings. This recipe features a buttery, flaky puff pastry base topped with slow-cooked, flavorful onions and finished with a golden cheese crust.
Ingredients
Scale
For the 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
For Assembly
- 1 sheet frozen puff pastry - thawed
- 1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese or Swiss cheese
- 1 tbsp thyme - chopped
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 24-cavity mini muffin pan and set aside.
- Caramelize Onions: Heat a large sauté pan over medium heat and melt the butter. Add the sliced onions and toss to separate. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions soften and begin to brown. Sprinkle sugar and black pepper over the onions. Reduce heat to medium-low if onions cook too fast. Continue cooking until tender and caramelized, about 30 minutes. Stir in the dry sherry or red wine vinegar, then remove from heat and transfer to a small bowl.
- Prepare Puff Pastry: While onions cook, lightly flour a clean work surface and roll out the thawed puff pastry sheet to slightly flatten. Cut the pastry into 24 equal small squares using a knife.
- Assemble Bites: Press each puff pastry square into the cavities of the mini muffin pan. Spoon about one tablespoon of caramelized onions into each pastry cup. Top each with a sprinkle of shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese.
- Bake: Bake the bites in the preheated oven for 22 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed and golden brown. Watch carefully to avoid burning.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven and sprinkle chopped thyme over the tops. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Use dry sherry for a richer flavor, or substitute with red wine vinegar for a non-alcoholic option.
- Gruyere cheese provides a nutty flavor, but Swiss cheese works well for a milder taste.
- Thaw puff pastry sheet fully before rolling and cutting for easier handling.
- If you don't have a mini muffin pan, you can use mini tart pans or bake on a baking sheet, but the shape may differ.
- Caramelize onions slowly to develop maximum sweetness and flavor.
- These bites can be prepared ahead and reheated in the oven before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bite
- Calories: 120 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
