Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celsius (fan-forced). Grease a 2 litre/8 cup capacity baking dish and set aside.
Place the French Onion soup mix, cream, melted butter, minced garlic and salt and pepper into a small bowl or jug. Whisk until combined. If using a Thermomix: Mix for 10 seconds, Speed 8.
Peel the potatoes and then slice into very thin slices (approx 3mm thick).
Spread ⅓ of the sliced potatoes into the base of the baking dish. Pour over ⅓ of the French onion cream mixture and sprinkle with ⅓ of the grated cheese.
Repeat with another layer of the potatoes, cream and grated cheese.
For the last layer, add the potatoes and the cream (but not the remaining grated cheese).
Cover tightly with foil and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Check that the potatoes are soft (if not, cover with foil and continue cooking until soft).
Remove the foil and sprinkle over the remaining grated cheeses.
Bake for 15 minutes or until golden.
Allow the potato bake to stand for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
RECIPE NOTES & TIPS
Cream - use a full-fat thickened cream (or heavy cream) for a rich and creamy flavour, however you could also use a 'light' version if you prefer.
Choose a potato variety that's best for baking - it will soften in the creamy base, without becoming floury. I would choose varieties such as Sebago, Desiree, Dutch Cream or Pontiac here in Australia, however it's such a forgiving recipe as potatoes, cream and cheese are always going to be a winning combo!
As avariation - add some crispy bacon and sauteed onion to the layers of potato and cheese.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
Freeze in an airtight container for up to 1 month (allow to defrost in the fridge overnight before reheating). To reheat, place in the oven at a medium temperature until heated through. You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave.