The Ultimate Apple Grilled Cheese

Take your apple sandwich to new heights by turning it into the most delicious grilled cheese you’ll ever make!

Apple and cheese is such a glorious combo. It highlights the perfect balance of sweet and salty so beautifully. Whilst it might seem a little odd whacking some apple into a grilled cheese, I promise you it totally works. Follow me…

Caramelized Apples

Originally when I tested this recipe, I actually just sliced up some apple and threw it right in. Whilst it worked pretty well, I found the apple kind of got lost in the grilled cheese. I really wanted that sweet and salty contrast between the cheese and apple, but the sweetness from the apple wasn’t quite punching through. So, I took things up and caramelized the apples. Boy oh boy did that make all the difference!

It all started with Bacon…

Like most things on this blog 🤣 But all jokes aside, not only does the bacon enhance the salty tones of the cheese, not only does it pair amazingly with both the cheese and apple, but you can use the leftover bacon fat to start caramelizing the apples. win win and win!

What variety of Apple to use?

I highly recommend using red apples over green. They caramelize much more efficiently. You want a nice crisp variety, something like a Pink Lady, Honey Crisp or Gala works nicely.

Maple Syrup

To caramelize the apples, some recipes use brown sugar, but I much prefer using maple syrup. It adds gorgeous flavour and adds a glossy, syrupy texture to the apples.

Process shots: fry bacon (photo 1), remove then add butter (photo 2), melt (photo 3), add apples (photo 4), add maple syrup and thyme (photo 5), stir and fry until caramelized (photo 6).

Apple Bacon Grilled Cheese

Alrighty, apples caramelized, let’s talk grilled cheese.

What Bread to use?

Something nice and firm, just to contain the soft filling. Something like a Sourdough works nicely. But in reality most loaves will work, just not thin soft sandwich bread.

What Cheese to use?

A nice sharp cheddar is a must. This is the most classic cheese pairing with apple, especially sweet varieties. I also like to use Gorgonzola. Blue cheese works beautifully with apple, offering that sharp contrast from the sweetness. If you’re not a fan of blue cheese though you can sub more cheddar.

Do I have to add Bacon?

Whilst I highly encourage it, if you’re not able to add it this sandwich will still be delicious. Just sub an extra knob of butter to replace the bacon fat when caramelizing the apples. If you want to take things up a notch from the bacon then some crispy prosciutto goes nicely!

Process shots: add bread butter side down in pan (photo 1), top with cheddar and bacon (photo 2), add apples (photo 3), add gorgonzola (photo 4), add bread butter side up (photo 5), fry both sides (photo 6).

Serving an Apple Grilled Cheese

I typically serve this for brunch or lunch, usually if guests are involved. It’s a real show stopper, because people are always a little unsure, but the flavours work so incredibly well that it always pays off!

I tend not to add sides, but if you want to takes things up a notch then consider some Hash Browns or even a Berry Fruit Salad for afters!

Alrighty, let’s tuck into the full recipe for this apple grilled cheese shall we?!

How to make an Apple Grilled Cheese (Full Recipe & Video)

The Ultimate Apple Grilled Cheese

Take your apple sandwich to new heights by turning it into the most delicious grilled cheese you'll ever make!

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Course: lunch

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings (click & slide): 4 sandwiches

Calories per serving: 753kcal

Author: Chris

Cost per serving: £1.50 / $2

Equipment

• Large Non-Stick Pan & Spatula/Turner
• Sharp Knife & Chopping Board
• Wooden Spoon
• Cheese Grater

Ingredients

Caramelized Apples

• 2 large Apples, cored and sliced (see notes)
• 2 tbsp Maple Syrup (see notes)
• 1 tbsp Butter
• 1-2 sprigs of Fresh Thyme (optional)

Grilled Cheese

• 8 medium slices of Bread (see notes)
• 8 rashers of Bacon
• 5oz / 150g grated Cheddar, grated
• 3.5oz / 100g Gorgonzola, crumbled (or more Cheddar)
• Butter, as needed

Instructions

• Bacon: In a large non-stick pan over medium heat add 8 slices of bacon. Fry both sides until golden/crispy with the fat fully rendered down. Remove from pan, leave fat behind.
• Apples: Melt 1 tbsp butter into the pan then add the apple slices. Stir to coat and fry for around 5mins until they JUST begin to brown and soften slightly. Pour in 2 tbsp maple syrup along with your fresh thyme (optional). Lower the heat very slightly and stir to coat the apple. Gently fry until the apple is soft (but not breaking apart) and caramelized/sticky. Remove and wipe out the pan.
• Grilled Cheese: Butter one side of each of the slices of bread then flip half of them over. Top with grated cheddar, followed by 2 slices bacon, topped with caramelized apples and finish with gorgonzola (or more cheddar). Top with a second slice of bread butter-side-up.
• Fry: Add to a non-stick pan over medium heat and fry both sides until golden with the cheese just starting to leak out. You may need to do this in two batches. Serve up and enjoy!

Quick Demo

Notes

a) Apples - I prefer using red apples, they caramelize much easier and take on the flavour of the maple syrup much better than green apples. You want a crisp variety, something like a Pink Lady, Jazz, Honey Crisp or Gala, just so they don't turn to mush as they cook. 2 large apples are around 7oz/200g each.

b) Maple Syrup - If you don't have maple syrup you can use the same quantity of brown sugar, you just lose out on the classic maple flavour. You don't need an expensive brand, something cheap will do the trick!

c) Do I have to add Bacon? - In short, no. But the bacon does add to the sweet/salty balance this sandwich is based around. If you're not using it then sub another 1/2 tbsp butter to replace the bacon fat.

d) Bread - Because the filling is so soft you want a firm kind of bread like Sourdough. Here I used a Grand Pain loaf which worked really nicely.

e) Calories - Per sandwich assuming 1 extra tbsp butter per sandwich.

*recipe inspired and adapted from The Original Dish.

Your Private Notes:

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Nutrition:

Nutrition Facts

The Ultimate Apple Grilled Cheese

Amount Per Serving

Calories 753 Calories from Fat 491

% Daily Value*

Fat 54.51g84%

Saturated Fat 20.302g127%

Trans Fat 0.894g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1.909g

Monounsaturated Fat 8.708g

Cholesterol 89mg30%

Sodium 1062mg46%

Potassium 550mg16%

Carbohydrates 43.36g14%

Fiber 3.8g16%

Sugar 20.56g23%

Protein 24.42g49%

Vitamin A 1006IU20%

Vitamin C 5.1mg6%

Calcium 542mg54%

Iron 1.98mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

*Nutrition is based on the absence of salt unless stated as a measurement in the ingredients. Cost is worked out based on ingredients bought from UK supermarkets, then divided by the number of servings. In both instances these values are just for guidance. Please check out my FAQ Page for more info.

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Looking for another sandwich that uses apple? Check out my Chicken Waldorf Salad Sandwich!

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