Recipe

Apple Pie Grilled Cheese Is the Ultimate Sweet-Savory Comfort Food

By Anna Sanfilippo at University of Virginia

When it comes to classic comfort foods, it's hard to beat the old standbys — namely, dishes like grilled cheese and apple pie. While we once banished each of these soul-warming favorites to different courses — grilled cheese as a main, and apple pie only as dessert — I’m here to tell you that it’s 2017, and you don’t have to stand for that tyranny any longer. Instead, combine your sweet and savory favorites into one epic dish: the apple pie grilled cheese.

This dish matches the tartness of granny smith apples with the buttery, cheesy goodness of white cheddar and the homey sweetness of cinnamon sugar. Top it off with some fresh chopped thyme for a hint of savory, and you’ve got yourself one heck of a cheat meal.

Apple Pie Grilled Cheese

  • Prep Time: 5 mins
  • Cook Time: 15 mins
  • Total Time: 20 mins
  • Servings: 1
Ingredients
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • Hearty whole-grain bread
  • 1/2 Granny Smith apple
  • 2 slices sharp white cheddar cheese
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar
  • Fresh thyme

Anna Sanfilippo

Step 1

Heat 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet on medium heat until melted. While butter heats, slice apple into thin rounds, approximately 1/8 inch thick.

Anna Sanfilippo

Step 2

Add apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon to the pan, and stir until evenly coated with butter and sugar. Reduce to medium heat, stirring occasionally, until apple slices are soft and sticky, approximately 6-7 mins. Remove from pan.

Anna Sanfilippo

Step 3

Lightly butter both sides of your bread slices. Then, place one slice of cheese on each slice.

Anna Sanfilippo

Step 4

Top one slice of bread with the apple mixture, and close the sandwich with your other piece of bread.

Anna Sanfilippo

Step 5

Heat the remaining butter in a skillet on medium heat until melted. Add your sandwich to pan and cook until the cheese starts melting and bread is browned on one side.

Anna Sanfilippo

Step 6

Flip sandwich and continue cooking until cheese is fully melted and sandwich is crispy on both sides.

Anna Sanfilippo

Step 7

Remove sandwich from pan, and sprinkle with fresh chopped thyme. Then, enjoy this legendary sweet and savory concoction.

Anna Sanfilippo

Next time you're in the mood for some comfort food, don't stress about whether it's going to be dinner or dessert: this sweet-savory sandwich has got you covered. And for anyone who may be skeptical of combining apple pie and grilled cheese, I leave you with the old saying: don't knock it 'till you try it because this recipe is definitely worth trying.