Description
A delicious twist on the classic grilled cheese sandwich, infused with hot honey, tart Granny Smith apples, and crispy beef bacon.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 slices artisan bread (sourdough recommended)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 8 slices thick-cut beef bacon
- 6 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, grated or thinly sliced
- 1 medium Granny Smith apple, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons hot honey
- Pinch flaky sea salt (optional)
- ½ cup honey (if making hot honey from scratch)
- 1-2 tablespoons red pepper flakes (if making hot honey from scratch)
- ½ teaspoon apple cider vinegar (optional, if making hot honey from scratch)
Instructions
- Prepare Hot Honey: Combine ½ cup honey, 1-2 tbsp red pepper flakes, and optional ½ tsp apple cider vinegar in a small saucepan. Gently heat over low heat for 5-7 minutes until fluid. Remove from heat and let steep for 15-20 minutes. Strain if desired.
- Cook Beef Bacon: Cook 8 slices thick-cut beef bacon until crispy. Drain on paper towels, reserving about 1 tbsp rendered fat. Break bacon into 2-3 pieces.
- Prepare Apple and Cheese: Wash, core, and thinly slice 1 medium Granny Smith apple. Grate or thinly slice 6 oz sharp cheddar cheese.
- Assemble Sandwiches: Butter one side of all 8 bread slices. Layer half the cheddar cheese, apple slices, beef bacon, and drizzle with hot honey on 4 unbuttered sides. Top with remaining cheddar and place buttered sides of the other bread slices on top.
- Grill Sandwiches: Preheat a skillet over medium-low heat with 1 tsp reserved bacon fat or butter. Place sandwiches butter-side down and cook 4-6 minutes per side until golden-brown and cheese is melted.
- Finish and Serve: Let sandwiches rest for 2-3 minutes, cut diagonally, and serve while warm, optionally sprinkle with flaky sea salt or extra hot honey.
Notes
For those with diabetes, consider using stevia or monk fruit as sugar substitutes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: main course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 50mg