Sweet And Savory Brie And Apple Butter Grilled Cheese Recipe

At first glance, the combination of Brie, apple butter, ham, and green apple might seem like an unconventional filling for a grilled cheese sandwich, but trust us when we say that it is a match made in foodie heaven. The combination of velvety, melted Brie, sweet apple butter, salty ham, and tart green apple creates a symphony on your taste buds, especially when sandwiched between two slices of crisp, buttery sourdough. Think of it like a baked Brie sandwich, with a center of gooey, rich cheese surrounded by a myriad of complementary flavors and textures.

When the leaves start to turn and those first chilly autumn days arrive, why not greet them with a sandwich that celebrates the bounty of fall? Picking fresh apples straight from the tree is a classic fall festivity, and cooking down the surplus into applesauce and apple butter is a time-honored tradition. This recipe is excellent with store-bought apple butter, but if you are feeling adventurous, you could also make your own apple butter at home. However you choose to make it, and whatever time of year, this sandwich is sure to be a delicious meal.

Get together the sourdough bread, apple butter, Brie, diced apple, diced ham, and butter. All it takes is these 6 ingredients to make a delicious, sweet, and savory snack. If you are feeding more than one, increase the ingredient quantities accordingly.

Divide the apple butter evenly between the two slices of bread.

Top one slice with the Brie.

Scatter the diced ham and diced apple on top of the Brie.

Top with the second slice of bread and gently press the sandwich together.

Add ½ tablespoon butter to a skillet over medium heat. When melted, add the sandwich to the pan.

Cook the sandwich for 2-3 minutes, until golden brown. Then scoop it out of the pan, add the other ½ tablespoon butter, flip the sandwich, and repeat.

Serve alongside an autumn salad or a warm bowl of butternut squash soup.

While this sandwich is delicious with apple butter, other fruit butters or even jams would make a great alternative. If you happen to have a surplus of pears, consider making a slow-cooked pear butter and replacing the green apple with crisp diced pear. Or, fully embrace the autumn season and make your own pumpkin butter. Whichever fruit butter you choose, this sandwich is sure to be a winner.

While grilled cheese sandwiches are traditionally made in a skillet, a sandwich press provides an excellent alternative. The pressure a sandwich press applies helps to push everything together and create a nice, cohesive sandwich. If you choose to use a sandwich press, simply spread the butter on the outside of the bread beforehand to ensure that your finished sandwich has that same buttery crispness.

We would not suggest making the sandwiches too far in advance. Apple butter has a high moisture content, so if the sandwiches are assembled too far in advance, you run the risk of a soggy center. Don't let that discourage you from prepping a board full of sandwiches before toasting them, but this recipe would not be quite as delicious if assembled too far in advance. We would suggest making the sandwiches no more than 30 minutes before you are ready to cook.