Cheese and Bacon Cob Loaf

A crusty cob loaf filled with a creamy cheesy dip, you can’t go pass this Cheese and Bacon Cob Loaf Dip for your next get together!

Always the hit at any bbq, get together or party – the trusty Cob Loaf Dip! A retro spin from years ago but just as incredibly popular today!

This Cheese and Bacon Cob Loaf only takes 10 minute to prepare and 20 minutes to bake in the oven. It can be made ahead of time and kept in the fridge until ready to be baked.

Easy Cheese and Bacon Cob Loaf Recipe

This bacon and cheese cob loaf recipe comes together easily by cooking the bacon until crisp and combining with the remaining dip ingredients.

The top of the bread loaf is cut off and the ‘guts’ or inside of the bread is scooped out before being filled with the dip.

The lid is placed back on and it’s baked until golden crisp, and the dip warm.

Why this is the BEST Cob Loaf

Perfect for a get together

Simple and easy to prepare

Can be made ahead of time

So versatile – switch up the ingredients for what you have on hand

Absolutely loved by everyone

What is a Cob Loaf?

Cob loaf is a round loaf of crusty bread, hollowed out and filled with a creamy dip. It’s baked in the oven until warm and the bread crisp.

The humble cob loaf has been at the centre of get togethers and bbqs for many years but it actually dates back to 1877!

Recently its gained even more popularity, try this recipe and you’ll see why!

What to Serve with Cob Loaf?

Cob Loaf can just be served on its own, it has all the components you need – dip and something to dip in the dip!

Other things to Dip – Carrot Sticks, Celery Sticks, Capsicum or Bell Pepper, Raw Broccoli, Cherry Tomatoes, Crackers, more Bread, Chips.

It can also be served alongside other platter or charcuterie board ingredients like cheese and crackers along with some homemade tomato relish, summer fruits, chips, nuts and cold meats.

Variations

Spinach and Cheese Cob Loaf

Spinach and Cheese Cob Loaf is my second favourite behind cheese and bacon. The flavour of spinach and cheese is a perfect combo!

To make this with spinach and cheese, follow the same recipe but remove the bacon and add 1/2 cup of defrosted frozen spinach to the dip. Make sure to squeeze out the water from the defrosted spinach.

French Onion Cob Loaf

A classic way of using French Onion Soup sachet for something that isn’t soup! Does anyone actually use these for soups or just seasonings in recipes?

For a French Onion Cob Loaf use the same recipe but remove the chives and add a packet of French Onion Soup mix.

Cob Loaf without the Cob

If you don’t want bread as there are so many other ways to serve this cob loaf, you can make the dip without the loaf!

Simply make the dip, place into a heat proof bowl and cover with foil. Heat in the t=oven for about 15 minutes until warm and the cheese has melted.

Cob Loaf Tips and Tricks

Room Temperature Ingredients – Make sure your ingredients are at room temperature, especially the cream cheese and sour cream. This makes them so much easier to combine with other dip ingredients.

Make ahead of Time – To make the cob loaf ahead of time, prep it, cover with foil and place into the fridge for up to 2 days until you are ready to bake. Remove it from the fridge and let it come up to room temperature while the oven preheats. Bake and enjoy!

Leftover Cob Loaf – Cover and place into the fridge for up 3 days. To reheat the cob loaf, cover with foil and place into a 180C oven for about 15 minutes or until the dip is warm and melted.

Additional Ingredients – Additional ingredients can easily be added to the Cob Loaf dip. Stir in the leftover spinach in the fridge, chop up some sundried tomatoes or throw in half a can of corn cernals.

Cob Loaf Ingredients

Cob Loaf Choose a crusty loaf of bread that will keep its shape. This can be round or oval shaped.

Streaky Bacon Streaky bacon will crisp up well for this recipe. Other types of bacon can be used also.

Cream Cheese Use full fat cream cheese instead of light or reduced as this can cause the dip to be too thin and watery.

Sour Cream Provides some tang to the dip.

Cream Heavy cream or whipping cream

Cheese Mozzarella will provide a good cheese pull but any other type of cheese like cheddar will work well.

Chives For a garnish as well as through the dip

How to Make Cheese and Bacon Cob Loaf

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celsius. Line a baking tray.

Slice the bacon and place into a cold pan. Cook over medium heat until crispy. Set to the side to cool.

Into a bowl add the cream cheese, sour cream, cream, grated cheese, chives and bacon.

Mix together until well combined.

Cut the top off the bread loaf to make a lid. Use your hands to scoop out the inside so there is enough room to add the dip.

Tear the pieces of bread into small pieces and add to the baking tray around the loaf.

Spoon the dip mixture into the bread loaf and top with the lid.

Place into the oven for 20-30 minutes or until the dip is warm and the loaf crisp.

Serving

Serve warm with the toasted pieces of bread.

Storage

Store the baked cob loaf in the fridge, in an airtight container or covered with foil for up to 2 days. It can be eaten cold or reheated in a 180C oven until warm.

FAQ

Where to buy Cob Loaf?

You will find Cob Loaf or a variation of it at most supermarkets or bakeries. It’s a round loaf of crusty bread so if you can’t find something labeled cob loaf just use another suitable loaf bread.

Does this Cheese and Bacon Cob Loaf have to be made in the oven?

No it doesn’t. You can heat the dip up in a saucepan on the stove and pour it into a fresh cob loaf instead of baking in the oven.

Do you have a recipe for Cob Loaf Bread?

No I don’t but this recipe here is good! I have a recipe for white sandwich bread here that can be made into a Cob Loaf.

Can Cob Loaf be reheated?

Yes definitely! The next day just cover it with foil and bake in a 180C oven for about 15 minutes until warm.

Is Cob Loaf Australian?

Cob Loaf has been popular in Australia and the US for. avery long time. Recently it has become a crowd favourite in many other parts of the world!

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