Cheese and Bacon Cob Loaf

Cheese and bacon cob mini loaf dip is the party favorite you pull out when you want to wow everyone and still keep prep easy. The bread gets toasty and golden while a warm creamy cheese dip inside becomes impossibly gooey. This recipe is simple to throw together and always disappears fast at any family gathering or game night.

I first put this out for a birthday brunch to see if it’d steal the snack table and it did. Friends still ask for it every time they stop by, especially when the weather turns cold and everyone is craving something cozy.

Ingredients

• Cob loaf: Great for holding the dip and toasting into dippers for that satisfying crunch Choose one with a good crust and soft inside
• Cream cheese: The smoothing base that gives the dip its luscious texture Opt for block cream cheese for best results
• Sour cream: Adds tang and keeps the dip from becoming too heavy Make sure it is full-fat for the richest flavor
• Bacon: Chopped and cooked until just crisp for a smoky salty hit Use a good streaky or shortcut bacon for extra flavor
• Grated pizza cheese: Melty cheesy goodness that helps everything stretch together Use a store blend or shred your own for better melt
• Onion: Brings sweetness and depth to the dip Pick a nice firm onion and chop it finely so it blends in
• French onion soup mix: The surprise flavor booster that makes the whole thing sing Swap for another dip mix if you like a twist
• Brie cheese: Optional but highly recommended for extra silkiness and that hint of indulgence Pick a ripe soft brie for best melt

Instructions

Prepare the Cob Loaf:

Slice off around two centimeters from the top of the cob loaf and set it aside as a lid. Carefully pull out the inside bread and break it into bite sized pieces. Place the bread shell pieces and lid on a tray lined with baking paper and toast in the oven at one hundred ten degrees Celsius for five to ten minutes until just crisp but not hard.

Cook Bacon and Onion:

In a saucepan over medium high heat cook your chopped bacon and onion for three to five minutes until the bacon is just starting to caramelize and the onions are soft. Keep stirring so you get even color and no burning.

Make the Cheese Mixture:

Turn the heat to low and add the cream cheese and sour cream straight into the pan. Stir continuously so nothing sticks. Once they are combined and smooth stir in your soup mix pizza cheese and optional brie cheese. Keep stirring gently for about two more minutes until everything is melted together and warmed through.

Assemble and Bake:

Remove your toasted bread tray from the oven. Increase the oven temperate to two hundred degrees Celsius. Put the toast pieces and lid in a bowl. Spoon the warm cheese and bacon mixture into the hollowed cob loaf shell. Sprinkle the reserved handful of pizza cheese on top and return the whole thing to the oven for ten more minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden.

Serve:

Bring the warm cob loaf dip to the table and offer the toasted bread pieces and cut up cob lid on the side for dipping. Serve immediately while gooey and hot for maximum enjoyment.

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My favorite ingredient in this recipe is the brie cheese. It melts right into the dip and turns every scoop into pure creamy heaven. One Christmas my little nephew helped me tear the bread and it made serving the dip even sweeter because it became our tradition.

Storage Tips

Any leftovers can be wrapped in foil and stored in the fridge. Reheat in the oven for ten minutes at one hundred eighty degrees Celsius to get the crust crisp again. Avoid microwaving as it makes the bread soggy and the cheese dip greasy.

Ingredient Substitutions

You can swap regular bacon for turkey bacon or a smoky ham if you are looking for something lighter. Cream cheese can be substituted with ricotta for a different texture though you might want to add a bit more pizza cheese for meltiness. Try different cheese blends like mozzarella cheddar or gouda if pizza cheese is not on hand.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this as the centerpiece at a brunch spread or a casual movie night. If you like extra color sprinkle in some chopped chives or parsley right before serving. Guests love having extra crunchy veggies like celery sticks or carrot rounds on the side for scooping up the dip too.

Cultural and Historical Context

Cob loaf dip is a classic from Australian gatherings and family picnics especially popular in the eighties and nineties. It is the kind of nostalgic party food that always makes everyone smile. There is something about passing around the gooey center and tearing off bits of bread that connects people no matter the occasion.

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This dish never fails to impress guests and is truly the ultimate cheesy centerpiece. Make this for your next get together and enjoy every melty bite!

Frequently Asked Questions

→ What cheeses are used in this cob loaf?

The filling combines cream cheese, pizza cheese blend (mozzarella, cheddar, parmesan), and optional brie for creaminess.

→ How do you prepare the bread for dipping?

The inside of the cob loaf is removed, torn into pieces, and toasted in the oven for a crisp, golden finish.

→ Can I add other mix-ins to the filling?

Yes, ingredients like chopped herbs, garlic, or cooked mushrooms can be added to personalize the filling.

→ How do you achieve the perfect gooey center?

Stir cheeses with sour cream and bacon over low heat until melted, then bake inside the cob loaf until bubbly.

→ What is the best way to serve this dish?

Serve the cob loaf hot with toasted bread pieces on the side for dipping into the creamy center.