If you love a good Monte Cristo sandwich you will love our fun holiday twist on this classic sandwich. Enjoy this Eggnog Monte Cristo Sandwich for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or just because. This Eggnog Monte Cristo Recipe was sponsored by Shamrock Farms.
Do you remember where you were when you fell in love with your first Monte Cristo Sandwich? I had my first Monte Cristo at Disneyland. I was in my 30’s roaming Disneyland when someone walked past me eating this sandwich that looked and smelled amazing. It looked like a combination of french toast (which I also loved) and a sandwich oozing with cheese. I asked her what she was munching on that when I heard the words Monte Cristo Sandwich for the first time.
Since then I make it a point to make one at least every few months. I’ve switched it up and made a Monte Cristo with turkey up and made them with ham or turkey, I’ve even made a Monte Cristo with bacon. This week I was feeling a little festive so I decided to experiment with something and make something that matched my Holiday mood… an Eggnog Monte Cristo sandwich.
If you’ve never had a Monte Cristo Sandwich or even heard of a Monte Cristo sandwich today you’re in for a treat. I’m breaking down everything you need to know about Monte Cristo Sandwiches, sharing a few ways to switch up the classic recipe, and going over my favorite Monte Cristo ingredients.
What Are Monte Cristo Sandwiches
A traditional Monte Cristo is an egg-dipped ham and cheese sandwich that is pan or deep-fried. A Monte Cristo Sandwich is a variation of the popular French croque-monsieur. Other popular names for a Monte Cristo are “French sandwich”, “toasted ham sandwich”, and/or “French toasted cheese sandwich”.
Traditional Monte Cristo Ingredients
- Milk/Cream – A Monte Cristo is made similar to french toast so one of the main ingredients is cream. When selecting your cream you can use milk, half-and-half, or buttermilk. What’s most important is that you select a quality brand as it will make all the difference in your recipe. I personally prefer Shamrock Farms because of its farm-fresh flavor and richness. For this recipe, I decided to get festive and I selected Shamrock Farms Eggnog as my cream base. Shamrock Farms Eggnog is a small-batch recipe perfected over three generations. It features a custom blend of spices for the creamiest premium taste – making it a holiday favorite. Shamrock Farms Eggnog is available in 12 and 32 oz sizes. Visit ShamrockFarms.net/coupons to save $1 on any two Shamrock products. You can also find other great recipe ideas and more information on where to buy
- Bread – For a sandwich that holds up well, I recommend a think sliced bread. I personally like to use Texas Toast, Brioche or challah cut 1/2 thick. The bread used in this recipe can be found here.
- Eggs – This recipe calls for 2 eggs beaten. I personally prefer large free-range eggs.
- Meat – A Monte Cristo can be made with almost any type of meat, You are only limited by your imagination. A traditional Monte Cristo recipe however calls for Ham and Turkey. My favorite time to make a Monte Cristo Sandwich is during the holidays since a Monte Cristo can be made with leftover Thanksgiving turkey or ham.
- Cheese – A traditional Monte Cristo Sandwich is made with Swiss cheese however you can also use Emmental, Gruyere, or even provolone.
How Is A Monte Cristo Sandwich Made
- How To Pan Fry a Monte Cristo Sandwich – To pan-fry a Monte Cristo Sandwich place the battered sandwich onto a skillet (I prefer this 10.5″ Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet) and fry each side until the bread is golden brown and crispy.
- How To Deep-Fry a Monte Cristo Sandwich – A common question asked when making Monte Cristos is “Are monte cristo sandwich deep-fried”. The answer to this question is, they can be. I love my Monte Cristo sandwiches both pan-fried and deep-fried. The decision is up to you and your taste buds. To deep-fry a Monte Cristo sandwich Heat 5 inches of oil in a deep-fryer to 365 degrees F. Assemble sandwiches then cut sandwiches into quarters, and secure with toothpicks. Dip each sandwich quarter into the batter being sure all sides are coated. Deep fry quarters in hot oil until golden brown on all sides
- Air Fryer Monte Cristo Sandwich – I’m often asked “Can you air-fry a Monte Cristo sandwich”? You sure can, and it’s actually pretty easy. To Air Fry, a Monte Cristo Sandwich preheat the air-fryer to 350ºF. Cut a piece of aluminum foil the same size as your bread then brush with melted butter. Dip both sides of your sandwich into your egg batter. Place your sandwich on the greased aluminum foil and transfer it to the air fryer basket. Air-fry at 350ºF for 10 minutes. Flip the sandwich over, brush with butter, and continue to air-fry for an additional 8 minutes.
Fun Ways To Switch Up A Classis Monte Cristo Sandwich
- Bread – Switch up your Monte Cristo Sandwich by selecting different types of bread. A Monte Cristo french toast bread makes for a fantastic breakfast as does a Monte Cristo made with cinnamon raisin bread or even cinnamon rolls
- Meat – As mentioned above, a traditional Monte Cristo Sandwich is made with turkey or ham however I love to switch it up every now and then and add crispy savory thick-cut bacon to mine. This gives it an added crunch and even more flavor.
- Cream – Most Monti Cristo sandwiches are made with milk or cream however if you are looking to take your Monte Cristo to the next level (especially during the holidays) consider swapping our milk or cream for Shamrock Farms Eggnog.
- Toppings – A traditional topping is a Monte Cristo with jam and powder sugar however you can top yours with just about anything. The recipe below has directions for making an Eggnogg Cranberry Syrup and an Eggnogg Whipped Cream. You can also top your Monte Cristo with maple syrup
Enjoy This Eggnog Monte Cristo Recipe
Eggnog Monte Cristo - A Holiday Twist On A Classic Favorite
Ingredients
For the Eggnog-Cranberry Syrup
- ½ cup prepared jellied cranberry sauce
- ¼ cup Shamrock Farms eggnog
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
For the Eggnog Whipped Cream
- ½ cup Shamrock Farms heavy whipping cream
- ¼ cup Shamrock Farms eggnog
For the Sandwich
- 2 eggs beaten
- ¼ cup Shamrock Farms eggnog
- pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
- 2 slices of thick-cut white bread
- 2 ounces ham
- 2 ounces gruyere or swiss cheese
- 2 slices cooked bacon
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise or to taste
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
Make the Eggnog-Cranberry Syrup
- Combine the cranberry sauce, eggnog, and maple syrup in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk until the sauce is combined and warmed through.
Make the Eggnog Whipped Cream
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the heavy cream and eggnog. Start the mixer on low speed and gradually work your way up to high speed. Whip the cream and eggnog until they hold a stiff peak-- about 3 minutes.
Make the Sandwich
- In a wide, shallow bowl (large enough to hold your bread), whisk together the eggs, eggnog, and nutmeg until combined. Set aside.
- Layer the sandwich any way you like: I prefer to spread a small amount of mayonnaise on each piece of bread, then layer cheese on each side, and finish with ham and bacon. Then flip one side onto the other.
- Dip the sandwich into the egg-eggnog mixture, making sure to coat it evenly on all sides.
- Heat a nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add the butter and wait for it to melt. Once the butter has melted, add the sandwich and cook for 1-2 minutes per side, or until the edges are golden brown and the cheese has melted.
- Serve the sandwich immediately with the eggnog-cranberry syrup and eggnog whipped cream.
