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    Home » Recipes » Savoury and snacks

    Cob Loaf Recipe

    Published: Jan 28, 2023 · Modified: Feb 5, 2024 by Libby Hakim · 4 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This Cob Loaf Recipe comes with three popular dip options - cheese, ham and chive, cheese and bacon and spinach and cheese.

    You'll love this Aussie fave that screams "retro", "comfort food" and "party" all at once!

    cob loaf recipe.

    This party starter recipe can easily be made up in about half an hour and is always a hit. Take it to a party or serve it as a casual meal. You can't beat a Friday night in with a cob and glass of something special! Or whip up a Fruit Punch if you want to go completely retro!

    Jump to:
    • Why this recipe is the only one you'll need
    • Ingredients
    • How to make this easy Cob Loaf Recipe
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Match it with
    • Cob Loaf Recipe

    Why this recipe is the only one you'll need

    This recipe includes three popular dip options:

    • cheese, ham and chive
    • cheese and bacon
    • spinach and cheese.

    The base recipe includes a special ingredient that you don't often see in cob loaf recipes – keep reading to discover what it is and how it takes this popular snacking dish to a whole new level.

    It's also extremely versatile. You can also get creative and start substituting to come up with your own delicious cob loaf creation! Let me know in the comments below if you discover a great flavour combination.

    Ingredients

    To make up this recipe you'll need these basic ingredients to start:

    • 1 medium cob loaf (approx 500 grams) (most bakeries and some supermarkets will sell a cob loaf, which is a crusty round bread made into one large loaf)
    • small onion
    • olive oil
    • cream cheese
    • thickened cream (heavy cream)
    • sour cream
    • grated cheese (a mixture of cheddar and pizza cheese works best)
    • white wine (preferably dry, but I sometimes use Moscato which often tends to be open in my fridge and it works just fine).

    SECRET INGREDIENT: Yes, the white wine is the special ingredient I mentioned above. Including it – an idea I borrowed from Swiss cheese fondue recipes – really makes this one of the best Cob Loaf Recipes you'll find. The white wine helps to balance the flavours and elevates the cheesy dip to the next level.

    Additional ingredients for flavour variations

    For cheese and bacon cob loaf, you'll also need shortcut bacon rashers and fresh chives.

    Fancy spinach and cheese cob loaf? You'll also need frozen spinach and French onion soup mix.

    Finally, for cheese, ham and chive cob loaf, you'll also need ham and fresh chives.

    How to make this easy Cob Loaf Recipe

    Prepping

    Start by pre-heating your oven to 180 degrees celsius / 355 degrees fahrenheit (fan-forced) or equivalent.

    Using a large bread knife, slice the top off the cob loaf, about 4cm from the top, and cut into pieces. These bread pieces will be used to serve with the cob loaf – you'll be dipping these into the cheesy mixture.

    Next, cut out the centre of the loaf. Use the knife and then your hands to pull out the bread until you have a 1-2cm thick bread "bowl".

    Tear or roughly chop the inside bread into pieces.

    Add these bread pieces to the pieces from the top of the cob loaf, place on a baking tray and place into your heating oven for about 10 minutes to toast.

    Making the dip

    TIP: Start making the dip – but set your timer so you remember to take the bread pieces out of the oven once they're toasted.

    Make the dip by adding the olive oil to a frying pan and cooking the onion and ham/bacon/spinach for a few minutes over medium heat.

    Add the white wine and cook for 30 seconds.

    Next, add sour and thickened creams (and french onion soup for spinach and cheese cob loaf) and heat for one minute over low heat.

    Add the cream cheese and 1 cup of the grated cheese and and stir until the mixture is smooth.

    Add ⅔ of the chives (for ham or bacon cob loaf) and stir through.

    Filling the bread bowl

    Pour or ladle the mixture into your bread bowl.

    Sprinkle the remaining grated cheese and chives on top.

    Baking

    Place into oven and bake for 15 minutes.

    Serving

    Serve immediately with the toasted bread pieces.

    You can also add other things, such as carrot and celery sticks, which go well with the dip.

    Recipe FAQs

    Can you reheat a cob loaf?

    It's best served immediately, however you can re-heat again once within 24 hours provided it wasn't left out too long and was stored in the fridge. Cover with foil and re-heat for about 15-20 minutes in a moderate oven.

    Do you eat the bread "bowl"?


    It would be a crime not to!

    Why does Cob Loaf have a bad reputation?

    I've no idea! Matt Preston apparently described the filled cob loaf as "tacky and dated". But it's been a favourite for decades for a reason! Crispy bread, gooey cheese, bacon... how could anyone not love a filled cob?

    So many! Start with the bread recipes or the Aussie collection. The old-fashioned slices are also popular.

    Match it with

    Make it a real party by also serving one of these sweet treats:

    • pavlova grazing board
      Pavlova Grazing Board
    • berries in moscato jelly served in wine glasses.
      Berries in Moscato Jelly
    • Tim Tam Balls on serving tray.
      Tim Tam Balls
    • fruit cups for party christmas
      Festive Fruit Cups

    Made this recipe and love it? Please take a moment to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. It’s such a help to others who want to try the recipe. (And it really makes my day to hear how Nana Ling's recipes are being made, shared and loved all around the world! - Libby x)

    For more fun and deliciousness in the kitchen, follow along on Facebook, TikTok and Pinterest, and subscribe for new posts via email.

    cob loaf recipe with bread dipping into cob loaf.

    Cob Loaf Recipe

    Libby Hakim
    Transform the humble cob loaf into a dip that'll make any party better or a fun and tasty meal.
    4.75 from 8 votes
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    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 35 minutes mins
    Course Snack
    Cuisine Australian
    Servings 8 people
    Calories 410 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 medium cob loaf (approx 500 grams) (a crusty round bread made into one large loaf that can be found at Australian bakeries and some supermarkets)   
    • 1 small onion, finely chopped
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 250 grams cream cheese
    • ⅔ cup thickened cream (heavy cream) (165ml)
    • ⅔ cup sour cream (165 ml)
    • 1 ½ cups grated cheese (cheddar and pizza cheese combination) (140 grams)
    • 1 tablespoon white wine (preferably dry, but moscato will do at a pinch!) (20ml)

    For cheese, ham and chive cob loaf

    • 200 grams ham, diced
    • 1 ½ tablespoon chopped chives

    For cheese and bacon cob loaf

    • 200 grams shortcut bacon rashers, diced
    • 1 ½ tablespoon chopped chives

    For spinach and cheese cob loaf

    • 125 grams frozen spinach, thawed
    • 40 grams French onion soup mix

    Instructions
     

    • Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees celsius / 355 degrees fahrenheit (fan-forced) or equivalent.
    • Slice the top off the cob loaf, about 4cm from the top, and cut into pieces (these will be used to dip into the cheesy mixture).
    • Cut out the centre of the loaf (using a knife and then your hands), leaving a bread "bowl". Tear or roughly chop the inside bread into pieces.
    • Place pieces of bread from top and inside of cob loaf into heating oven for 10 minutes to toast.
    • Make the dip by adding olive oil to a frying pan and cooking the onion and ham/bacon/spinach for a few minutes over medium heat.
    • Add the white wine and cook for 30 seconds.
    • Add sour and thickened creams (and french onion soup for spinach and cheese cob loaf) and heat for one minute over low heat.
    • Add the cream cheese and 1 cup of the grated cheese and and stir until mixture is smooth.
    • Add ⅔ of the chives (for ham or bacon cob loaf) and stir through.
    • Pour mixture into bread bowl. Sprinkle remaining grated cheese on top.
    • Place into oven and bake for 15 minutes.
    • Sprinkle remaining chives on top (for ham or bacon cob loaf).
    • Serve with toasted bread pieces.

    Video

    Notes

    Storing and re-heating:
    It's best served immediately, however you can re-heat again once within 24 hours provided it wasn't left out too long and was stored in the fridge. Cover with foil and re-heat for about 15-20 minutes in a moderate oven.
    Nutrition:
    The nutrition information is an automatically generated estimate and is not guaranteed to be accurate.
    Tips:
    Serve the cob loaf with the bread pieces made from the top and inside of the cob loaf. You can also add some carrot, celery or other vegetable sticks that can be dipped into the cheesy mixture. Once those disappear, start eating the bread bowl!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 410kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 18gFat: 33gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 81mgSodium: 899mgPotassium: 338mgFiber: 4gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 4544IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 134mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?If you love it, let me know!

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    Comments

    1. Kiara

      December 09, 2023 at 12:17 pm

      5 stars
      So goood! Best and easiest cob loaf recipe!

      Reply
      • Libby Hakim

        December 11, 2023 at 8:13 am

        Awesome! Glad you enjoyed, Kiara. Thanks so much for the rating and review 🙂

        Reply
    2. John Kooyman

      January 29, 2023 at 3:16 am

      5 stars
      DEEEELISH 👹😛🥰

      Reply
      • Libby Hakim

        January 29, 2023 at 9:21 pm

        Woohoo!! Thanks so much for leaving a rating and review, John 🙂 Happy cooking!

        Reply
    4.75 from 8 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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    Hi, I'm Libby, a recipe collector and writer. I love everything about home cooking and share modern classics and recipes that have been passed down for generations – I hope you find a few that bring back treasured memories.

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