Monte Cristo Sandwich

Fried, coated in powdered sugar, & served with a raspberry dip, Monte Cristo Sandwiches are famously delicious!

I love Disney, and their food! I have a few Disney copycat recipes on the site, including Hand-Dipped Corn Dogs, Mint Juleps, Dole Whips, and this favorite Monte Cristo Sandwich.

Monte cristo sandwich cut in half and stacked on a white plate.

A Disneyland Copycat

We love to go to Disneyland as a family, not only to enjoy the fun rides and atmosphere, but also to enjoy the food.

One of our favorites is the Monte Cristo Sandwich included on the menu at both Café Orleans and Blue Bayou in Disneyland.

So, what is a Monte Cristo Sandwich? A Monte Cristo is a fried ham and cheese sandwich that is a variation of the French Croque Monsieur Sandwich. Its name is a tribute to the French novel The Count of Monte Christo by Alexander Dumas.

The sandwich is a delightful combination of savory and sweet. The powdered sugar on top takes it to the next level. It’s often served with a raspberry sauce to enhance the sweetness. It’s kind of a variation on a traditional Grilled Cheese Sandwich and French Toast.

With or without the sauce, this sandwich is OUT OF THIS WORLD. It’s definitely on our “must-have” list when we visit Disney. And fortunately for you guys, they’re so easy to make!

How to make a Monte Cristo sandwich with a toothpick inserted.

How to Make a Monte Cristo Sandwich

Like I said, these sandwiches are very easy to make. They can be made in a deep fryer, or in a skillet with oil.

BATTER. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. In separate bowl, whisk water and egg. Add egg mixture to flour mixture, blend thoroughly.

ASSEMBLE. Make sandwiches, placing 1 slice of cheese between 1 slice of turkey and 1 slice of ham. Cut sandwiches in half, put in a toothpick to hold the sandwich together.

FRY. Dip in egg batter and fry in 360°F oil, until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Remove toothpick and add a dusting of powdered sugar.

Make in an air fryer

  • Preheat the air fryer to 350ºF.
  • Line your basket with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.
  • Air fry for 8-10 minutes.
  • Flip the sandwich, fry for another 8-10 minutes.
  • Replace the foil with each sandwich you fry. Enjoy!
Monte cristo sandwich dipped in batter.

Raspberry Dip

There’s a really tasty raspberry dip that goes with these Monte Cristo sandwiches. It might sound crazy, but the sweet and savory combo is divine. Here’s how it’s made:

In a saucepan add:

  • ½ cup sugar 
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • ¼ cup cold water
  • ¼ cup lemon juice

COMBINE. Mix, then add 2 cups of fresh or frozen raspberries. At this point, add more sugar to taste if you want it sweeter.

BOIL. Bring to a boil. Continue to boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.

SERVE. Spread the sauce onto the inside of slices of bread, add deli ham, turkey and cheese, or use as a dipping sauce.

If you’re not up to making the raspberry sauce, use a jar of raspberry jam or raspberry preserves. Just find a way to add raspberry to this sandwich. You will thank me later.

Fried monte cristo sandwich stacked on a plate.

Variations

We haven’t really tried other variations of this recipe, but it would be easy to do.

  • Use different meats and cheese to change it up. My favorite cheese to use for this sandwich is swiss, but you could also use provolone, mozzarella, muenster or gruyere.
  • At Café Orleans, they even serve an all cheese version, which is so good and would be easy to do. Just layer several more slices of cheese instead of meat!
  • I use a simple white sandwich bread for this recipe, but you can use challah or brioche. 
  • Add extra flavor by mixing the powdered sugar with a bit of cinnamon.
  • Another way to add flavor is to spread Dijon mustard and mayonnaise to the inside slices of bread.

more Disneyland Copycat recipes:

Storing info

Prep ahead of time. Assemble the sandwiches, but do not dip in batter. Store covered in the fridge for 1-2 days.  Dip in batter and finish the recipe as directed.

STORE. If you have any leftovers, store the sandwiches in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. We don’t recommend using a microwave to reheat. Use the stove top, toaster oven, or standard oven instead.

FREEZE. Like most foods, the Monte Cristo sandwich is best eaten right away. However, you can safely freeze it for 1-2 months to use later. Once the sandwich cools, wrap each one individually with plastic wrap, then cover with aluminum foil. Label the contents, include the date.

To reheat. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Remove the plastic wrap, then rewrap the sandwich in foil. Place in the oven and bake for 20-30 minutes. Remove the foil and broil the sandwich for 1-2 minutes on each side, to get crispier crust. Top with powdered sugar and jam.

Close up of a fried monte cristo sandwich cut and stacked on a plate.

For more sandwiches:

Monte Cristo Sandwich Recipe

5 from 21 votes
Fried, coated in powdered sugar, & served with a raspberry dip, Monte Cristo Sandwiches are famously delicious!
Course Main Course
Cuisine French
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 6 sandwiches
Calories 418 kcal
Author Lil’ Luna

Ingredients

  • cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 egg beaten
  • 1 ⅓ cups water
  • 6 slices turkey
  • 6 slices Swiss cheese
  • 6 slices ham
  • 12 slices white bread
  • vegetable oil for frying
  • powdered sugar for topping

Instructions
 

  • Sift flour, baking powder and salt together into a medium bowl.
  • In a separate bowl, mix egg and water. Add egg mixture to flour mixture and blend thoroughly.
  • Stack one slice each of turkey, cheese, and ham, in that order, onto bread and top each sandwich with a second slice of bread. Cut sandwiches in half and put a toothpick in each half to hold sandwiches together.
  • In a large pot, heat about 3 inches oil over medium-high heat to 360 degrees F.
  • Working in batches, dip each sandwich half in batter and fry in hot oil until golden, about 3 minutes on each side.
  • Drain on paper towels. Remove toothpicks and sprinkle sandwiches with powdered sugar just before serving.

Video

Notes

Serving Suggestion: Serve the sandwiches with your favorite store-bought jam for dipping, or make your own (see below).
RASPBERRY JAM:  Crush 6 cups raspberries in a large bowl with a potato masher. Add 5¼ cups sugar and mix well. Let stand for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, combine 1 (1.75-ounce) package Original Sure Jell Fruit Pectin and ¾ cup water in a small pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil for 1–2 minutes, stirring constantly, then remove from the heat and stir into raspberries. Stir constantly until sugar is completely dissolved, about 3 minutes. Pour into clean glass jars or plastic containers, leaving ½ inch space at the top. Cover with lids and let stand at room temperature for 24 hours until set. Refrigerate for 2–3 weeks or freeze for up to 1 year. Makes 7 cups.

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About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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Comments:

  1. 5 stars
    I love that your’s is the only recipe that fry’s the sandwiches already sliced in half. That’s the original way!

  2. 5 stars
    I have always wanted to try these at Disneyland, but never have…now I know I’ve been missing out! I am so glad I can make them at home. the powdered sugar on these, gives a sweet & delicious taste!

  3. 5 stars
    You will love the warmth and gooEyness of this sandwich. It kind of just melts in your mouth. It has a little crust on it after its deep fRied with a dusting of powdered sugar.

  4. 5 stars
    This is such a great classic sandwich. All of these flavors combine so well together. I haven’t made it in a long time. It’s time for sure!

  5. 5 stars
    One of my favorite memories of my one trip to Disneyland over 30 years ago (yikes that makes me feel old!) was eating at the restaurant by the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and having a minute cristo for the first time. No other version has ever measured up. These were sooo good and my family loved them!

  6. 5 stars
    This is so yummy. It hits the sweet and savory spot just perfectly. Too bad I didn’t have Disney street music playing for the full effect. Next time.

  7. 5 stars
    This sandwich is to die for! And this recipe is as close as it gets to getting them straight from Disneyland.

  8. 5 stars
    My favorite part about this sandwich is the raspberry dip. I thought it was an unlikely combo at first but it’s sweetness pairs so well with the savory of the sandwich.

  9. 5 stars
    WOW this is amazing. A little more effort, but way better than a regular ham and grilled cheese. If anyone likes tomato soup kristyns Tomato Basil Soup is delicious and goes good with the sandwich.

  10. 5 stars
    Very good, but incredibly filling. We have managed very well without sugar 😅. Now we are slim, but if I had problems with obesity I would not have eaten this.

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