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Fried, coated in powdered sugar, & served with a raspberry dip, this Monte Cristo sandwich recipe is famously delicious!
A Fav Disneyland Copycat
Have you ever had 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 Cristo by Alexander Dumas.
This sandwich is available at many restaurants, but is also a Disneyland favorite of mine. It is included on the menu at both Café Orleans and Blue Bayou in Disneyland, and is a recipe we are so happy we can now make at home.
Why we love them
- The flavor! The sandwich is a delightful combination of savory and sweet.
- Easy. These sandwiches are very easy to make and can be made in a deep fryer, or a skillet with oil.
- Tasty twist. It’s kind of a variation on a traditional Grilled Cheese Sandwich and French Toast.
Make them mini as an appetizer or for dinner, and they’re guaranteed hits!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 1/3 cups water
- 6 turkey slices
- 6 Swiss cheese slices – I love Swiss, but you could also use provolone, mozzarella, muenster, or gruyere.
- 6 ham slices
- 12 slices white bread – I use a simple white sandwich bread for this recipe, but you can use challah or brioche.
- vegetable oil – or another high smoking point oil like canola oil or peanut oil
- powdered sugar
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.
Complete the Meal:
- SIDES: Bacon Wrapped Asparagus, Strawberry Jam, Pommes Frites
- MAIN DISHES: Caprese Pizza, Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup, Broccoli Cheese Soup, Wonton Nachos
- DESSERTS: Churro Recipe, Dole Whip, Funnel Cake, Grey Stuff, Jack Jack Num Num Cookie, Mickey Beignet
More Collections: Disney Recipes, New Year’s Eve Appetizers, Super Bowl Appetizers
Monte Cristo Sandwich Recipe
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.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ + Tips
Are there good variations of Monte Cristo Sandwiches?
- 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.
Can you make Monte Cristos ahead of time?
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.
How to Store Monte Cristo Sandwiches?
- STORE leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. We don’t recommend using a microwave to reheat. Use the stovetop, toaster oven, or standard oven instead.
- FREEZE. The Monte Cristo sandwich is best eaten right away, but can safely freeze for 1-2 months to use later. Wrap cooled sandwiches individually with plastic wrap, then cover with aluminum foil. Label the contents including the date.
- To reheat. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Remove the plastic wrap and wrap 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 a crispier crust. Top with powdered sugar and jam.
For More Sandwiches:
French Dip Sandwich
6 hrs 45 mins
Ham and Cheese Slider Recipe
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!
Mmm!! I had this at a restaurant and wanted to try to replicate it at home, and I did with this recipe. SO good, thank you!
You’re welcome!
I have never had a monte Cristo and decided it was about time for me to try one and BOY AM I HAPPY I DID! These are delicious! Will be making them again.
Oh I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Aren’t they amazing?! One of our favorite sandwiches!
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.
My husband especially loves this recipe! So yummy!
Just like Disneyland!! You have to make the raspberry sauce, it’s my favorite part.
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.
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.
Just like Disney’s! These sandwiches are such a delicious treat!
This sandwich is to die for! And this recipe is as close as it gets to getting them straight from Disneyland.
This Monte Cristo Sandwich will be my next try!
Ooh they are some of our favorites!! Hope you enjoy!
My favorite sandwich 🤤
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.
LOL..I wish!! Thank you!
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!
My favorite sandwich of all time!
OMG These were so good! Love the homemade batter around the cheese and meat!
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!
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.
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!
This is such a fun sandwich to make for family and friends. Everyone loves it! The mess is soo worth it!
I love that your’s is the only recipe that fry’s the sandwiches already sliced in half. That’s the original way!
Only way 🙂 Thank you so much!
Your recipe is awesome 🙂 but just wanted to tell you and others that Disney happily shares its recipes. I’m not sure if they do it online but I know while dining in the Magic Kingdom a few years ago I asked for a recipe of what I was eating and within two minutes was handed a printout of recipes of the entire meal!
I loved the Monte Cristo Sandwiches at Disneyland, It was a must have for me. I am so glad to have come upon your recipe, Now I must try it.
Let me know if you do try it out. I think you’ll love it!
I am excited to try these. I tried making these once and they had a hard time staying together together while frying. If you are ever in the Cleveland, Ohio area the best one of these sandwiches I have had is at The Melt. UNBELIEVABLE!
Are you kidding me?! We should not be able to make these at home! This is like one of my top 10 foods of all time. When we go to Disneyland this sandwich is a must. I’ve never met anyone else who’s loved it as much though. Brava!
Mmmm, these look AMAZING! I have to try this.
Thank you….. This is AMAZING. My wife loved it!!
My fiancé and I went to Disneyland in December after reading your post it was so much fun, we ordered the Monte Cristo Sandwich it was so good! I have been wanting to make it ever since! Thanks for the recipe!
I grew up eating these at my grandma’s house and they really are so delicious! She doesn’t fry them in oil though, just cooks them in a pan or on a griddle the way you would do French toast. Yum!
I have been wanting to try making these for years! I have to ask though, where at Disneyland do they sell them? I’ve never seent them there!
They sell them at two places in New Orleans Square by Pirates…. one restaurant is the one inside Pirates called The Blue Bayou, and the other is the cafe right across the way… can’t think of the name at the moment. :/ They are so good!!
Cafe Orleans! ºoº
Just a little addition……the first time I had a Monte Cristo was at a now defunct chain restaurant and they served it with a little cup of seedless raspberry preserves for you to dunk the sandwich! Lunch and dessert in one!
I love Monte Crisco Sandwhiches. They are so rich and yummy!! I’ve never made it myself, but I think I just might have to make some this week 🙂 Thanks for the recipe!!
Now that I am older my favorite part of disneyland is all of the different food 🙂 I haven’t had an annual pass in a few years.. not I am thinking I should change that! The monte cristo sandwich is a must when at disneyland and this sandwich just looks perfect!
It’s there now. 🙂