Monte Cristo

Category: Breakfast Recipes

A hybrid of a ham and cheese sandwich and French toast, this breakfast and brunch sandwich is both sweet and savory, with raspberry jam and spicy mustard.

ingredients

  • 4 slices white bread

  • 8 ounces shredded Gruyère, divided 

  • 6 ounces thinly sliced ham

  • 4 teaspoons stone-ground or Dijon mustard

  • 2 teaspoons raspberry jam, plus more as needed

  • 2 eggs

  • 1/4 cup half-and-half or whole milk

  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • Pinch nutmeg

  • 4 tablespoons butter, divided

  • Powdered sugar

demo

Direction

  1. Place bread slices on a cutting board and top 2 slices each with 2 ounces of the shredded Gruyère. Top each with ham, then the remaining 4 ounces of cheese. Spread mustard on remaining bread slices, then spread jam over mustard. Assemble sandwiches, pressing down slightly to adhere.

  2. Beat eggs, half-and-half, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a shallow bowl. Dip sandwiches into egg mixture, coating them completely.

  3. Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a skillet over medium. Add 1 sandwich, cook until golden brown on each side, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer cooked sandwich to a cutting board. Wipe out skillet, then melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in skillet. Cook second sandwich, then transfer to cutting board. Slice each sandwich in half. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve with additional jam.