Description

This Creamy Baked Double Cheese and Onion Dip is a rich, flavorful, and comforting appetizer perfect for gatherings and parties. Featuring a combination of cream cheese, mayonnaise, sharp cheese, and sweet Vidalia onions, it bakes up golden and bubbly, offering a luscious, savory dip that pairs wonderfully with chips, crackers, and fresh vegetables. The recipe is gluten-free and uses simple, wholesome ingredients to create a delightfully creamy texture with a hint of spice from cayenne pepper, making it a crowd-pleaser for any occasion.

Ingredients

Scale

Base Ingredients

8 ounces cream cheese, softened (light cream cheese is acceptable)
1 cup mayonnaise (light mayonnaise is acceptable)
6 to 8 ounces grated cheese (use 7 ounces Blarney Castle cheese preferred), divided

Vegetables and Seasoning

1 medium/large sweet Vidalia onion, peeled and diced (about 1 heaping cup)
1 teaspoon ground black pepper (or to taste)
1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional and to taste)

Instructions

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare a 9-inch pie dish or a similarly sized oven-safe baking dish by spraying it lightly with cooking spray. This will prevent the dip from sticking and make for easy serving.
Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, grated cheese (reserve about 1/2 cup of the cheese to sprinkle on top), diced Vidalia onion, ground black pepper, salt, and cayenne pepper. Stir everything thoroughly until well combined and smooth.
Transfer to Baking Dish: Carefully spoon the cheese and onion mixture into the prepared baking dish. Use a spatula to smooth the surface evenly for an attractive presentation and even cooking.
Add Topping Cheese: Sprinkle the reserved 1/2 cup of grated cheese evenly over the top of the spread mixture. This will create a delicious, golden brown crust when baked.
Bake the Dip: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for approximately 45 to 50 minutes. The dip is ready when the top is golden brown, bubbly, and browned to your liking. The author recommends 47 minutes as an ideal time.
Cool and Serve: Remove the dish from the oven and allow the dip to cool slightly for a few minutes before serving. This resting time helps the dip set a little making it easier to scoop.
Serving Suggestions: Serve warm with your choice of chips (corn, pita, or bagel chips), crackers, mini toasts, or an assortment of fresh vegetables like carrot sticks, celery sticks, cucumber sticks, zucchini sticks, jicama, bell pepper wedges, and mushrooms. This versatile dip is a great party appetizer or snack.

Notes

To keep the recipe gluten-free, ensure all ingredient labels, especially mayonnaise and cheese, are certified gluten-free.
The cayenne pepper is optional; adjust according to your desired spice level.
You can use light versions of cream cheese and mayonnaise to reduce fat and calories.
Feel free to experiment with different types of cheese for varied flavor profiles; sharp cheddar or a blend works well.
Allow the dip to cool slightly before serving to prevent burning and to thicken the texture.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 47 minutes
Category: Appetizer
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: baked cheese dip, onion dip, creamy cheese dip, gluten free appetizer, party dip, baked onion dip