French Onion Cheese Ball

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 8 ounces Gruyere cheese, grated
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
• 1 tablespoon dry onion soup and dip mix (such as Lipton Recipe Secrets)
• 1 French baguette
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
• Served with toasted baguette slices

1. Combine the cream cheese and gruyere in the bowl of a food processor; process until smooth.
2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, sugar, salt, and pepper to pan, stirring frequently until liquid is released and onions are opaque. Stir in sherry vinegar to deglaze pan; remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
3. Stir onion mixture and onion soup mix into cheese mixture; mix until evenly incorporated. Scrape cream cheese mixture onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
4. Using lightly moistened hands, shape cream cheese mixture into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until it can be easily rolled.
5. Coarsely chop about 1/2 of the baguette into pieces; reserve remaining half for serving. Place chopped baguette in the bowl of a food processor; pulse until fine crumbs form. Heat a cast-iron pan over medium-high; add butter to pan. Once melted, stir in the baguette crumb; cook, stirring frequently, until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Toss bread crumbs with thyme.
6. Spread bread crumb mixture evenly on a rimmed baking sheet. Roll the cheese ball in the crumb mixture to evenly coat.
7. Place cheese ball on a serving platter; serve with additional sliced baguette.

cream cheese, gruyere cheese, canola oil, yellow onion, sugar, salt, pepper, sherry vinegar, onion soup, baguette, unsalted butter, thyme

Taken from www.myrecipes.com/recipe/french-onion-cheese-ball (may not work)