Who can resist a piece of cheese-covered bread and rich onion soup rolled into one? This article on how to make French onion soup will show you how to create this savory starter from the tasty onion broth on the bottom to the chewy cheese on top.

Evoke the feeling of a French bistro as you indulge in a hot cup of homemade French Onion Soup. Caramelized onions and beef broth give the soup its hearty flavor, while a layer of French bread and gooey Gruyere cheese creates the delectable topper.Real Simple: How to Caramelize Onions Although recipes for the soup can be traced back to the 1600s, it gained popularity in the United States in the 1960s.The Food Timeline: French Onion Soup One taste of this simple recipe and you'll understand why it has been popular in restaurants and home kitchens for so long.

• For the traditional soup making experience, use these ingredients and kitchen essentials to create 8 servings of French Onion Soup in about one hour.

• Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 8 cups sliced onions (about 6-8 medium onions)

• 1/2 teaspoon sugar

• 8 cups beef stock

• 1/2 cup white wine

• 1 bay leaf

• 1/4 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme

• Salt and pepper to taste

• 8 slices French bread

• 2 cups shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese

• Equipment

• 8-quart stock pot

• Wooden spoon

• Oven

• 8 oven-safe soup bowlsAmazon.com: Sango Splash Onion Soup Bowls

1. Arrange the slices of bread in a single layer on a baking sheetCooking Light: French Onion Soup
2. Broil for 2 minutes, turning the slices after one minute to brown both sides.Cooking Light: French Onion Soup
3. Pour the soup into oven-proof bowls.Food Network: Paula Deen's French Onion Soup
4. Place a slice of bread atop each bowl.All Recipes: Rich and Simple French Onion Soup
5. Sprinkle cheese atop each slice of bread.Food Network: Rachel Ray's Oh-so-good French Onion Soup Recipe
6. Arrange the bowls on a cookie sheet.Food Network: Rachel Ray's Oh-so-good French Onion Soup Recipe
7. Bake for five minutes at 350 degrees F.Food Network: Paula Deen's French Onion Soup
   • -You can also place the bowls under the hot broiler until the cheese bubbles and browns.All Recipes: Rich and Simple French Onion Soup

1. Melt the butter and olive oil in a stockpot over medium-high heat.All Recipes: Rich and Simple French Onion Soup

2. Add the sliced onions to the pot.Food Network: Rachel Ray's Oh-so-good French Onion Soup Recipe

3. Stir in the sugar after five minutes.Cooking Light: French Onion Soup

4. Continue to cook the onions on medium until golden brown, about 30 minutes.Simply Recipes: French Onion Soup Recipe

5. Add the beef stock, wine, thyme and bay leaf.Food Network: Paula Deen's French Onion Soup

6. Simmer for 30 minutes.All Recipes: Rich and Simple French Onion Soup

7. Season to taste with salt and pepper.Simply Recipes: French Onion Soup Recipe

8. Locate and toss the bay leaf.Simply Recipes: French Onion Soup Recipe

• Turn the classic soup into a one-pot wonder with this simple method to make it in a crock pot. The process takes about 8 hours (which is mostly the slow-cooking time) to create 4 servings.

• Ingredients

• 4 cups sliced onions (about 3-4 medium onions)

• 4 cups beef broth

• 1/4 cup butter

• 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

• Salt and pepper to taste

• 4 slices French bread

• 4 slices Gruyere, Mozzarella or Swiss cheese

• Equipment

• Crock pot

• Ladle

• 4 oven-proof soup bowls

• Oven

• Baking sheet

1. Place the onions, beef broth, butter and Worcestershire sauce in the crock pot.Recipezaar: Crock Pot French Onion Soup

2. Cook on low for 8 hours.Recipezaar: Crock Pot French Onion Soup for the Lazy

3. Top slices of bread with the slices of cheese.Epicurious: Crockpot Vegetarian French Onion Soup

4. Cook the bread on a baking sheet in a 400-degree oven until the cheese is melted.Epicurious: Crockpot Vegetarian French Onion Soup

5. Ladle the hot soup into bowls and top with a piece of cheese toast before serving.

• Concoct a new taste sensation on your stove by altering the basic French Onion Soup recipe. Try one of these ingredients and combinations.

1. Add cognac, sherry and veal stock for additional layers of flavor.Food Network: Barefoot Contessa's French Onion Soup
2. Include apples, apple cider and cinnamon to evoke the feeling of fall.All Recipes: Fall French Onion Soup
3. Bourbon whiskey gives the soup extra kick.Emeril's: French Onion Soup with Shaved Swiss Cheese
4. Try adding red wine if you prefer it to white.All Recipes: French Onion Soup
5. Use canned French fried onions as a shortcut.Real Simple: French Onion Soup