French Onion Soup Inspired Toast Cups

Savory and elegant appetizer featuring toasted bread cups filled with sweet caramelized onions, nutty Gruyere cheese, and a touch of rich broth.

Prep Time

15 minutes

Total Time

45 minutes

Calories

455 kcal

Difficulty

Easy

Equipment

3 items

Cost

£1.48/serving

Season:

☀️ Summer

Meal Type:

Breakfast•Soup•Bread•Appetiser

Cuisine:

French

Mood:

Comfort Food

Ingredients

Servings

4slicesSourdough Bread(About 1/2 inch thick)

£1.50

2largeYellow Onions(Thinly sliced)

£0.80

2tablespoonsButter(Unsalted)

£0.25

1tablespoonOlive Oil

£0.15

1teaspoonBrown Sugar(Optional, adds a touch of sweetness)

£0.02

0.3cupDry Sherry(Or dry white wine, optional)

£0.75

0.5cupBeef Broth(Or Vegetable Broth)

£0.30

0.5cupGruyere Cheese(Shredded)

£1.75

1teaspoonFresh Thyme(Chopped, optional)

£0.40

To tasteSalt

To tasteBlack Pepper(Freshly ground)

Total Cost

£5.92

£1.48 per serving

Instructions

1.
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 4-6 cup muffin tin.
2.
Using a rolling pin, slightly flatten each slice of bread. Press each slice into a muffin tin cup, shaping it to fit snugly. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until lightly toasted and golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool slightly.
3.
While the bread cups are baking, heat butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and deeply caramelized, about 20-25 minutes. Reduce heat if onions start to burn.
4.
Stir in brown sugar (if using) during the last 5 minutes of caramelizing. Deglaze the pan with sherry (or white wine, if using), scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Cook until the liquid is almost completely evaporated.
5.
Remove from heat and stir in thyme, salt, and pepper to taste.
6.
Spoon the caramelized onions into the toasted bread cups. Top each cup with shredded Gruyere cheese.
7.
Pour about 2 tablespoons of broth into each cup, being careful not to overfill.
8.
Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden brown. Let cool slightly before serving.

Buy ingredients on Loop

My Notes

Nutrition Information

Nutrition per serving (175g)

455 kcal / 1904 kJ

Carbs

38g

15% of RDA

Fat

24g

34% of RDA

Protein

18g

36% of RDA

Detailed Breakdown

Fibre

3 g

10% of RDA

Sugar

12 g

13% of RDA

Sodium

650 mg

28% of RDA

Saturated Fat

15 g

75% of RDA

Chef's Tips

For a richer flavor, use bone broth instead of regular beef or vegetable broth.

If you don't have Gruyere, Swiss or Comté cheese can be substituted.

The bread cups can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container until ready to fill.

A sprinkle of fresh parsley can be added after baking for a pop of color.

Cooking Equipment

Oven

Stovetop

Muffin Tin (4-6 cup)

Wine Pairings

No wine pairing suggestions available for this recipe.

Share this recipe

Loading recipe...