Around this time every year–when the air turns crisp and the temperatures begin to fall–there are few dishes that I enjoy more than a delicious bowl of French Onion Soup. French Onion Soup is near the top on my list of favorite comfort foods (you can see some of my other favorites here and here). There is just something about combination of rich flavors and aromas (oh, and the melted Gruyère cheese and perfectly crisped bread doesn’t hurt) that is simply incomparably delicious.

Since I never attempted to recreate my favorite soup in my kitchen, this recipe seemed like a good starting point since the Pioneer Woman has never led me astray.  I followed the recipe to a T, and I was beyond pleased with the outcome which rivaled even my favorite French Onion Soup from Bistro Niko.  What makes this recipe stand out from variations I’ve had in restaurants is that the bread maintains a crispness that is usually lost once placed in the soup. As a bonus, this version of French Onion Soup is simple to make and freezes very well.