Sweet Grilled Cheese Sandwiches For A Snack Or Dessert

April 18, 2012 at 8:24 am · Filed under Bread-Crackers-Sandwiches, Desserts, Food Holidays, Recipes

Have you ever had a grilled cheese sandwich for dessert?

There are more than a few sweet grilled cheese sandwich recipes out there, perfect for dessert or a sweet snack. We’ll start you off with two, courtesy of the Grilled Cheese Academy, the best grilled cheese website, sponsored by the great cheese makers of Wisconsin.

The recipes follow.

> Recipe #1: mascarpone grilled cheese with dulce de leche.

> Recipe #2: butterkäse grilled cheese with bananas, peanut butter, bacon, and chocolate sauce.

Elsewhere on The Nibble:

> More dessert grilled cheese recipes.

> The different types of sandwiches: a photo glossary.

> The history of the sandwich.

> The year’s 25+ sandwich holidays.

> The history of the grilled cheese sandwich.

> The year’s 30 cheese holidays.

RECIPE #1, THE BIANCA: A SWEET GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH WITH DULCE DE LECHE

Ingredients

Sink your teeth into this delightful combination of mascarpone, homemade dulce de leche and raspberry preserves on cinnamon raisin bread. Makes 4 servings.

1 can (14 ounces) sweetened, condensed milk (or, you can use prepared dulce de leche)

8 ounces mascarpone cheese, room temperature

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

6 tablespoons butter, at room temperature

8 slices unfrosted cinnamon raisin bread

4 tablespoons raspberry preserves

Optional garnish: whipped cream

Optional garnish: fresh red raspberries

Preparation

1. MAKE the dulce de leche. Place a can of condensed milk in a deep pot and cover with water; bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer 90 minutes. Turn burner off and let the can sit in the water until cool. Dry and open the can. The contents will be caramel-colored (and hard to resist eating).

2. MIX mascarpone with vanilla; stir to incorporate air and lighten the cheese.

3. HEAT a skillet or sauté pan over medium heat. Butter bread slices on one side; place in pan, butter-side down and grill until golden brown and crisp.

4. REMOVE and spread the unbuttered sides of 4 slices of bread with 1 tablespoon raspberry preserves, 2 tablespoons mascarpone and 1 tablespoon dulce de leche, in that order. Top with another toasted piece of bread, browned-side up, and more dulce de leche. Garnish with whipped cream and fresh raspberries, if desired.

RECIPE #2, THE LISA MARIE, A SWEET GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH WITH HOT FUDGE

Bananas, bacon and peanut butter were a favorite of Elvis Presley. But because there is already an Elvis sandwich, this one is called the Lisa Marie.

It may sound strange, but it’s rich, complex, and delish.

Butterkäse originated in Germany. A very mild and creamy cheese with a buttery texture, the name literally means butter cheese. If you can’t find it, substitute Havarti (photo #6), cream cheese, mascarpone, or mozzarella.

Ingredients For 4 Servings

8 slices bacon

4 tablespoons brown sugar

4 tablespoons maple syrup

4 tablespoons butter, room temperature

4 thick slices firm white bread

8 tablespoons peanut butter

4 1½-ounce slices butterkäse cheese (substitute Havarti)

2-3 ripe bananas, sliced

1 cup hot fudge or chocolate sauce

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF.

2. Place the bacon slices on a baking sheet pan with sides (a jelly roll pan). Bake until the bacon is lightly browned and starting to crisp, about 5-6 minutes.

Vermont Creamery Mascarpone Container
[2] Mascarpone, so delicious we eat it straight from the container (Nibble Photo).

[3] Bananas, bacon and peanut butter were a favorite of Elvis. But because there is already an Elvis sandwich, this one is called the Lisa Marie (photo © Dairy Farmers Of Wisconsin).

3. Meanwhile, mix brown sugar and maple syrup until smooth. Using a pastry brush, brush the hot bacon slices with mixture. Return to the oven for another 5-6 minutes, turning once and being careful not to burn the sugar. Remove to cooling rack and let cool.

4. Heat griddle or sauté pan over medium heat. Butter one side of the bread slices. Spread other side with peanut butter. Top each slice, peanut butter-side up, with 1 butterkäse slice and some banana slices. Place butter-side down on griddle and grill until sandwich bread bottoms are light golden brown.

5. Meanwhile, heat chocolate sauce until warm (the microwave is perfect for this). Dip each slice of bacon into warm chocolate to cover half of strip and place over bananas. To serve, drizzle sandwiches with additional chocolate sauce.

Havarti On A Cheese Board
[6] Havarti is a traditional Danish cheese with an E.U. Protected Geographical Indication status. This means that only cheeses produced in Denmark in line with all specific production techniques can call themselves Havarti. When young, Havarti is lusciously smooth and mild (photo © Castello Cheese).