Grilled Cheese With Apples and Apple Butter Recipe (2024)

Ratings

4

out of 5

1,397

user ratings

Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Note on this recipe and see it here.

Cooking Notes

Dave

This need bacon.

Rich

I love this sandwich, and I play with variations: Havarti or Swiss cheese instead of cheddar. peanut butter or almond butter instead of apple butter (especially if you're looking for a little more protein), orange marmalade or fig preserves, cinnamon for rosemary, raisin bread or whole grain (or gluten free) bread...

Diane Kay

It's a perfect sandwich for this time of year -- disagree about the bacon as the cheddar provides melty fatty salty goodness on its own.

Allison

Substituting apple butter + rosemary for mayo + gochujang was A+. I broiled the sandwiches open-faced to save on time and butter.

GothamNurse

Made this tonight. Outrageously good, especially for the minimal time involved. The only change I made was that I had a loaf of brioche sitting around and sliced that to use. Talk about gilding the lily.

Barbara

I cut the apple in half and used a mandoline to get thin slices. It was a good treat and easy.

Anne Clark

Delicious. Use a smear of good mustard (grainy dijon is awesome) if you don't have apple butter.

PeggySu

If you have any extra apple butter it’s really good on rye bread, toasted or mot.

MargefromTN

Question... adding water to the pan while browning the loaded bread slices? Seems to me that would make the bread soggy and prevent it from browning up nice and crisp?

TriciaPDX

The apple slices are sauteed with the shallots and rosemary till they're both softened.

Maura

This was an amazing Sunday night supper with some homemade soup. Gourmet Grilled Cheese. Will make this again and again!

jenn irons

Try with adding a little French mustard on sourdough

Elizabeth

Sounds delicious - I'm thinking I will also try this this on walnut bread.

Elizabeth

Tried it with Goat cheese instead of cheddar the second time I made it, and it was a very good idea!

Megan

Paired with tomato soup, this recipe is perfect for chilly fall or winter days. I've tried it with and without bacon, and both are good - I'd say it's just a matter of preference if you want something with meat. I couldn't find apple butter at the store but the shallot and rosemary already give the apples tons of flavor. Will be making this over and over!

Judy

Used a baguette cut in half to make two sandwiches, but made enough apple mix for four. I’m glad I did—the extra extras pumped up the flavor. Not sure it would be as tasty with half as much.

Maureen

Straightforward grilled cheese sandwich is my lifelong favorite sammie! I freely admit I’m kinda of a purist about them. And I prefer savory, not sweet. Nevertheless this recipe intrigued me. Excellent as is (but until someone explains putting water in the pan I’m not doing it). I cooked the apple slices rather gently to maintain a little firmness. Served grainy mustard on the side. Bacon sounds great for a brunch, so saving that idea for one of our meat days.

jamie s

As others have suggested, I added Applewood Smoked Bacon, which was a nice addition for both the texture and flavor profile. 1/4” is a bit thick for the cheese. We had the deli slice it that thick and it’s really difficult to melt without burning the bread. We had to let ours finish cooking in the warm oven.

Scott

Some folks like to grate the cheese, rather slice it. Grated cheese is a bit harder to keep on the bread, but melts quicker

ShadyPrincess

Really good. Next time I’ll use different bread. Didn’t love the thick white bread. Might do a wheat. Also salted the apple side before covering pan because I’d forgotten to add when sauteeing.

Christopher Foley

I use that steaming technique on many things where you want a crispy crust but a melty moist topping. It’s especially great for reheating pizza. Crisp your slice first in a little olive oil for a minute or two, then just a spoonful of water and quickly cover the pan.

Jim

Made the recipe as written, except I used Rye bread. Great sandwich, will definitely make it again.

tinykb

tremendous, and even better with grainy dijon and sliced turkey on the side opposite the apple butter.

Tiffany

Just made this with gluten free white bread and WOW! A little embarrassed to say I ate 2 sandwiches! I wouldn't have thought it but adding a bit of water to the butter before cooking the bread made is extremely crispy/crunchy. Delicious perfection!

Liz K.

My cheddar, which was extra-sharp, melted much faster than I anticipated - over the edges of the bread & into the pan, so I had to take the sandwich out much faster than 5-7 minutes indicated.

Dave

We made two of these today with an adjustment we saw from others -- a smear of dijon mustard instead of apple butter. Wow, this is a great combination of flavors. Something new versus our old stand-by of Cheese, Tomato, and bacon. We made one of these with bacon bits and one without as one of us likes bacon and one does not. Sandwiches are great platforms for customization!

Maggie J

These were surprisingly tasty and a hit with the family - although a little more involved to make than traditional grilled cheese. We have a late summer crop of apples, so made apple butter first, then these sandwiches. Will make them again on a cool day in the fall.

Emma

Added fried eggs and subbed apple butter for strawberry preserves and it was SOOOO GOOD. Can toast the other slice of bread and assemble separately w apple/shallot mixture after the cheesy slice is done if pan has no lid

Seth

This quick lunch was a huge surprise. I thought the apple butter would be too sweet and the shallots too overpowering. Keep the layer of apple butter thin and know your audience when you’re selecting the quantity of shallots and you’ll be a hero. Bravo!

KF Napa

I used a mandolin to get paper thin slices. No apple butter but had fig preserves. Paired with tomato soup. Best cheese sandwiches!

Private notes are only visible to you.

Grilled Cheese With Apples and Apple Butter Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What cheese goes well with apple butter? ›

Since it's sweet, apple butter can pair with many different kinds of cheeses — try your favorites and see what works best. If you need some suggestions to begin, try a sharp cheddar, an oozy brie, or a tangy chèvre.

How do you know if apple butter is thick enough? ›

If it's the consistency of applesauce, no ma'am! To check for doneness: Spoon out some of the apple butter, turn the spoon upside down. The apple butter should cling to the spoon without falling off right away. If it does fall off, continue cooking to remove more of the liquid.

What type of butter is best for grilled cheese? ›

The best way to grill a cheese sandwich is use mayonnaise or melted unsalted butter. You can use any unsalted butter of your choice, not saturated butters with high carb oils. Another thing is using olive oil mayonnaise or low-fat mayonnaise as a option to grill your cheese sandwich.

Do you butter both sides of grilled cheese or one? ›

Butter bread – Slather both sides of each piece of bread with the butter (yes, all 4 sides!). Light toast – Heat a heavy-based skillet or frying pan over medium low heat (no oil or butter). Pile on cheese – Flip one slice of bread, then pile on the cheddar cheese followed by the mozzarella.

Why does cheese go so well with apples? ›

The contrasting flavors make them ideal partners. Basically, they taste good together. You eat a dry salty piece of cheese and its flavor fills your mouth. Follow the cheese with a bite of sweet moist apple and the dry saltiness disappears, which sets you up for another bite of cheese.

How many years is canned apple butter good for? ›

*You can also preserve your apple butter via the water-bath canning method, which uses a canning pot. The recommending processing time is 10 minutes for pints and 15 minutes for quarts. Home-canned apple butter has a shelf life of about two years. Store in a cool, dark place.

How long will homemade apple butter last? ›

Once the apple butter has cooled and been placed into jars or airtight containers, store using the following guidelines: Refrigerator Storage – You can store the apple butter in the fridge for up to 1 month. Freezer Storage – You can store the apple butter in the freezer for up to 1 year.

Does homemade apple butter need to be refrigerated? ›

Average shelf life unopened is 11 months. But after you open a jar, it is very important it is re-capped and refrigerated. It will last about a month in the refrigerator, but we usually finish out a jar in a couple of days. The same goes for any baked goods or cooked items made with apple butter.

What makes grilled cheese taste better? ›

Here are some tips for making the perfect American grilled cheese sandwich:
  1. Use good quality bread. A sturdy bread, such as sourdough or rye, will hold up well to the grilling process.
  2. Use real butter. Butter adds flavor and richness to the sandwich.
  3. Don't overcrowd the pan. ...
  4. Cook over medium heat. ...
  5. Be patient.
Dec 27, 2022

What two cheeses are best for grilled cheese? ›

Sharp cheddar, Gouda, Fontina, Monterey Jack, Gruyere, Pepper Jack, and brie are all good options. The amount of cheese you use will depend on the size of your bread. I love sharp Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Gouda together.

How many slices of cheese should you put on a grilled cheese? ›

For each grilled cheese, you'll need two slices of bread, at least 1 tablespoon of butter, and 2-4 slices of cheese (depending how gooey you like it). American, Cheddar, Swiss, muenster or Gouda all work well—feel free to mix and match your cheeses.

How many times do you flip a grilled cheese? ›

Cook until crisp and deep golden brown, 5 to 10 minutes per side, flipping sandwiches back to first side to re-heat and crisp, about 15 seconds. Serve.

Should you put a lid on the pan when making grilled cheese? ›

Cook the grilled cheese.

Cover and cook over medium-low heat until the bottom is golden. Flip and cook uncovered until the second side is golden and cheese is melted.

What cheese goes with apple jam? ›

Our Pairing Suggestions
  • Apple Jam - Mozzarella, Goat, Fontina, or English Cheddar, Gran Padano.
  • Blackberry - Stilton Blue, Manchego, Triple Creme, Camembert, Goat or Feta.
  • Black Currant - Spicy Blue Cheese, Feta, Aged Parmesan, Sharp Cheddar.
  • Blueberry Jam - Goat, Stilton, or Manchego.

What cheese goes with Pink Lady apples? ›

Pairing Cheese with Apples
  • Cheddar – firm, creamy, tart and tangy. ...
  • Blue Cheese – a soft and pungent cheese, Pink Lady® apples provide a texture balancing crunch and a cleansing of the palette.
  • Goat's Cheese – another soft cheese with a tart flavour that works brilliantly with Pink Lady®'s sweet flavour and crunchy bite.
Sep 28, 2020

What goes well with apple and cheddar? ›

Curried Squash Soup with Apple-and-Cheddar Melts

But first she spreads a generous dollop of sweet mango chutney across each bread slice. When you dip your sandwich into the spiced squash soup, the chutney will blend nicely with the sweet and aromatic curry in every bite.

What cheese pairs best with? ›

Cheese Pairing Chart
Cheese textureFood
Soft (mascarpone, feta)Fresh berries, crisp cookies, biscotti, salty or spicy nuts
Semi-soft (Fontal, provolone)Apples, grapes, roasted or grilled vegetables
Semi-hard (Asiago, gouda)Nuts, dried fruit, dark chocolate
1 more row

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Patricia Veum II

Last Updated:

Views: 6135

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (44 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Patricia Veum II

Birthday: 1994-12-16

Address: 2064 Little Summit, Goldieton, MS 97651-0862

Phone: +6873952696715

Job: Principal Officer

Hobby: Rafting, Cabaret, Candle making, Jigsaw puzzles, Inline skating, Magic, Graffiti

Introduction: My name is Patricia Veum II, I am a vast, combative, smiling, famous, inexpensive, zealous, sparkling person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.