Apple Cider Caramelized Onion Soup Recipe: a sweeter version of your favorite French onion soup. Apple cider, chicken and beef broths simmer together with sweet caramelized onions and fresh thyme. Top with French bread and sharp cheddar cheese for an easy and impressive main dish or appetizer soup.
As I sit here here writing, we’re under threat of our first big Nor’easter of the season. It’s making its way up the coast even now. There’s something exciting about even the anticipation of being “snowed in.” A few weeks ago we had snow and school was canceled for the boys. It’s always a big deal around here!
They love staying home, sleeping in late, reading, playing board games, watching movies and making popcorn. Oh yeah. And heading outside for old-fashioned snowball fights and snow fort building. That’s always high on the list.
So after that last snow storm, the roads were clear by late afternoon and Jon and I escaped to one of our favorite restaurants Cotton for dinner downtown. I’m always inspired by Cotton’s ambiance and eclectic menu, and that evening was no exception. On their ‘specials’ menu was a French onion-type soup made with apple cider, chicken and beef broth.
It sounded so tempting on a frigid, snowy day. So I ordered a bowl of the steaming soup along with a big spinach salad and it was excellent! I knew then that I’d try to recreate that soup in my own kitchen.
This sweet and savory Apple Cider Caramelized Onion Soup Recipe is the delicious result of my efforts! It’s rich and hearty, sweet from the onions and apple cider. The fresh thyme adds incredible flavor to the broth. Please note that this soup is also delicious minus the French bread and bubbly, melted cheddar. But even better with! 🙂
I was pleasantly surprised how easily and quickly this soup comes together. First, slice up the onions into thin rings. And truthfully, it’s easier said than done, because all onions are not created equal. Some make me tear up on the first cut.
While I’ve actually seen onion goggles in the Williams Sonoma catalog for $20, I’ve got my own little trick. Cheaper too. I wear my ski goggles. Seriously, they work great for cutting onions. Try it. (My kids don’t even seem to notice anymore when mom sports ski goggles in the kitchen. LOL.)
Once the onions are sliced, sauté them on the stovetop in a Dutch oven or large soup pot with the butter and olive oil. Don’t brown them, just cook ’til they’re translucent, about 5 or 10 minutes. Then add the apple cider, beef broth, chicken broth and fresh thyme sprigs. Simmer uncovered on low for thirty minutes. Remove the thyme sprigs and season with salt and pepper.
Ladle hot soup into oven-safe, individual serving bowls or cocottes. Float a slice of French bread in each bowl, and top with extra sharp cheddar cheese. Place bowls on a baking sheet under the oven broiler for a few minutes, until cheese is just melted and turning golden. Watch closely! Garnish with fresh thyme sprigs if desired.
Serve this soup piping hot with a green salad and a glass of of Pinot on a cold, snowy or rainy day. This Apple Cider Caramelized Onion Soup Recipe is our new favorite soup – hope you love it too!
Apple Cider Caramelized Onion Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 large sweet or vidalia or white onions, sliced thinly into rounds
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1 1/2 cups beef broth
- 2 1/2 cups apple cider
- 10 - 12 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- Optional: additional fresh thyme for garnish
- 6 slices sharp cheddar cheese
- 6 slices French bread
Instructions
- Melt butter with olive oil in a large Dutch oven or soup pot on the stovetop over low to medium heat.
- Add in onions and cook over heat 5- 10 minutes until onions are translucent (Do not brown onions.)
- Add beef and chicken broths, apple cider and thyme sprigs.
- Simmer soup uncovered on low for 30 minutes.
- Remove thyme sprigs.
- Season with salt and pepper
- Ladle soup into individual, oven-safe serving bowls.
- Float a slice of French bread on top of the soup in each bowl
- Top with a slice of sharp Cheddar cheese.
- Place bowls on a baking sheet and place in oven under broiler for a minute or two, or until cheese is bubbly and just turning golden. Watch carefully!
- Remove from oven and serve immediately!
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Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop says
I love snow days! 🙂 They are just a little bonus during the winter weather. This soup would be perfect for those bonus days! I love the gooey cheese and flavorful broth!
Bresca says
Mmmm….Cheese, onions, and good broth – these are a few of my favorite things! Thanks for creating this and sharing! (We’re enjoying the snow day too….)
Allie says
Thanks Bresca – I really think you three will love this one. Glad you are enjoying the snow, still in pj’s here at 3:38 p.m.
Gaila says
Hey Allie!! great looking soup! I will love to have a bowl, or two! like now! cheers!
Judy says
Can’t wait to try this one, Allie! It sounds easy and delicious, all in one!
Susie Mandel says
I need to invest in some goggles because this sounds so yummy!
Aunt Pinkie says
This looks soooo good!
Tammy says
Mmmm I just love how it spills over the sides <3 This is like the soup to top all soups, Allie. Let me tell you, on a cold and gloomy day like today, a cup of this would hit the spot 😀
Toodles~
Luci {Luci's Morsels} says
Why didn’t I think of that, goggles while cutting onions?! Great idea! This recipe sounds like it would smell sooo good! Definitely going to give it a try! xoxo
Luci’s Morsels | fashion. food. frivolity.
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
Hahah Oh Allie – am sitting here with a picture of you in your ski goggles chopping onions in your kitchen! I think I prefer your “onion goggles” to those WS ones! I have contacts on most times and they seem to work too – so weird – but when I don’t I need to go find my daughters swim goggles (no ski goggles here) and use them! Btw – my daughter LOVES being snowed in so she can sleep in late, read, play board games, watch movies and eat ALL the soup – especially when it’s topped with bubbly cheddar! I’ve never had French onion soup with apple cider before and now I’ve gotta try this – thanks so much for sharing sweet friend! Hope y’all stay warm and safe with through that storm!
marye says
Oh my gosh, Allie! This looks amazing! One of my favorite soups, too!
Allie says
Glad you like the soup, and I thought you might like the red cocottes Marye. I thought of you when I was taking these pics. 🙂
Anu - My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
I love first few days of Snow and I don’t mind staying at home and enjoying like the boys did. Love this sweet version of Apple Cider Caramelized Onion Soup. So much yes to this absolutely delicious looking ooey gooey cheesy soup.
Maria says
This soup is absolutely dreamy!
Carina says
Oh my! This soup looks wonderful, Allie! Perfect for winter… comforting and so elegant. I had to laugh at the memtal image of you wearing ski goggles as you nonchalantly chop your onions and your boys pass by without even noticing anymore. Lol! Snow storms can be kind of exciting! How lucky that you guys get snow days. Here in Wpg, most school divisions have the idea to not cancel school under ANY circumstances. So there is maybe one snowday each century… (and you recently read about the one we got last century. Hmmm… that makes me sound more ancient than I am! Haha!) Anyhow, thanks for this recipe. Have a lovely rest of the week! Xoxo
Tracy says
Allie, this looks absolutely scrumptious! We love French onion soup at my house. I bet the apple cider gives it a nice flavor and a little kick. Can’t wait to try it!!