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 Cristo by Alexander Dumas. Have you had one before?
If not, we are warning you that they are extremely delicious! It’s a crispy, golden sandwich filled with turkey, Swiss cheese, and ham, then dipped in batter and fried until warm and melty. A dusting of powdered sugar on top gives it that classic sweet and savory finish.
We love this for brunch, lunch, holidays, a fun restaurant-style meal at home or even mini as an appetizer . It feels a little special, but the ingredients are simple, and every bite has that delicious mix of crisp bread, melted cheese, savory meat, and sweet powdered sugar.
Why you’ll love it + Why it works:
- Perfection. Great for brunch, lunch, holidays, and special weekend meals.
- Easy. Simple ingredients make it easy to recreate at home.
- The batter creates a crisp coating. Dipping the sandwich halves before frying gives them a golden, slightly fluffy outside.
- Toothpicks hold everything together. Securing each half helps the sandwich stay closed while dipping and frying.
Monte Cristo Sandwich Ingredients
- All-purpose flour (1½ cups): Creates the base of the batter that coats each sandwich before frying.
- Baking powder (1 tablespoon): Helps the batter puff slightly and become light as it fries.
- Salt (¼ teaspoon): Seasons the batter and balances the flavors.
- Egg, beaten (1): Helps bind the batter and gives it structure.
- Water (1⅓ cups): Thins the batter to the right consistency for dipping.
- Turkey (6 slices): Adds savory flavor and protein to the sandwich.
- Swiss cheese (6 slices): Melts inside the sandwich and adds creamy, slightly nutty flavor.
- Ham (6 slices): Adds salty, savory flavor that pairs well with turkey and Swiss.
- White bread (12 slices): Holds the fillings and fries up golden after being dipped in batter.
- Vegetable oil, for frying: Cooks the battered sandwiches until crisp and golden.
- Powdered sugar, for topping: Adds the classic sweet finish before serving.
How to Make a Monte Cristo Sandwich
BATTER. Sift together dry ingredients (1 1/2 cups flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt). In a separate bowl, whisk 1 1/3 cups water and 1 egg. Add egg mixture to flour mixture, and blend thoroughly.
ASSEMBLE. Make sandwiches, placing 1 slice of cheese between 2 slices of turkey and 2 slices 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, and fry for another 8-10 minutes. Replace the foil with each sandwich you fry. Enjoy!
How to Make Raspberry Dip
COMBINE. In a saucepan add ½ cup sugar, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, ¼ cup cold water, and ¼ cup lemon juice.
- 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 it as a dipping sauce.
If you’re not up to making the raspberry sauce, use a jar of raspberry jam or raspberry preserves.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Use toothpicks to secure each sandwich half before dipping so the layers stay together.
- Heat the oil to 360°F so the coating fries quickly and turns golden without soaking up too much oil.
- Work in batches so the pot is not overcrowded and the oil temperature stays steady.
- Drain the fried sandwiches on paper towels before dusting with powdered sugar.
- Make-ahead tip: assemble and cut the sandwiches ahead, then batter and fry them right before serving for the best crispy texture.
Monte Cristo Sandwich Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1⅓ 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 of 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.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
At Café Orleans, they also serve an all-cheese version, which would be easy to do. Just layer several more slices of cheese instead of meat!
Add extra flavor by mixing the powdered sugar with a bit of cinnamon.
Add flavor by spreading Dijon mustard and mayonnaise on the inside slices of bread.
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: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
> Reheat: Warm in the oven or air fryer to help the coating crisp back up.
> Freeze: Freezing is not recommended because the fried coating can soften after thawing.
> Serve: Add powdered sugar right before serving so it looks fresh.
For More Sandwiches:
French Dip Sandwich
6 hrs 45 mins
Easy Ham and Cheese Sliders
30 mins
Croque Monsieur
15 mins
Turkey Cranberry Sandwich
10 mins
I’ve always made Monte Cristos with French toast, but this fried version is next level! Love the added texture!