My brie-grilled cheese sandwich is unapologetically decadent. Warm and creamy brie cheese sandwiched between perfectly grilled bread. Add an extra layer with apples, peaches, or pears for a complementary flavor. If you want to make this sandwich unforgettable, dip it in strawberry compote!
Grilled brie cheese sandwiches and I go way back. In my single years, this was my favorite breakup/comfort food. I would get the largest wedge of brie I could find, wonder bread (it grills perfectly), and a ton of butter. Depending on the severity of the breakup, I would eat this sandwich for one meal to several days.
Fast forward many years, maybe a decade or two, and my tastes have expanded to include fruit. Fruit complements the flavor of brie and takes the sandwich from good to YUMMMMMMMM! My favorite combination is brie and peaches, and then I dip it in strawberry compote. I know that might sound crazy, but trust me, it is heaven!
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Ingredients - What you Need
- Bread - 2 slices - I recommend sourdough or even good old-fashioned wonder bread. Wonder bread grills perfectly!
- Brie - 6 - 8 thin slices - Any brie will work with this recipe
- Butter - 2 tablespoons - Use room temperature butter for an even and easy spread.
- Fruit (Optional)- 6 - 8 thin slices - Green apples, pears, or peaches are the first fruits that come to mind. Any fruit that you enjoy with brie is perfect.
- Jam (optional) - I love to dip my grilled cheese in a jam. It might sound strange, but once you try it, you will understand. If you are using jam out a jar, warm it up in the microwave for 15 minutes to loosen it up (Pssst - Fig jam is amazing with brie!)
Instructions
Prep
Thickly butter one side of each slice of bread. Thinly slice the brie and fruit of your choice (optional).
Grill
Heat the pan over medium heat. Allow the pan to become hot before adding the bread butter side down. Arrange Brie cheese slices on top of each piece of bread. Place the fruit (optional) on one slice. Lightly sprinkle salt on top of the fruit.
Flip the fruitless slice of bread onto the piece of bread with the fruit Place a lid on the pan to contain the heat. Continue cooking the sandwich until the bread is grilled cheese is melted, roughly 2 to 3 minutes per side.
Substitutions and Variations
- Fruit Jam takes this sandwich to a whole other level of delicious While I used strawberry compote, you can use any jam Suggestions include Fig, apricot, blackberry, blueberry, cranberry, raspberry, and peach compote.
- Honey also pairs well with this sandwich. If using honey, spread a thin layer between the brie and fruit. Sprinkle in some finely chopped thyme for the perfect combination.
- Camembert Cheese - This is an excellent substitution for brie. You can substitute at a 1:1 ratio.
Reheating
This sandwich is best eaten hot off the pan when the cheese is melty, But sometimes you need to reheat the sandwich in that event.
- Stove Top - heat the pan over medium heat. Once the pan is hot, melt ½ a tablespoon of butter Place the sandwich in the pan and cover it with a lid Heat for 2 minutes, and then flip the sandwich and heat for an additional two minutes.
- Toaster Oven - Heat the oven to 350f/175c Place the sandwich in the oven and cook for 2 - 3 minutes. Flip the sandwich and cook for an additional 2 -3 minutes.
- Oven -Heat the oven to 350f/175c Place the sandwich on a baking sheet in the oven—Cook for 5 minutes. Flip the sandwich and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
Note: the heating times can vary by stove top and oven. Always keep a close eye on the sandwich to not overcook or burn. Never reheat in the microwave; that will make the whole sandwich soggy.
Expert Tips and Tricks
Brie - Brie is a soft cheese and becomes softer at room temperature. For the best results, slice the brie directly out of the refrigerator.
Fruit - If you have a mandolin, I recommend using it to slice the fruit. The result will be nice and even slices.
Butter - Use room temperature butter to achieve a thick and consistent spread.
FAQs
Brie is a soft white cheese named after the Brie region of France. The flavor is rich but not strong Brie is generally considered a high-end cheese. This cheese is so delicious that it is rumored to be Louis XVI’s last wish to taste it.
Yes, you absolutely can, or you can cut around it if you prefer. In my house, we do both, I eat the rind, and my husband cuts around it.
Yes and no. Traditional brie is made with unpasteurized milk, banned by the FDA Brie in the US is made with pasteurized milk to get around this.
While I have not been to France, I have been told traditional brie made with unpasteurized milk has a much richer flavor and smell.
Recipe
Grilled Brie Cheese
Equipment
- 1 Skillet with cover
- 1 Spatula
Ingredients
- 2 slices french bread
- 2 tablespoons (28g) butter, room temperature
- 6- 8 thin slices brie
- 6-8 thin slices green apple or pear
- 1 small dash salt
- 2 tablespoons (40g) fruit jam (optional)
Instructions
- Prep: Thickly butter one side of each slice of bread. Thinly slice the brie and fruit of your choice (optional).2 slices french bread, 2 tablespoons (28g) butter, room temperature, 6-8 thin slices green apple or pear, 6- 8 thin slices brie
- Grill: HHeat the pan over medium heat. Allow the pan to become hot before adding the bread butter side down. Arrange Brie cheese slices on top of each piece of bread. Place the fruit (optional) on one slice. Lightly sprinkle salt on top of the fruit. Flip the fruitless slice of bread onto the piece of bread with fruit. Place a lid on the pan to contain the heat. Continue cooking sandwich until bread is grilled cheese is melted, roughly 2 to 3 minutes per side. If the bread is grilled, but the cheese is not melted. Place the skillet in the oven at 150f/75c to get the cheese gooey.1 small dash salt
- Jam (optional): Place jam in the microwave for 15 seconds to loosen it up. I like to dip my sandwich into jam or you can spread it on the bread, opposite of the butter side.2 tablespoons (40g) fruit jam (optional)
Notes
Reheating
This sandwich is best eaten hot off the pan when the cheese is melty. But sometimes you need to reheat the sandwich in that event.- Stove Top - heat the pan over medium heat. Once the pan is hot, melt ½ a tablespoon of butter. Place the sandwich in the pan and cover with a lid. Heat for 2 minutes and then flip the sandwich and heat for an additional two minutes.
- Toaster Oven - Heat the oven to 350f/175c. Place the sandwich in the oven and cook for 2 - 3 minutes. Flip the sandwich and cook for an additional 2 -3 minutes.
- Oven -Heat the oven to 350f/175c. Place the sandwich on a baking sheet in the oven—Cook for 5 minutes. Flip the sandwich and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
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