One of the many ways we’re keeping ourselves busy these days is re-creating our favorite Disney recipes at home. One day we’re stress baking, the next day we mixing together a cocktail (or five).
We’ve Stress Baked MANY Cinnamon Rolls
Today, however, we’re all about Disneyland and their famous Monte Cristo Sandwich. Fans come from all over the world to Cafe Orleans and Blue Bayou for this signature dish, and we want to share with YOU how easy it is to recreate it at home!
First, a little history of the Monte Cristo Sandwich. This sandwich is serious business for die-hard Disneyland fans. It’s actually been a staple dish at Disneyland for many years. It was featured on the original menu at Blue Bayou in 1967 and remains on their lunch menu to this day! It’s also available at Cafe Orleans, the other table service restaurant in New Orleans Square (where it’s cheaper…shhhh!).
Blue Bayou Sign
Anyone who’s had this Disneyland delicacy knows that it’s heaven on a plate. It’s a glorious ham, turkey, and cheese sammy, BATTERED AND FRIED, then sprinkled with powdered sugar and served with berry pureé for dipping. Yes, friends, it’s as good as it sounds.
Monte Cristo Sandwich at Cafe Orleans
So how do YOU make it? Right now. In YOUR HOME? We’re gonna tell you. And heads up, we’re giving you 2 versions! An authentic recipe…and our hacked version that required NO DEEP FRYING!
Recipe #1 (The One Where You Deep Fry Things)
Ready to prepare your very own Monte Cristo? We’ve got the recipe for you right here! Check out the instructions below as well!
Ingredients:
1 egg
1 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons water
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
8 slices egg bread (challah works well), sliced 1/2-inch thick
8 thin slices ham
8 thin slices turkey
8 thin slices Swiss cheese
3 cups canola oil for frying
Confectioners sugar
Blackberry preserves
Close Up of Monte Cristo Sandwich
Directions:
Line a cookie sheet with paper towels; set aside.
Whisk the egg and water together in a mixing bowl. Add flour, salt, and baking powder and whisk thoroughly for 2 to 3 minutes or until smooth, scraping sides of bowl.
On one slice of bread, arrange 2 slices of ham, turkey, and cheese, covering the bread evenly. Place another slice of bread on top and slice each sandwich in half diagonally.
Heat oil to between 365 degrees F and 375 degrees F in a 10-inch pan. Do not let the oil reach a higher temperature than this; if the oil starts to smoke, turn the heat down. Dip half of the sandwich into the batter, allowing excess to drain, and very carefully place into the oil.
Repeat with the other sandwich half. Cook 3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Place the cooked sandwich on the prepared cookie sheet in a warm oven until ready to serve. Repeat with the other three sandwiches.
Cook one at a time, and allow the oil to reach the desired temperature between each.
Sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar and serve with blackberry preserves on the side.
You can also follow along with this classic Disneyland recipe card! Apparently, the sandwich was so popular even back when it first debuted, that this card was created as a result and given to guests!
© Disney
Read our FULL Monte Cristo Recipe here!
Recipe #2 (The One Where You Don’t Get Burned By Hot Oil)
If you’re looking for a less injury-prone approach (we get it, scalding hot oil can be scary!), follow our simple step-by-step guide! HUGE thanks to Heather @DininginDisney Sievers for sending us this how-to!
Ingredients:
Tube of Crescent Rolls
Sliced Turkey and Ham
Sliced Swiss Cheese
Cooking Spray or butter
blackberry preserves
powdered sugar
Instructions:
Simple ingredients to create a Monte Cristo at home!
First, pop that can and unroll your dough. Split it into 2 equal rectangles.
Roll out your dough!
Using a sandwich press (prepped with cooking spray), lay out your first rectangle of dough, followed by ham, turkey, and cheese on top of the dough. Top with the second rectangle of dough.
At-home Monte Cristo magic!
If you don’t have a big sandwich press like we do, do the same sammy prep in a hot frying pan set to medium-high heat greased up with a spray of cooking spray or butter.
Let it cook for a few minutes (use a spatula to peek on the bottom to ensure nothing burns!) then flip. Give the other side a few minutes to brown up.
While that’s cooking, prepare your side dish! We cooked up some tater tots in the air fryer:
Tots on the side! YUM!
When it’s ready and BAM! Easy, instant Monte Cristo:
Presto!
Dust some confectioner’s sugar on top for a true, authentic touch, and serve some blackberry preserves on the side.
At-home Monte Cristo
Before you know it, you’ll be instantly transported to New Orleans Square when you take a bite of your very own Monte Cristo Sandwich!
At-home Monte Cristo Sandwich
It’s as easy as that! Give it a try and cook up a Monte Cristo Sandwich this week!
Check out even MORE Disney-inspired recipes here!
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Heather Sievers is DisneyFoodBlog’s Dining in Disneyland columnist! Check out more of her adventures at @DininginDisney on Instagram!
What’s your favorite Disney recipe to cook at home? Let us know in the comments!
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I do this one a little differently. Your mileage may vary…
I get (or, more often, bake) a loaf of sourdough bread. I slice it into double-thick slices, then along one side, I make a pocket by making a slit through the middle of the crust. Into the slit, I carefully slide the ham, turkey, and cheese. I then dip into the egg mixture and fry each side as in the recipe.
The main advantage is that I’m not dealing with toothpicks. I also love sourdough crust: If you don’t, then my method probably isn’t for you, as without the crust the slices have little structural integrity.
Finally, if you substitute the meat and cheese filling for a berry filling, you can duplicate the San Andreas French Toast that used to be a fixture at the Contemporary…
Which brand of sandwich press was used in option #2? Such a nice, big compartment!
This article was very vague.
Is this an authentic (From Disney) recipe? It just one that someone recreated?
Thanks