Savory grilled cheese is a great snack for its melty, gooey center and crispy, buttery exterior. It’s perfect for a midday snack or even a meal. But have you ever tried giving this comfort dish a sweet twist? It might sound unconventional, but experimentation can open up a world of flavor combinations.
You can opt for a basic sandwich bread and supermarket cheese, but we suggest that you go for a good quality bread and premium cheeses that pair well with sweet ingredients for these recipes. Here are some easy sweet dish recipes to get you started on this journey:
Sharp Cheddar and Apple Grilled Cheese
This sandwich offers a delightful balance of savory and sweet notes.
Ingredients:
- 4 slices sourdough bread
- 6 slices sharp cheddar
- Half an apple, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- Dash of cinnamon and brown sugar (optional)
Instructions:
- Slice the sourdough bread, and add two slices each of the sharp cheddar cheese on one slice.
- Cover the cheese with thinly sliced apple. You can even peel it if you want.
- Sprinkle some cinnamon and brown sugar so that the sugar melts along with the cheese.
- Melt butter on a griddle or non-stick pan and place the sandwiches on it.
- Cook until both sides of the grilled cheese are golden brown. Feel free to use more butter if you like.
Strawberry and Brie Grilled Cheese
Ingredients:
For the roasted strawberries:
- 450 gm hulled and sliced strawberries
- ½ tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- Pinch of salt
For the sandwich:
- 8 slices good quality sandwich bread
- 140 gm sliced brie
- Softened butter
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 200°C then spread the chopped strawberries evenly on a baking sheet.
- Drizzle olive oil, salt, honey, and balsamic vinegar over them and mix.
- Place in the oven for about 20 to 25 minutes. You will notice that the strawberries would have released their juices.
- Take them out of the oven and let them cool down for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Once the strawberries have cooled down, collect any excess liquid and scoop out the fruit.
- Layer the cooked strawberries then add the sliced brie on top. Create the sandwiches, then place them on a generously buttered pan.
- Toast to golden, crispy perfection on both sides.
Sweet and Salty Grilled Cheese
Ingredients:
- 2 slices good quality white bread
- 3-4 slices sharp cheddar
- 4 dates, halved and pitted
- Butter or mayonnaise
Instructions:
- Spread a thin coat of mayonnaise on one side of both the bread slices.
- Layer the dates and cheese on the unbuttered sides of the sliced.
- Create a sandwich, then place it on a hot pan.
- The mayonnaise may sound like an unconventional replacement for butter, but it will give your grilled cheese an even crispier and crunchy mouth feel.
- Cook the sandwich on both sides or until it’s golden brown and the cheese is oozing.
- Slice into rectangles or triangles and enjoy.
Blackberry Feta Grilled Cheese
Ingredients:
- 240 gm fresh or frozen blackberries
- 1 tbsp water
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 8 slices of bread
- Butter
- Feta according to taste
Instructions:
- Thaw the blackberries if frozen, then add to a saucepan with water, lime juice, and cornstarch. You can create a cornstarch slurry with the water and lime juice too so that it easily dissolves.
- Bring this mixture to a rolling boil, then reduce the flame and let the fruit stay on the stove for 5 more minutes. Stir occasionally so it doesn’t stick to the bottom.
- Once this step is done, remove the saucepan from heat and let it cool down slightly.
- In the meantime, butter one side of every slice.
- Then spoon the cooled berry compote you have made onto each slice and top with feta. You can use as much or as little you like. Cover this with another slice of bread.
- Melt butter on a pan and toast the sandwiches on both sides until golden brown and crispy.
- Eat immediately otherwise they will get soggy.