One of my favorite brunch options of all time has to be the Monte Cristo sandwich. It’s a mashup of sweet and savory with salty meats and cheese, paired with sweet battered bread and fruit preserves. That’s why I love this air fryer Monte Cristo recipe, since I can enjoy one anytime I want!
The Monte Cristo: A Popular Brunch Sandwich
There’s a reason you’ll find the Monte Cristo on so many restaurant menus, especially for brunch. It’s a classic! In fact, this version is an air fryer adaptation copycat recipe of the Disneyland Monte Cristo.
Ham, turkey, and cheese, along with a ribbon of jam, are sandwiched between layers of bread, which is then battered or dipped like French toast for a sweet, savory, creamy, and delicious combination!
Instead of deep or pan frying the sandwich, though, I’m using an air fryer to achieve that golden crust and warm fillings.
Like most sandwiches, you can swap up the fillings in a variety of ways to make it your own and adjust for personal tastes, so I’ll make sure to give you the low down on all the options!
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Ingredients List
- 4 slices hearty brioche bread
- 4 slices deli ham
- 4 slices deli turkey
- 4 slices swiss cheese
- 2 Tbsp seedless raspberry jam
- Powdered sugar (for dusting)
For the Batter
- 1 ½ cups flour
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 cup water (or milk)
Ingredient Tips and Substitutions
- Any kind of hearty bread is fine. Texas toast, honey wheat, brioche, or Challah are some of my favorite options, but use your favorite (note that Bennigan’s uses honey wheat, and Disneyland uses an egg-based bread like brioche or Challah, if you’re trying to stay most authentic to recipe)
- You can swap the meats around as you like, and feel free to substitute Gruyere cheese or American for the swiss
- The raspberry jam can be swapped for another seasonal fruit jam (strawberry, blackberry, etc) or served on the side as a dipping sauce if preferred (for a savory variation, you can use mustard or mayonnaise instead)
Variations of the Monte Cristo
Bennigan’s Copycat Version
For a Bennigan’s copycat Monte Cristo, use honey wheat bread, and plan for 3 slices per sandwich. You’ll also need American cheese in addition to the swiss.
Layer the slices of ham with the American, and the slices of turkey with the swiss (with a slice of bread between them, and on either side). Serve the preserves on the side for dipping.
Pancake Batter
You can swap in pancake mix for the flour, baking powder, and salt for a batter shortcut. It provides a thicker breading overall, and it will be slightly sweeter as well.
Disneyland Version
My recipe is a copycat version of Disneyland’s Monte Cristo already. However, they often use blackberry preserves instead of raspberry (it rotates seasonally), and you’ll want to make sure to use an egg based bread, like Challah or brioche, to be the most authentic.
Egg Dipped
Traditionally, the Monte Cristo can either be egg-dipped or batter-dipped. The Disneyland and Bennigan’s versions are considered batter-dipped.
If you prefer an egg dipped Monte Cristo, use 1 large egg and ½ cup of milk instead of the indicated batter mixture. Just beat them together until mixed, dip the sandwiches in the egg mixture, and cook as directed. This makes it slightly more like French toast on the outside!
How to Make a Monte Cristo in the Air Fryer
- Line your air fryer’s basket or rack with parchment paper or nonstick foil
- To a slice of bread, add the turkey and cheese. Spread the raspberry jam over the cheese, then top with the ham slices and the remaining slice of bread (you should have two sandwiches total). Press the sandwiches so they’re nice and flat. I like to trim any fillings that stick out from the edges of the bread so I get a nice, even batter
- In a shallow bowl, combine the flour, egg, baking powder, salt, and mix until you have a thick batter
- Dip the pressed sandwiches into the prepared batter, coating both sides, and place them into the air fryer basket (or rack) in a single layer (cook in batches if needed). I recommend using a spatula to spread out any batter that you messed up when setting it in the air fryer so that it’s nice and even
- Cook on the air fry setting at 375°F (or 380°F, depending on your air fryer’s available settings) for 8 minutes. Carefully flip and cook 3-5 minutes more, until cooked through and desired level of browning is reached. Cooking time can vary between different air fryers, so adjust in small increments as needed for your specific model
- Dust with powdered sugar as desired, and enjoy!
What to Serve With a Monte Cristo Sandwich
- Bacon
- Sausage
- Home fries
- Fresh fruit
- Fruit jams
- Maple syrup
- Green salad
- Wedge salad
- Arugula salad
- Roasted asparagus
- Tomato soup
- Potato chips
- French fries
- Sweet potato fries
- Coleslaw
- Mimosas
There are lots of great sides to serve with a Monte Cristo, and best of all, you can pick different options to spin it for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner!
Try my air fryer Monte Cristo sandwich with a strawberry pink lemonade mimosa and some quick Trader Joe’s frozen hash browns in the air fryer for breakfast. For lunch or dinner, try a cup of my air fryer roasted tomato soup or some fast air fryer Ore Ida fries as sides!
Recipe FAQs
What Is a Monte Cristo Sandwich?
A Monte Cristo sandwich is an American creation consisting of a classic ham, turkey, and Swiss cheese sandwich, dipped in egg batter, and fried until golden brown.
It’s often served with a dusting of powdered sugar and a side of jam, though sometimes the jam is inside the sandwich instead.
Can I Use Different Types of Cheese in a Monte Cristo Sandwich?
Yes, you can use different types of cheese based on your preference. Gruyère, cheddar, or provolone are great alternatives to swiss cheese in a Monte Cristo sandwich.
Some restaurants like Bennigan’s also add American cheese in addition to swiss to create a different flavor profile.
How Do I Prevent the Sandwich from Getting Soggy in the Air Fryer?
To prevent sogginess, make sure to lightly coat the sandwich in the egg batter rather than soaking it.
Additionally, cooking the sandwich on the rack or perforated tray in your air fryer will help maintain crispiness. If you use parchment for easier cleanup, choose a perforated type that allows better air flow.
Can I Prepare a Monte Cristo Ahead of Time?
It’s best to assemble and cook the Monte Cristo sandwich just before serving for optimal freshness and texture.
However, you can prepare the ingredients in advance and quickly assemble the sandwich when ready to cook.
How Do I Serve a Monte Cristo Sandwich?
Serve the air fryer Monte Cristo sandwich warm, with a dusting of powdered sugar on top.
If you did not put your jam in the sandwich, serve with a side of fruit preserves or jam, such as raspberry or strawberry, for dipping.
Monte Cristo Air Fryer Recipe Pro Tips
- You will likely have some extra batter and that’s normal. You don’t want to make too little, as it will be hard to get the sandwiches completely coated. However, you might be able to get a third sandwich out of this amount if you want to make extra!
- Even with parchment, flipping the sandwiches can be precarious. Mine are always stuck to the parchment on the bottom, since the batter is going to be wet until you flip it. Sometimes I find it easier to remove it with the parchment, place a new piece down in the air fryer, flip the sandwich onto it, and then peel off the stuck piece from the top
Monte Cristo Sandwich Storing and Reheating
- Store any leftover Monte Cristo in an airtight container, zippered bag, or tightly wrapped in plastic wrap or aluminum foil in the refrigerator for up to 2 days
- To reheat a Monte Cristo sandwich, air fry at 350°F for 3-5 minutes, turning halfway through, until warmed to your liking and re-crisped outside. Time can vary slightly between air fryers, and based on the thickness of your specific sandwich. This method also works for restaurant leftovers!
Final Thoughts
Whether you choose to make a Disneyland version, a Bennigan’s version, or your own creation, this air fryer Monte Cristo sandwich is a delicious sweet and savory combination!
You can’t go wrong with salty meats and cheeses sandwiched with rich bread, a crusty battered exterior, and sweetness from raspberry jam and powdered sugar. The air fryer does a great job of getting a nice crust on your sandwich without the need for deep frying!
The Monte Cristo is considered a brunch staple since it treads the line between sweet and salty so well, but there’s no reason you can’t have it for breakfast or lunch too. It even reheats well the next day, so you can definitely save one for later if needed!
Air Fryer Monte Cristo (Disneyland Copycat)
Equipment
- Parchment paper (or nonstick foil)
Ingredients
- 4 slices brioche bread
- 4 slices deli ham
- 4 slices deli turkey
- 4 slices swiss cheese
- 2 Tbsp seedless raspberry jam
- Powdered sugar (for dusting)
For the Batter
- 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 cup water (or milk)
Instructions
- Line your air fryer’s basket or rack with parchment paper or nonstick foil
- To a slice of bread, add the turkey and cheese. Spread the raspberry jam over the cheese, then top with the ham and the remaining slice of bread (you should have two sandwiches total). Press the sandwiches so they’re nice and flat. I like to trim any fillings that stick out from the edges of the bread so I get a nice, even batter all around4 slices brioche bread, 4 slices deli ham, 4 slices deli turkey, 4 slices swiss cheese, 2 Tbsp seedless raspberry jam
- In a shallow bowl, combine the flour, egg, baking powder, salt, and mix until you have a thick batter1 ½ cups all purpose flour, 1 large egg, 1 tsp baking powder, ¼ tsp salt, 1 cup water
- Dip the pressed sandwiches into the prepared batter, coating both sides, and place them into the air fryer in a single layer. I recommend using a spatula or spoon to spread out any batter that you messed up when setting it in the air fryer so that it’s nice and even
- Cook on the air fry setting at 375°F (or 380°F, depending on your air fryer’s available settings) for 8 minutes. Carefully flip and cook 3-5 minutes more, until cooked through and desired level of browning is reached
- Dust with powdered sugar as desired, and enjoy!Powdered sugar
Notes
- Any kind of hearty bread is fine, such asTexas toast, honey wheat, brioche, or Challah Note that Bennigan’s uses honey wheat, and Disneyland uses an egg-based bread like brioche or Challah, if you’re trying to stay most true to recipe
- You can swap in various meats as desired, and/or substitute Gruyere or American for the cheese
- The raspberry jam can be swapped for another seasonal fruit jam (strawberry, blackberry, etc) or served on the side
- Disneyland uses water for the batter, but milk works too
- You will likely have some extra batter and that’s normal. You don’t want to make too little, as it will be hard to dip the sandwiches
- Even with parchment, flipping the sandwiches can be tricky. They will be stuck to the parchment on the bottom, since the batter is wet until you flip it. I remove the sandwich along with the parchment, place a new piece of paper down in the air fryer, flip the sandwich onto it, and then peel off the stuck piece from the top
- Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand and variety of ingredients, any sauces or sides added, and actual quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
Nutrition
