I’m from Seattle, and one of my favorite places to go there is Beecher’s Cheese in Pike Place Market. It’s truly a heaven for cheese lovers, and not only do you get to watch them make cheese right in front of you, but they also sell amazing mac and cheese and, my personal favorite, grilled cheese with Flagship cheddar cheese. Their grilled cheese is plain and simple, but at home I like to experiment a little more, adding different ingredients and flavor combinations. Here are two recipes (plus a few more ideas) that bring classic grilled cheese to a whole new level.

Grilled Cheese with Quince Paste

Easy

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 6 minutes
Total Time: 11 minutes

Servings: 1

Ingredients:
2 slices brioche bread, buttered
2 oz. aged cheddar cheese (Flagship is of course my go-to choice)
Quince paste

Directions:
1. Butter one side of each slice of bread.
2. On one buttered slice, spread the quince paste (it isn’t super spreadable so you kind of have to glob/dab it on).
3. Slice the cheddar cheese and place on top of the quince paste.
4. Place the other piece of bread on top of the cheese to make a sandwich and place in a pan (buttered side down) over medium-low heat.
5. Cook on both sides until golden brown and cheese is melted, about 3 minutes per side. Remove from pan and serve warm.

Grilled Cheese with Brie and Apple

Easy

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 6 minutes
Total Time: 11 minutes

Servings: 1

Ingredients:
2 slices brioche bread, buttered
2 ounces Brie
½ apple, thinly sliced

Directions:
Follow same directions as above but instead of quince paste, place the thinly sliced apples on the bread.

Check out these other epic variations: