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 and game night.

I first put this out for a birthday brunch to see if it would 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.

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. When you want that toasty edge again just pop it back in the oven at one hundred eighty degrees Celsius for ten minutes and the crust gets its crunch back. Try not to microwave as the bread will get soft and the dip may separate.

Ingredient Substitutions

If bacon is not your style you can swap in turkey bacon or a bit of smoky ham. Ricotta can stand in for cream cheese if you want a lighter dip though you might add extra pizza cheese for a stretchy melt. Swap cheese blends as needed from cheddar to gouda or whatever you have in the fridge.

Serving Suggestions

Let this cob loaf shine at your next brunch party or movie night spread. To add a pop of color sprinkle with fresh chives or parsley before serving. Crunchy veggie sticks like carrots or celery sit well beside the golden dip for those who like a lighter bite.

Cultural And Historical Context

Cob loaf dip is a classic at Australian gatherings and family picnics especially treasured at birthdays from the eighties and nineties onward. Tearing bread to share and scooping up creamy filling is a nostalgic pass around that always gets people talking and laughing together.

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

Common Questions About Recipes

→ What cheeses are used in the cob loaf?

The filling combines cream cheese, pizza cheese blend, and optional brie for extra creaminess.

→ How should I prepare the bread shell?

Scoop out the inside, break into pieces, and toast for a golden, crisp texture ready for dipping.

→ Can I customize the cheese filling?

Yes, you can add herbs, cooked mushrooms, or even swap in other cheeses like gouda or ricotta.

→ What's the secret to a gooey, melty center?

Gently melt the cheeses and bacon over low heat before filling and baking for the best gooey texture.

→ How should I serve this dish for best results?

Serve immediately with the toasted bread pieces and warm dip in the center; garnish with chives if desired.