STP: New Year's Eve Apps

It's all about Caramelized Onion Fondue

December 30, 2024

Whether hosting a festive party or enjoying a quiet night in, New Year’s Eve calls for a decadent recipe you can savor all evening long. Personally, I love serving a variety of appetizers on New Year’s Eve —they’re fun, easy to prepare, and people can serve themselves as they’d like.

One of my all-time favorites is French Onion Fondue Dip. Think fondue, but with rich, caramelized onions. Even better, it can be assembled the day before and baked in the oven just before serving. The key? Take your time caramelizing the onions. Forty-five minutes to an hour will give you those deep, golden brown, jammy onions that make all the difference. Pair it with toasted slices of your favorite baguette, and you’ve got an irresistible appetizer everyone will love.

Here’s to an exciting and abundant New Year—enjoy every bite and every moment.

French Onion Fondue Dip

Photo Credit: Food Network

INGREDIENTS

Serves 4 to 6

  • 6 bacon strips

  • 4 sweet onions, halved and thinly sliced with the grain

  • ½ teaspoon sugar

  • Kosher salt, to taste

  • ¼ cup water or any stock

  • 2 tablespoons dry sherry or 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar

  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme

  • 2 cups shredded Gruyere cheese

  • 1 cup sour cream

  • 1 cup mayonnaise

  • Plenty of freshly cracked black pepper

  • Baguette slices, toasted

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 400ºF. Heat a Dutch oven over medium heat and cook bacon. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to cool. Crumble bacon into small pieces.

  2. Add onions, sugar, and salt to bacon fat in the Dutch oven and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring often, until onions turn a deep golden-brown color. This can take as long as 45-60 minutes. Add water or stock one to two tablespoons at a time if the pan gets too dry. I usually add a bit of liquid about every 10 minutes to deglaze the pan.

  3. Once the onions are caramelized, add sherry or sherry vinegar and cook for 1 minute. Stir in thyme and remove from heat.

  4. Mix sour cream and mayo in a medium bowl. Add crumbled bacon, cheese, onions, and plenty of black pepper. Mix well and transfer to a 10-inch nonstick cast iron skillet or baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown on top. Serve with toasted baguette slices for dipping.

Pro Tips

  • I cook the bacon in a deep Dutch oven to reduce splatter. Save your clothes and your backsplash!

  • If you can find Vidalia onions, those are ideal. The sweetness really rounds out this dip.

  • Salt the onions and add a pinch of sugar as soon as the onions hit the pan. Doing this will release some of their water and help the caramelization process.

  • If the onions start to stick, deglaze with a little water or stock, scraping up the browned bits as well. Those brown bits are called fond, and that’s where all of the flavor is.

  • You can assemble this dip the day before and store it in the fridge until you’re ready to bake.

Equipment Used

  • Chef’s knife

  • Cutting board

  • 10” nonstick cast iron skillet

  • Wooden spoon

  • Dutch oven

More Recipes

Mushroom Risotto

Classic Whiskey Sour

Skillet S’mores Dip

This Holiday Season, Give Yourself the Gift of Nike Air Max.

This winter, take your footwear game to the next level with Nike's Air Max collection for men. With a diverse range of models, this collection prioritizes comfort and functionality, perfectly tailored to meet your everyday needs. Whether you're hitting the gym or heading out for a casual outing, these sneakers deliver the support you crave without compromising on style.

Find the perfect pair that matches your lifestyle and get ready to make a statement with every step. Treat yourself to a fresh pair from the collection this holiday season—you deserve it.

News & Events

Pass it on!

If you’re loving our free newsletter, forward this to a friend or subscribe them here.