A magical kind of stillness and peace settles over Door County in the winter. As visitors are replaced with snowbirds and the water freezes over, the landscape transforms into breathtaking, snowy winter wonderland. The air turns crisp, the village rooftops are layered in blankets of snow, and the silence of the woods is profound and beautiful.
But, despite the beauty, let’s be a little honest with ourselves—it’s also incredibly cold! After spending the afternoon cross country skiing through Peninsula State Park, shopping for gifts in local stores, or building a snowman on the shores of the lake, coming inside to a roaring fireplace and a hot meal is one of the season’s greatest comforts.
And what pairs perfectly with frost on the windows and flickering candles? A bowl of soup so rich, creamy, and heartwarming that it feels like a hug in a mug.
Our Old-Fashioned Hoop Cheesy Potato Soup is the perfect centerpiece for a casual dinner with friends or a slow Sunday evening shared with your family. By using Renard’s award-winning Old-Fashioned Hoop Cheddar, this recipe elevates the humble potato soup into a rich gourmet experience that your loved ones will ask for again and again every winter!
Why Old-Fashioned Hoop Cheddar makes the difference
If you’re a fan of cooking and baking, you know that the ingredients you choose matter. You can’t build deep, complex flavors with mass-produced and manufactured cheese.
For this recipe, Renard’s Old-Fashioned Hoop Cheddar stands out as the key ingredient. But what exactly is hoop cheddar, and what separates it from other kinds of cheese?
Hoop cheddar is a traditional style of cheddar that harkens back to the way cheese was made generations ago. It is made in a ring (or “hoop”) rather than a block. The process of shaping the cheese in hoops demands expert precision to ensure that each wheel of cheese is formed properly. The aging process is shorter, so the result is a mild, semi-soft cheese that has a slightly different texture than your standard aged cheddar. It’s exceptionally creamy and melts beautifully, making it the perfect base for a cheesy potato soup.
While sharp cheddars can sometimes separate or become oily when melted into a broth, our Old-Fashioned Hoop Cheddar integrates smoothly, creating a velvety consistency that coats the spoon perfectly. It brings a gentle, milky flavor that complements the earthiness of the potatoes without overpowering them.
The secret to smooth creaminess for your soup
Sometimes potato soups can feel heavy or even gluey, often because they rely too much on flour-based rouxs or excessive amounts of cornstarch to thicken them.
Our cheesy potato soup recipe uses a brilliant, chef-approved technique to achieve that luxurious, thick texture without the heaviness. By pureeing a portion of the cooked potatoes and onions, you use the natural starches of the potato to thicken the broth.
This method keeps the flavor concentrated and ensures that every bite is smooth and delicious. It also means that the soup retains a rustic, hearty feel, with those satisfying chunks of tender potato, while the base becomes silky and indulgent.
Old-Fashioned Hoop Cheesy Potato Soup Recipe
Ready to fill your kitchen with the savory aromas of garlic, onions, and melting cheese and dig into a delicious, hot meal? Here is how to bring a taste of Door County comfort to your dinner table tonight.
Ingredients
□ 3 tbsp butter
□ 1 large onion, diced
□ 3 tbsp garlic, minced
□ 5 cups potatoes, diced (Russets or Yukon Golds work best for texture)
□ 5 cups chicken broth
□ 1 cup heavy cream
□ 1½ cups milk
□ 1 tsp salt
□ 3 cups Renard’s Old-Fashioned Hoop Cheddar, shredded (reserve ½ cup for topping)
□ ½ tsp smoked paprika
□ ½ tsp dried oregano
□ Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
□ Chopped or shaved ham and sliced scallions for garnish
Instructions
1. Build the Aromatic Base: Grab your favorite large soup pot or Dutch oven and place it over medium heat. Melt the 3 tablespoons of butter. Once it’s bubbling, toss in your large diced onion and the minced garlic. Sauté these together for about 5 minutes. You want the onions to become soft and translucent and the garlic to smell fragrant, but try not to let them brown too much.
2. Simmer the Potatoes: Add the 5 cups of diced potatoes to the pot along with the 5 cups of chicken broth. This is also the time to add your seasoning: the smoked paprika, the dried oregano, and the salt. Bring the pot to a gentle simmer and let it cook for about 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.
3. The Texture Trick: Carefully remove about 2 cups of the cooked potatoes and some of the onions from the pot. Place them into a blender or use an immersion blender in a separate bowl. Puree this mixture until it is completely smooth. Stir the puree back into the main pot.
4. Add the Dairy: Stir in the heavy cream and milk. Let the soup continue to simmer gently for just 1 minute to warm the dairy through. Crucial Tip: Do not let the soup come to a boil at this stage, as the high heat can cause the dairy to curdle or separate. Keep it low and slow.
5. Melt the Cheese: Turn off the heat completely. Slowly stir in the 2½ cups of shredded Renard’s Old-Fashioned Hoop Cheddar. Stir continuously until the cheese is fully melted and incorporated into the broth.
6. Season and Serve: Adjust the seasoning with freshly cracked black pepper or a pinch more salt if your palate desires. Ladle the steaming soup into deep bowls.
7. Add the Garnishes: Top each bowl with the reserved ½ cup of shredded Old-Fashioned Hoop Cheddar, shaved ham, and a sprinkle of sliced scallions.
Serving suggestions and pairings
To turn this soup into a full feast with your friends and family, pair this cheesy potato soup with:
· Bread: A crusty baguette or a loaf of dark rye bread is essential for soaking up every last drop of the creamy base.
· Wine: Since this soup is rich and creamy, you want a wine with enough acidity to cleanse the palate. A crisp, dry Chardonnay or a Pinot Gris pairs beautifully with the mild notes of the Old-Fashioned Hoop Cheddar.
· Salad: A winter salad with bitter greens like arugula or kale, tossed with apples and a vinaigrette, provides a fresh contrast to the warm soup.
Visiting Door County in the winter
We hope this recipe brings a little bit of warm into your kitchen! Cooking with high-quality artisan ingredients is a great way to show love to your family and friends, transforming a simple dish into a cherished memory.
If you find yourself yearning for the snowy beauty of a winter wonderland to pair with your delicious hot soup, come visit us up in Door County! Many visitors don’t realize that Renard’s Cheese is open year-round. While summer is bustling, winter at the shop is a cozy, intimate experience. Browse our full selection of artisan cheeses, pick up the Old-Fashioned Hoop Cheddar for this recipe, and chat with our staff about what’s coming up in the new year.
Stop by, warm up with a hot meal, and let us help you find the perfect cheese for your next gathering. From our family to yours, stay warm, eat well, and Happy New Year!
