This traditional Welsh rarebit recipe is comfort food at its best.
What Is Welsh Rarebit?
Welsh rarebit is a dish that consists of sturdy toast topped with a hot, creamy cheese sauce. The original 18th-century name was “Welsh rabbit,” but was later changed to “rarebit” to avoid confusion.
Welsh Rarebit Ingredients
These are the ingredients you’ll need to make this Welsh rarebit recipe:
- Butter and flour: This Welsh rarebit recipe starts with butter and all-purpose flour.
- Seasonings: Season the cheese sauce with salt, pepper, and dry mustard.
- Sauces: Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco sauce take the flavor up a notch.
- Milk: A cup of whole milk is essential for the creamy cheese sauce.
- Beer: Choose a well-balanced beer (a pale ale will work well).
- Cheese: You’ll need a ½ pound of sharp shredded Cheddar cheese.
- Bread: Opt for a sturdy bread that will be able to hold up to cheese sauce, such as brioche or French bread.
How to Make Welsh Rarebit
You’ll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here’s a brief overview of what you can expect when you make Welsh rarebit:
- Melt the butter in a saucepan, then stir in the flour, seasonings, and sauces.
- Cook and stir until smooth and bubbly.
- Remove from heat, gradually stir in milk, then return to heat and bring to a boil.
- Stir in the beer, then melt in the Cheddar.
- Toast the bread slices under your oven’s broiler, then spoon the cheese sauce over the untoasted side.
- Cook under the preheated broiler until the cheese is bubbling and golden.
How to Store Welsh Rarebit
We recommend eating your Welsh rarebit right away, as the leftovers don’t store well.
Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise
“I like the fact that the cheese isn't added until the very last,” says FrostyKat. “It makes so much more sense than adding it right at the beginning into the roux, as I've seen with other recipes. Will make this frequently, thanks!”
“Classic recipe with no fussy ingredients or technique,” raves Jeffrey Brown. “Big tip! Use Pepperidge Farm Hearty White bread for the toast or English Muffins.”
“I made this for my dinner tonight,” says Vexing. “Perfect for cold dreary nights to sit by the fire and enjoyed with a bowl of fresh cream of tomato soup. Magnifique!”
Editorial contributions by Corey Williams
