Amish Onion Cake is a rustic, comforting bread-like dish that comes from traditional Amish kitchens, where simple ingredients and hearty flavors are always the focus. Despite its name, this is not a sweet cake. Instead, it’s more like a soft, fluffy yeast bread topped generously with buttery caramelized onions. It’s often served as a side dish, snack, or even a light meal, especially alongside soups, stews, or roasted meats.
What makes Amish Onion Cake special is its texture and flavor contrast. The base is a tender yeast dough that bakes up light and slightly chewy, similar to focaccia but softer. On top, sliced onions are cooked slowly in butter until sweet and golden, then spread over the dough before baking. As the cake bakes, the onions sink slightly into the surface, infusing the bread with rich, savory flavor. The butter keeps everything moist and adds that unmistakable homemade taste.