Mickey Mouse Monte Cristo

Each time I’ve visited Disneyland, one of my must have meals is the Monte Cristo sandwich at either the Blue Bayou or Cafe Orleans. Not sure why but I never seem to eat a Monte Cristo anywhere else!

Mickey Mouse Monte Cristo

Since I definitely won’t be getting to Disneyland anytime soon, I thought I would try my hand at making my own version of the Monte Cristo, add to it by cutting it into a Mickey shape, and then imagine I’m visiting the happiest place on earth!

If you’ve never had one, a Monte Cristo sandwich is sort of like a sweet and savory, deep-fried grilled cheese with ham and turkey on it.

What’s better than a warm and cheesy grilled sandwich? A Mickey Mouse shaped sandwich of course!

This recipe is a take on a classic monte cristo, with thin slices of ham and swiss, tucked between pillowy soft bread, then dipped in egg and grilled until crisp! The result is a french toast exterior with a savory filling on the inside, the perfect combination of sweet and savory.

If you don’t have a Mickey Mouse shaped cookie cutter or mould, you can use plain round cutters (large for the head and smaller for the ears) or even a set of small and large drinking glasses to cut your sandwiches.

Since the Mickey Mouse cutters are cookie size, this recipe will make 2 Mickey Mouse shaped sandwiches, enough for 2 kids (or 1 hungry one!). Or double the recipe to serve 2 adults.

At Disneyland they give you blackberry preserves to dip your Monte Cristo into. I didn’t have any on hand and since I’m just a wee bit cheap, didn’t want to buy an entire jar that wouldn’t get used by anyone after the sandwiches were gone. I improvised with strawberry preserves which I had in the fridge – and it was delicious!

Ingredients:

 4 slices white sandwich bread

1/3 pound ham and turkey

2/3 cup grated swiss cheese

3 tablespoons mayonnaise

1 tablespoon mustard (any type)

2 large eggs

4 tablespoons milk

½ teaspoon paprika

½  teaspoon cinnamon

4 tablespoons butter

Powdered sugar, for dusting

Instructions:

In a small bowl, whisk mayonnaise and mustard until combined. Set aside. 

Assemble the sandwiches: Spread one side of each piece of bread with the mayonnaise-mustard mixture. Layer each slice with half of the grated swiss and half of the ham slices, alternating as you go. Top with the other slice of bread. 

Use a Mickey Mouse cookie cutter to cut out, then place sandwiches on a board. 

Place a small plate on top of the sandwiches and press down with your hands to compress and seal the sandwiches. 

Heat the butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat.

In a shallow bowl or plate, whisk eggs milk, paprika, and cinnamon.

Dip the sandwiches in the egg mixture, then transfer immediately to the hot skillet. 

Cook about 3-4 minutes per side, until golden-brown, crispy, and the cheese is melted all the way through. 

Transfer sandwiches to a plate and dust with powdered sugar to serve!