Dairy free French onion dip is a great party appetizer. It has caramelized onions & seasoned cashew cream to make it taste exactly like the classic French onion dip.

Looking for more dairy free dips? Try my creamy bruschetta dip, dairy free spinach artichoke dip, or smoked salmon dip without cream cheese.

There used to be a store-bought dairy free French onion dip by the brand Hope that I was obsessed with. Sadly, it no longer exists.

But ever since I first made this homemade dairy free french onion dip recipe and have made it at least a dozen times, I no longer miss that store bought option.

It’s tangy, slightly sweet from the caramelized onions and packed with savory, umami flavor.

Ingredients

Caramelized onions

Olive oil – for cooking the onions.
Yellow onion – the best onions to use for sweet caramelized onions. Avoid using sweet onions as they’ll be too sweet once caramelized.
Kosher salt
Deglazing liquid – such as balsamic vinegar, sherry vinegar, red wine vinegar, etc. This infuses flavor into the caramelized onions and also helps break up the fond (caramelized flavorful bits on the bottom of the skillet). You can also use water or vegetable broth if you’d prefer.

Savory Cashew Cream

Raw cashews – when blended with water this creates the dairy-free sour cream/creamy base of the dip.
Onion powder – to enhance the onion flavor.
Garlic powder – adds extra flavor.
Coconut aminos – adds a rich, umami flavor that pairs well with the onions.
Kosher salt – to taste.
Freshly cracked black pepper – to taste.
Red vine vinegar – adds tanginess and helps brighten up the flavor.
Chives – for garnish and to add a pop of color to this rather beige dip.

How to Make Dairy Free French Onion Dip: Step By Step

Here are some quick visual instructions. The full instructions and ingredient list will be in the printable recipe card below!

Soak cashews. Cover a bowl of cashews with boiling water and set aside.
Caramelize onions. Add the diced onions to a hot skillet with olive oil over medium heat. Cook for a few minutes undisturbed before stirring.
Deglaze pan. Add a splash of vinegar, broth, or water to deglaze any flavorful bits stuck on the bottom of the pan.
Continue cooking. Repeat this process deglazing and stirring as you notice the onions sticking. You’ll only need to deglaze a couple of times. Cook until the onions have deepened in color and are fragrant.
Make cashew cream. Drain and rinse the cashews then add them to the base of a high-powered blender with the remaining ingredients. Blend on high until completely smooth. Season to taste with kosher salt and black pepper. Transfer to a bowl.
Fold in caramelized onions. Fold in the caramelized onions, cover, and let chill for about an hour before serving to allow the flavors to develop. Serve with potato chips, pretzels, or fresh veggies.

Make It Your Way: Substitutions & Variations

Please remember that recipes are just a starting point.

How can you make this creamy vegan French onion dip using what you already have? Here are some ideas…

No raw cashews? – you can use store-bought vegan sour cream (you’ll need 14 ounces).
No coconut aminos – you can also use reduced-sodium soy sauce or tamari.
No red wine vinegar? – use lemon juice.
Add-ins – nutritional yeast for more umami flavor or vegan lactic acid for more tang.

Helpful Tips

For the best results, use a high-powered blender, not a food processor. The blender is what will give it a super creamy texture.
Don’t have a high speed blender? You’ll need to soak the cashews longer to get them softer or you may need to stop and scrape down the sides of the blender more often.

Storage

Store the dairy-free dip in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

More Dairy Free Dip Recipes

Did you try this dairy free french onion dip recipe? If so, please leave a comment & a star rating below. Thank you!