This monte cristo sandwich has become our weekend brunch go-to when we want something that feels special but doesn't require a ton of work. After years of trying different versions and dealing with oliver's very specific opinions about what makes a good sandwich, I've figured out the combination that hits all the right notes. It's basically French toast meets the world's best deli sandwich, and somehow the sweet and salty combo works perfectly together.
Why You'll Love This Monte Cristo Sandwich
This Monte Cristo sandwich is basically the answer to every weekend brunch dilemma we've ever had. It's fancy enough that it feels like a special treat, but simple enough that I can make it on a Saturday morning without having to plan ahead or stress about timing. oliver loves that it's sweet and salty at the same time, which fits his kid logic of wanting dessert with every meal. Plus, it's one of those recipes that looks way harder than it actually is. The best part is how forgiving it is depending on what's in your fridge - no turkey? Just use extra ham. Out of Swiss cheese? Cheddar works great. Forgot raspberry jam? Any jam or jelly does the trick.
What really won me over is how it makes everyone feel fancy without much effort from me. oliver thinks I'm magic for turning day-old bread into something this tasty, and when friends come over for brunch, they're always impressed. It's one of those dishes that makes a regular weekend feel special, and honestly, sometimes that's exactly what you need. Plus, it's perfect for using up whatever deli meat is on sale and bread that's getting a little stale - the egg mixture turns even old bread into something crispy and golden.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Monte Cristo Sandwich
- Ingredients For Monte Cristo Sandwich
- Step-by-Step Method
- Smart Swaps for Your Monte Cristo Sandwich
- Storage Tips For Monte Cristo Sandwich
- Equipment For Monte Cristo Sandwich
- Monte Cristo Sandwich Variations
- Top Tip
- The Recipe That My Friend and I Still Argue Over
- FAQ
- Your New Weekend Brunch Hero!
- Related
- Pairing
- Monte Cristo Sandwich
Ingredients For Monte Cristo Sandwich
The Sandwich Build:
- Thick-cut bread
- Sliced ham
- Sliced turkey
- Swiss cheese
- Raspberry jam
- Butter for cooking
The French Toast Part:
- Eggs
- Milk or heavy cream
- Vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Little bit of sugar
For Serving:
- Powdered sugar for dusting
- Extra jam on the side
- Maple syrup
Nice to Have:
- Dijon mustard
- Different jams to try
- Fresh berries for garnish
See recipe card for quantities.
Step-by-Step Method
This is easier than it looks - here's my method that works every time:
Build the Sandwiches:
- Spread thin layer of jam on one side of bread
- Add ham, turkey, and cheese
- Top with second piece of bread
- Press down gently to hold everything together
Make the Egg Mixture:
- Whisk eggs, milk, vanilla, salt, and sugar in shallow dish
- Make sure it's well mixed
- Should be like French toast batter
Dip and Cook:
- Heat butter in large skillet over medium heat
- Dip each sandwich in egg mixture, both sides
- Let excess drip off
- Cook 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown
The Flip Trick:
- Use two spatulas if sandwich is heavy
- Press down gently while cooking
- Cheese should be melty when done
- Don't rush - medium heat is key
Finish and Serve:
- Let cool for 2 minutes (filling is hot!)
- Cut diagonally in half
- Dust with powdered sugar
- Serve with extra jam
Smart Swaps for Your Monte Cristo Sandwich
From making this with whatever's in the fridge, here's what actually works:
Bread Options:
- Brioche → Challah or thick white bread
- Fresh → Day-old bread (actually works better)
- Regular → French bread sliced thick
- Store-bought → Homemade if you're ambitious
Meat Changes:
- Ham and turkey → Just ham (double the amount)
- Deli meat → Leftover roast chicken
- Regular → Canadian bacon
- Traditional → Skip meat for vegetarian version
Cheese Switches:
- Swiss → Gruyere (fancier taste)
- Regular → Cheddar or provolone
- Dairy → Vegan cheese slices
- Traditional → Cream cheese spread
Jam Alternatives:
- Raspberry → Strawberry or apricot
- Berry → Orange marmalade
- Sweet → Apple butter
- Store-bought → Homemade if you have it
Egg Mixture Tweaks:
- Milk → Heavy cream (richer)
- Regular → Buttermilk (tangier)
- Dairy → Almond milk
- Plain → Add cinnamon or nutmeg
Storage Tips For Monte Cristo Sandwich
From making these for meal prep and dealing with leftovers, here's what works:
Best Fresh (Same Day):
- Eat right after making for crispiest texture
- Can sit for 30 minutes without getting soggy
- Reheat in toaster oven if needed
- Don't add powdered sugar until serving
In the Fridge (1-2 days):
- Wrap in foil or plastic wrap
- Store without powdered sugar
- Reheat in oven at 350°F for 10 minutes
- Won't be as crispy but still good
Make-Ahead Tips:
- Assemble sandwiches without dipping in egg
- Keep in fridge up to overnight
- Dip in egg mixture right before cooking
- oliver likes helping prep these the night before
Reheating Methods:
- Toaster oven works best
- Regular oven if making multiple
- Microwave makes it soggy (avoid)
- Air fryer for 3-4 minutes
What Not to Do:
- Don't freeze assembled sandwiches
- Don't store with powdered sugar on
- Don't leave at room temperature too long
Equipment For Monte Cristo Sandwich
- Large skillet or griddle
- Shallow dish for egg mixture
- Wide spatula for flipping
- Whisk for mixing eggs
Monte Cristo Sandwich Variations
Chicken Monte Cristo:
- Grilled chicken instead of ham and turkey
- Brie cheese instead of Swiss
- Cranberry sauce instead of raspberry jam
- oliver's favorite because he loves chicken
Breakfast Version:
- Add scrambled eggs to the filling
- Use breakfast sausage instead of ham
- Serve with maple syrup for dipping
- Perfect for weekend mornings
Savory Style:
- Skip the jam entirely
- Add mustard and pickles
- More like a grilled cheese sandwich
- For people who don't like sweet and savory
Slider Size:
- Use dinner rolls instead of bread slices
- Make mini versions for parties
- Same ingredients, smaller portions
- Kids love these bite-sized ones
Deep-Fried Diner Style:
- Cut into sticks after making
- Dip in batter and fry
- Like the fancy restaurant version
- Way more work but impressive
Apple Cinnamon:
- Thin apple slices in the sandwich
- Cinnamon in the egg mixture
- Apple jelly instead of raspberry
- Tastes like fall in sandwich form
Top Tip
- She also showed me her jam trick - instead of spreading jam directly on the bread where it can make things soggy, she'd mix a little jam into the egg mixture itself. Just a spoonful, but it gives the whole outside this subtle fruity flavor that ties everything together. oliver thinks this is genius because he gets jam flavor in every bite instead of just where I remembered to spread it.
- The last thing Carol taught me was to always let the sandwich rest for about 2 minutes after cooking before cutting it. She called it "letting the filling settle," and it really does make a difference. The cheese finishes melting, the filling stops being molten hot, and everything holds together better when you cut it. Most people want to dive right in, but those 2 minutes turn a good sandwich into something that actually looks like what you see in restaurants instead of a hot mess on a plate.
The Recipe That My Friend and I Still Argue Over
My friend Jessica and I have been fighting about the "right" way to make Monte Cristo sandwiches for about three years now. She insists you have to deep-fry them like they do at fancy restaurants, while I think pan-frying them like French toast is just as good and way less messy. We've had this argument at least ten times, and every time one of us makes them, we text the other person a picture like "see, THIS is how you do it." The truth is, both ways work fine, but her deep-fried version requires a whole pot of oil and makes the kitchen smell like a diner for hours.
We finally agreed to disagree when we made both versions side by side for a potluck. Turns out, most people couldn't even tell the difference once they were dusted with powdered sugar and served with jam. oliver tried both and said they were "equally good but mom's way doesn't make scary noises." Jessica says I'm being lazy, but I say I'm being practical. Sometimes the simplest approach really is the best one, even if your friends think you're taking shortcuts.
FAQ
What does a Monte Cristo sandwich contain?
A traditional Monte Cristo Sandwich has ham, turkey, and Swiss cheese between thick slices of bread, dipped in egg mixture like French toast, then cooked until golden. It's served with powdered sugar on top and jam on the side. Some versions add mustard or different cheeses, but that's the basic combo.
What is the difference between Monte Cristo Sandwich and croque monsieur?
Croque monsieur is a French grilled ham and cheese sandwich with béchamel sauce, usually served open-faced. Monte Cristo Sandwich is dipped in egg like French toast and served with sweet toppings like powdered sugar and jam. One's purely savory, the other mixes sweet and savory flavors.
What bread to use for Monte Cristo?
Thick-cut brioche or challah work best because they're sturdy enough to handle the egg dipping without falling apart. Regular thick white bread works too. You want something at least ¾ inch thick - thin sandwich bread will just turn to mush when you dip it.
What is the original Monte Cristo?
The original Monte Cristo Sandwich was supposedly created as a variation of the French croque monsieur, adapted for American tastes by adding the egg coating and sweet elements. Some say it was first served at Disneyland in the 1960s, but similar sandwiches existed in American diners before that.
Your New Weekend Brunch Hero!
Now you've got everything you need to make Monte Cristo Sandwich that'll make weekend mornings feel special - from the basic technique to aunt Carol's butter trick and jam-in-the-egg method. This recipe proves that fancy brunch doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. oliver still gets excited every time I make these, and honestly, there's something satisfying about turning simple ingredients into something that feels restaurant-quality.
Want more easy brunch winners? Try our Easy Corned Beef Hash Recipe that's perfect for using up leftovers and feeding a crowd. Need an impressive dessert? Our Easy Coconut Cream Meringue Pie looks fancy but comes together surprisingly fast. And for potlucks or busy nights, our Easy Strawberry Cheesecake Dump Cake delivers all the flavor with minimal effort!
Share your Monte Cristo Sandwich success by tagging we love seeing your family favorites!
Rate this Monte Cristo Sandwich with five stars and join our cooking community!
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Monte Cristo Sandwich
Monte Cristo Sandwich
Equipment
- 1 Large skillet (Or griddle)
- 1 Whisk (For egg mixture)
- 1 Shallow dish (For dipping sandwiches)
- 1 Wide spatula (Use two for flipping if needed)
Ingredients
The Sandwich:
- 8 slices Thick-cut bread - Brioche or challah preferred
- 4 slices Ham - Or use double ham if no turkey
- 4 slices Turkey - Optional
- 4 slices Swiss cheese - Or Gruyère, cheddar, provolone
- 4 teaspoon Raspberry jam - Or any jam/jelly you like
- 2 tablespoon Butter - For cooking
The Egg Mixture:
- 3 Eggs
- ⅓ cup Milk - Or heavy cream, buttermilk, etc.
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract - Optional but tasty
- 1 pinch Salt
- 1 teaspoon Sugar - Optional
Optional for Serving:
- Powdered sugar - For dusting
- Extra jam - On the side
- Maple syrup - For dipping
- Dijon mustard - Optional spread
- Fresh berries - For garnish
Leave a Reply