Epcot's Canadian Cheese Soup Recipe From Le Cellier (2024)

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Here’s my favorite Disney copycat recipe – the delicious Canadian cheese soup from Le Cellier in Epcot!

Epcot's Canadian Cheese Soup Recipe From Le Cellier (1)
I finally got around to photographing my version of Epcot’s beloved Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup today!

I’ve made this recipe MANY times over the years at but never got around to writing it down and taking pics for the blog.

This soup is one of our annual must-haves at Epcot Food & Wine Festival.I think my husband would make the trip to Florida just to eat this soup.

Epcot's Canadian Cheese Soup Recipe From Le Cellier (2)

Here he is getting ready to dive in.

If you’ve never had this soup, it’s made with cheese, bacon, and a splash of beer (Canadian lager when you’re in Epcot).

Epcot's Canadian Cheese Soup Recipe From Le Cellier (3)

It’s got incredible flavor and is a cult favorite at Food & Wine. It’s usually served with a pretzel roll as pictured above. I try to do the same at home but couldn’t find them this go around.

And you’ll be surprised at the very non-Canadian secret ingredient! I’ve made it without and I swear it is critical to making it taste right.

Here’s how to recreate this Disney copycat recipe at home.

How to Make Canadian Cheese Soup

Epcot's Canadian Cheese Soup Recipe From Le Cellier (4)

The ingredients are pretty easy to find at your local grocery store.

The only challenge is finding a Canadian lager (think Molson), but that’s not critical to the recipe. Any lager will do.

Epcot's Canadian Cheese Soup Recipe From Le Cellier (5)

The first step is to cut up the bacon in 1/4 inch pieces. The recipe calls for 6 oz of bacon, which when I measured was 6 slices of regular cut bacon.

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The next step is to cook the bacon. I make the soup in my Dutch oven, but any large pot will do.

Epcot's Canadian Cheese Soup Recipe From Le Cellier (7)

While the bacon is cooking, diced up the celery and onion.

You’ll add them next along with some butter.

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After you make a roux with the bacon, veggies, butter, and flour, you’ll add in the liquids (chicken stock and milk).

It’s important not to bring the soup to a full boil again after this due to the milk. It will simmer with the lid off for about 30 minutes.

While you are waiting get that box grater out and grate the cheese. Any brand of sharp white cheddar cheese will work – I use our local store brand.

Epcot's Canadian Cheese Soup Recipe From Le Cellier (9)

The last ingredients you add are the cheese, beer, Worcestershire sauce, and the secret ingredient – Tabasco!

Like I said it is definitely NOT Canadian, but it pulls all of the flavors together. Add salt and pepper to taste and you are ready to serve!

This recipe makes four cup-sized servings of soup. You can easily double it for larger servings or more people.

Any questions about making Canadian cheese soup? Please leave a comment below or joint the discussion in The Budget Mouse private Facebook group!

Here are a few other Disney copycat recipes you might like:

Yield: 4 servings

Epcot's Canadian Cheese Soup Recipe From Le Cellier (10)

Canadian cheddar cheese soup with bacon and beer inspired by the famous Le Cellier restaurant in Epcot's Canada pavilion!

Prep Time10 minutes

Cook Time30 minutes

Total Time40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 6 oz bacon (6 slices of regular cut bacon)
  • 1/2 medium onion, diced (about 1/2 up)
  • 1 large celery rib, diced (about 1/2 cup)
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
  • 1 1/2 cups milk (2% or whole recommended)
  • 8 oz. sharp white cheddar cheese
  • 1 teaspoon Tabasco
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 cup room temp lager beer
  • salt & fresh ground pepper to taste
  • chopped chives (or scallions) for garnish if desired

Instructions

    1. Cut bacon into 1/4 inch pieces. This is much easier if the bacon is very cold or even a bit frozen.

2. Cook bacon is a pot or Dutch oven over medium heat until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.

3. Add onion, celery, and butter and saute for 4-5 minutes or until onion is softened.

4. Add flour and saute for a few minutes over medium heat. Whisk in chicken stock and milk. Stir consistently until you see the first bubbles forming. Turn down to low heat and simmer uncovered for about 25 minutes.

5. Remove from heat and stir in cheese, Tabasco, Worcestershire sauce, and beer. If you want a smoother texture you can use an immersion blender (I like the texture the way it is).

6. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve with chopped scallions or chives.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 250

Epcot's Canadian Cheese Soup Recipe From Le Cellier (11)

Epcot's Canadian Cheese Soup Recipe From Le Cellier (2024)

FAQs

How to add cheese to soup? ›

Keep the heat very low, and make sure the cheese is one of the last things added to the soup. Whisk very quickly but add the cheese in gradually, one cup at a time, to make sure it melts before adding the next cup.

Why did cheese separate in soup? ›

Cheese can curdle when added to soup due to the high temperatures and acidity in the soup. The proteins in cheese are sensitive to heat and acid, causing them to separate and form curds.

How do you break down cheese in soup? ›

If your soup doesn't have the desired melted cheese consistency, you can try blending it with an immersion blender or transferring it to a regular blender. This can help break down any clumps and incorporate the cheese more evenly.

How can I thicken my cheese soup? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute. For the best results, never add flour or cornstarch directly to your soup. If you do, it will clump up on top. Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool.

What is the best melting cheese for soup? ›

Mild cheddar, Colby, Monterey jack, mozzarella, Swiss and queso blanco can all work well. “The best cheeses to melt into soups are cheeses that are higher in moisture and have a lower melting point,” says Bauer. In addition to cheddar and Monterey jack, he recommends Fontina and Gruyère.

Why does cheese soup get grainy? ›

Your soup may become grainy if the cheese or dairy curdles. With a recipe like the one that follow you shouldn't have trouble because the cheese is added as a finishing component, off heat. But to avoid “breaking” the dairy while reheating (or with other dairy-rich soups), take it low and slow.

How do you keep cheddar cheese from clumping in soup? ›

When it's time to add the cheese into the soup, sprinkle it in in batches, stirring until each batch is melted before adding the next batch vs dumping it all in at once. This will ensure there are no clumps in the final soup.

Can you boil soup with milk in it? ›

With sauces and soups that contain milk, boiling or simmering can cause the milk to curdle. While curdled milk is safe to eat, it is not particularly appetizing.

Why won't my cheddar cheese melt in soup? ›

Why won't my cheese melt? There are many reasons, but the biggest is the moisture content. The moisture content of the cheese has a great effect on the melting process. Cheese that contains higher amounts of fat will melt better than one that doesn't.

Can I use pre-shredded cheese in soup? ›

Grate the cheese yourself.

Pre-shredded cheese is often coated in anti-caking agents that can prevent the cheese from melting into a lusciously creamy soup. To ensure that your broccoli cheddar soup has the best smooth and creamy texture, buy a block of cheese and grate it yourself.

What cheeses don't melt? ›

There's one type of cheese that no amount of tweaking will melt: Acid-set cheeses, like fresh goat cheese, quick farmers cheese, paneer, queso fresco, and ricotta, just can't do it.

How do you add cheese to soup without curdling it? ›

If you are adding cheese to hot liquid, it can become stringy or seizes. If you are adding any cheese to hot liquid, my best tip is to use the finest shreds you can and let the cheese come to room temperature and take the soup off any heat when you stir in the cheese.

How to get cheese to emulsify in soup? ›

Adding a potato to the simmering soup provides a natural thickener that helps the cheese emulsify and gives the soup a creamy texture.

Why does cheese get gummy in soup? ›

But when heat is introduced, the protein structure falls apart and the emulsion breaks—the fat globules come together into a greasy pool and the proteins congeal to form a stringy mess.

Will block cheese melt in soup? ›

Will cheddar cheese melt in soup? Cheddar will definitely melt here — but you'll want to start with block cheese for this cheddar potato soup. Pre-shredded cheese, though convenient, is coated with an anti-clumping agent that interferes with the cheese's ability to melt smoothly and evenly.

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