This is the ultimate make at home Monte Cristo Sandwich – with turkey, ham and cheese in a sandwich that is cooked French toast style. If desired, serve with powdered sugar and raspberry jam. It’s a sweet and savory combo that will convert even a skeptic!
If you love sandwich night as much as we do, you also need to check out the recipes for this Club Sandwich, Egg Salad BLTs, or Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.
If you are a regular reader, you know that I am a huge fan of the sweet and savory combination. And now, looking back, I’m starting to wonder if this love started off with a Monte Cristo sandwich long ago.
I’ve been eating these sandwiches for a long time. It wasn’t my mom who made them when I was younger, but my brother. And I’ve grown to love and appreciate this sandwich – maybe more than any other.
WHAT IS A MONTE CRISTO SANDWICH?
So now you might be asking – what is a Monte Cristo sandwich?
If you’ve been do Disneyland, you probably know. They serve their famous Monte Cristo that you can get at Cafe Orleans is a deep fried sandwich with ham, turkey and cheese. Then it is served with berry jam and dusted with powdered sugar.
But Disneyland wasn’t the first to make these sandwiches.
It is believed that the Monte Cristo started off as the French Croque Monsieur, a grilled cheese sandwich with Gruyere and ham. Then, starting in the 1930s, more variations of this sandwich started to show up cookbooks, then in the 1950s, it made its way onto a menu in a southern California restaurant under the name of Monte Cristo. It then made its debut at Disneyland in 1966.
INGREDIENTS
There are many versions out there, but this is what I think you need to make the perfect Monte Cristo. My version is grilled instead of fried, which makes it much easier, and less messy, to make at home.
White Bread – I’m usually a wheat bread kind of girl, but you need white bread for these sandwiches.
Deli Sliced Meat – You’ll need both ham and turkey. I like to get it super thin sliced at the deli counter, but even pre-sliced meat will work.
Provolone Cheese – I just buy this sliced, as it is way easier. You can also use Swiss, which is more traditional.
Milk, Eggs, Butter – your traditional batter mixture. You’ll make the batter from the milk and eggs, then cook the sandwiches in the butter.
HOW TO MAKE A MONTE CRISTO
- Whisk the eggs and milk in a shallow pan.
- Melt the butter in a large skillet.
- Make the sandwiches by layering a slice of bread, cheese, ham, another slice of bread spread with mayonnaise, turkey, cheese, and then another slice of bread. Press it down to make sure it all sticks together.
- Dip each sandwich in the milk and egg mixture, then transfer to the hot skillet.
- Cook until the sandwich is toasted on both sides and the cheese is melted.
- Serve dusted with powdered sugar and with raspberry jam on the side.
More Variations on the Monte Cristo
Monte Cristo Crepes
Italian-Style Monte Cristos
Monte Cristo Sandwich Loaf
Monte Cristo Waffle-Wiches
Monte Cristo Style Croque Monsieur
Helpful Tools
I like to use a good nonstick skillet to cook these sandwiches, although a cast iron pan would give some good color to the sandwiches.
A small ramekin or cup for jam is super helpful if you want to dip your sandwich.
If you serve with powdered sugar, it’s helpful to have a small strainer so that you don’t get big clumps of powdered sugar all over.
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Monte Cristo Sandwich
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 12 slices white bread
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 lb deli sliced ham
- 1/4 lb deli sliced turkey
- 8 slices Swiss or Provolone cheese
- Powdered sugar and raspberry jam for serving
Instructions
- In a shallow dish, whisk together the eggs and the milk.
- Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Lay 4 pieces of bread down and top with 1 slice of cheese on each piece of bread. Place 1/4 of the ham on top of each piece of cheese.
- Take 4 more slices of bread and spread about 1/2 tablespoon of mayonnaise on one side. Place the mayonnaise side down on top of the ham, then spread another 1/2 tablespoon of mayonnaise on the opposite side of the bread. Repeat with the 3 remaining sandwiches.
- Place 1/4 of the turkey on top of each sandwich, then top with another slice of cheese. Place the last 4 slices of bread on top of each sandwich.
- Press down on each sandwich firmly to press together slightly.
- Dip each sandwich quickly into the egg and milk mixture. They need to be coated, but not soaked.
- Place the sandwiches in the skillet with the butter. Cook until the bread is toasted and the cheese on the side against the skillet is melted, then carefully flip the sandwich over and cook the other side.
- Slice the sandwiches in half to serve, and serve dusted with powdered sugar and a side of raspberry jam for dipping, if desired.
Pauls says
Is there a way to make ahead and keep warm
Deborah says
I’m afraid it would get soggy if you made it in advance. You could try it out and keep it wrapped in foil to see how it works out, but you might need to crisp it up before serving.
Jo says
How do you make 4 sandwiches with 8 slices of bread if each sandwich uses 3 slices. I think someone forgot to proof read.
Deborah says
Hi Jo – the recipe calls for 12 slices of bread.
Gary says
Good recipe! in 1964 when I was 10 my uncle was a lounge piano player at the coco palms hotel on the island of Kauai . I had the most wonderful sandwich ever… yes it was the Monte Cristo!!! By the way while there I was beaten and robbed by older kids. I never went back.
Deborah says
Oh my – but what a story you have to tell now! I’m glad that you still love Monte Cristo’s even if your experience was not the best at that hotel!
Katie says
It’s so hard to find a good monte cristo recipe, but this is hands down my favorite! I feel like there are 2 ways to make a monte cristo: one that tastes like a dessert sandwich and one that tastes like a savory lunch sandwich. This recipe gets you the former. For a little extra sweet, I recommend using honey wheat bread instead of white bread and using plain Greek yogurt instead of mayo. I am so grateful I stumbled across this recipe!
Gina says
This is a great recipe, I made it for my daughter who loves these sandwiches after having one at a restaurant a few months ago. We will be putting this in our rotation, I did use the Brioche bread from the grocery store because it was thicker Texas Toast cut bread would also work they were out.
Deborah says
I love the idea of using brioche! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
Hayley C says
As a chef, have prepared this more times than I can count. I like that you grill is, its how its made. No Monte Cristo sandwich is prepared with mayo or mustard, and no jam either. Its served with powdered sugar and maple syrup.
As A Chef... says
You might be a chef, and are correct about NO mustard/mayo on a Monte Cristo, but the original recipe circa 1967 from Disneyland’s Blue Bayou Cafe paired the sandwich with both raspberry and blackberry jelly. Easy enough to verify…
As a chef, and eater, I have been enjoying this deliciousness with raspberry jam for over 30 years.
Jessica says
We’ve made these several times now. Definitely a family favorite!!
Wendy says
We loved this recipe! All the flavors just explode in your mouth! Thank you for sharing your recipe!😋
Deborah says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Molly Simms says
Omgggg. I had never had a Monte Cristo Sandwich until my stylist recommended it to me. What a scrumptious combination!!!! I used Gruyere Cheese instead and I am sure any cheese would be fine!!!
Sheena says
I made this for my family for the first time. My family enjoyed them even my picky kids. I served them with maple syrup. I wasn’t sure how to dip them without getting them soaked so after toasting each side I threw them in the oven to cook the rest of the egg. They were wonderful! Thank you!
Wayne Collins says
I loved this recipe but put egg on both sides of the bread. Once flipped I added the cheese ham and Turkey. Used keto bread and had to skip the powdered
Sugar, but had some no sugar strawberry.preserves that made this awesome!! Thanks for the help
TK says
I dreamed of this sandwich two nights ago. Looked up the recipe yesterday and cooked and served this eve. I cooked a fried egg and placed in the middle of the sandwich for my hubby. He was totally thrilled with it!
TK says
Oh and I used homemade Blackberry preserves with mine and no powdered sugar.
Deborah says
These are dipped in an egg mixture (like French toast) 🙂
Roganna church says
I worked at a Greek restaurant and they made monte Cristo but they didnt put powdered sugar and jam with it they put thousand island dressing and they were delicious to so I’m going to try yours and see which I like better ty