What if we told you we found the ultimate comfort food that also happens to transport you to the Happiest Place on Earth? Meet Disneyland’s world-famous Monte Cristo sandwich.
Equal parts sweet and savory, breakfast and lunch, this just might be the perfect, indulgent meal to treat yourself to during these long, monotonous days sheltering at home during the coronavirus pandemic. Disney has shared the official recipe, so it’s easy to whip one up in your kitchen.
One of the most iconic Disney dishes, the Monte Cristo Sandwich was first introduced on the original 1967 menu at Disneyland’s Blue Bayou, an uber-atmospheric restaurant where guests dine in perpetual twilight as boats from the Pirates of the Caribbean ride float by.
Disneyland’s take on the Southern specialty, thought to be a derivation of the French classic croque monsieur but with a sweet component reminiscent of French toast, consists of sliced ham, turkey and Swiss cheese layered between 1/2-inch thick slices of egg or challah bread. The whole thing gets coated in an egg batter and fried until golden brown. It’s finished with a dusting of powdered sugar and served with blackberry preserves. Y-U-M.
Here’s how to make it.
Blue Bayou’s Monte Cristo Sandwich
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
Confectioners’ sugar
Blackberry preserves
Preparation
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 two 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 and 375 degrees Fahrenheit 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 confectioners’ sugar and serve with blackberry preserves on the side.
The Vegetarian Version
If you don’t eat meat, not to worry—Disneyland gives vegetarians their own version at nearby restaurant Café Orleans, and you can make that one too.
Make an at-home version of the Three-Cheese Monte Cristo by modifying the above recipe. Keep the Swiss cheese, but swap the ham and turkey for some mozzarella and double-crème brie cheese for an ooey-gooey filling. The finished product easily rivals the meat-lovers’ version.
More Disney Dishes
We can’t get enough of all the official recipes Disney has been releasing to help fans get their Disney fix at home while the parks are closed. From Churro Bites and Dole Whip to Grilled Cheese and Cookie Fries, recreating our favorite Disney foods has never been easier.
Have you been making your favorite Disney snacks at home?
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Check out Simplemost for additional stories.
