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    Home » Recipes » Burgers & Sandwiches

    Monte Cristo Roll-ups

    Published Nov 25, 2020 · Modified: Mar 14, 2022 · by Jacqueline Piper · 2 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links

    218 shares
    Jump to Recipe Rate this recipe

    A different take on a classic Monte Cristo Sandwich – this time rolled up! We'll skip the deep frying but keep the other familiar aspects of this ham and cheese sandwich, like the French toast batter, the Swiss cheese, and the jam on the side. I skip the powdered sugar sprinkle but you can add that in if you like. Either way, this is a pretty decadent sandwich recipe.

    Monte Cristo Roll-Ups on a plate with jam

    Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.

    A fun take on a classic sandwich recipe

    Have you ever had a Monte Cristo Sandwich? It's like a grilled cheese sandwich but bigger, bolder and more fried. The original is a decadent, battered, triple-layered, deep fried ham and cheese sandwich. It's usually served as a main dish and comes with a side of raspberry jam and a sprinkling of powdered sugar.

    I've taken this sandwich recipe and simplified it, mid-week-ified it. We still have ham and swiss cheese, and we'll whip up the French toast egg batter. But, we're going to make it easy. We're going to roll it up (it takes hardly any time at all), similar to my Peanut Butter Banana French Toast Rollups which I dip in Maple Syrup. Tasty!

    Bonus: Kids will love this fun rolled up sandwich.

    You'll only need a few tablespoons of oil for frying this filled and rolled up slice of bread, as opposed to a giant pot of oil for deep frying an entire sandwich.

    Monte Cristo Roll-Ups on a plate with jam

    Ingredients you need

    A pretty short list of ingredients. Like all sandwich recipes, you have the bread (I like plain soft store-bought bread for this one) and your filling. You can use leftover ham if you have it, this would be a great way to use it up. You'll need egg and milk for the batter and jam to serve it with.

    Ingredient Substitutions

    • Ham: Substitute for sliced turkey or chicken instead.
    • Swiss cheese: Use a different one if you prefer. (Making either of these changes makes it not a Monte Cristo anymore, but it'll still be tasty)
    • Raspberry jam: Try strawberry instead. If you subbed the ham for turkey and used cranberry sauce to dip it would be a pretty great way to use your Thanksgiving leftovers.
    Monte Cristo Roll-Ups on a plate with jam

    How to make this sandwich

    First, you'll prep the bread. Cut off the crusts from six slices of bread (Or however many you want to make). Now roll them out. You can use a rolling pin, a bottle, or a large soup can. Roll each slice out pretty flat.

    Cut the ham slices into squares that are about the size of your bread slices. You can make the ham and the cheese slices a little bit smaller if you want a seam of bread to be able to close the roll with. I find that they stay closed pretty good without doing that, especially if you set them seam side down once you've rolled them and then also cook them seam side down first. It helps seal in the shape.

    Process Shots showing how to make a monte cristo rollup with bread, ham and cheese

    Anyway, lay out a piece of bread on your work surface. Add one slice of ham and then one slice of cheese. Now roll it all up. Lay it seam side down on the work surface. Repeat this for all of the bread slices.

    Process Shots showing how to make a monte cristo rollup with bread, ham and cheese

    Make the french toast batter. Mix together the egg and milk.

    Heat a frying pan over medium and add a few tablespoons of cooking oil. I use a non-stick pan, this small Rock frying pan one by StarFrit.

    Dip each roll in the batter and then fry over medium, rolling as you go, cooking each side for a few minutes. When the whole outside is golden brown, they're ready. You can keep the finished ones on a cookie sheet in the oven on the keep warm setting if you're making a bigger batch.

    Process Shots showing how to make a monte cristo rollup with bread, ham and cheese

    Serve the rolls warm, with a side of strawberry or raspberry jam.

    Monte Cristo Roll-Ups on a plate with jam

    Tips and Tricks

    Use a really soft, cheap bread for this - they roll out very flat.

    Cute the bread crusts in chunks and place them in a small casserole dish with some ham and some egg batter. You'll have a French toast casserole!

    Recipes FAQs

    What is a Monte Cristo Sandwich made of?

    A Monte Cristo sandwich has ham and swiss cheese and is deep-fried in a French toast batter (egg and milk). It's served with jam and sprinkled powdered sugar.

    Monte Cristo Roll-Ups on a plate with jam
    Monte Cristo Roll-Ups on a plate with jam

    Monte Cristo Roll-Ups

    Jacqueline Piper
    4 from 2 votes
    A different take on a classic Monte Cristo Sandwich. You'll love this rolled up ham and cheese sandwich, pan-fried and served with raspberry jam.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Recipe Saved!
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 5 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Servings 6

    Ingredients
      

    • 6 slices bread
    • 6 slices ham
    • 6 slices Swiss cheese
    • 2 large eggs
    • ½ cup milk
    • 2 tablespoons oil (canola or sunflower)
    • strawberry or raspberry jam (to serve)
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Trim the crusts off the bread and flatten them with a rolling pin.
    • To a slice of bread, add a slice of ham and a slice of cheese. Roll up and set seam side down. Repeat with all bread slices.
    • Mix together the eggs and milk.
    • Heat a frying pan over medium heat and add in the oil.
    • When the pan is hot, dip each roll in the batter and then carefully place in the pan. Cook each roll for a few minutes, turning over with tongs or cooking chopsticks, until cooked. this takes about 5 minutes or so.
    • You can keep them in the oven on the keep warm function until all of them are ready if you are making a big batch.
    • Serve warm, with a side of jam.

    Notes

    Notes – Use your favorite bread. Storebought sandwich loaves roll out quite flat.
    Substitutions – Sub out the ham for turkey or chicken. Sub the cheese for any other.
    Storage - Serve immediately.
    Nutrition – Nutritional information is an estimate only, intended for informational purposes, and not to be used as medical or dietary advice. The estimate is based on a nutrition calculator and every recipe will vary slightly depending on the products you use in your home. This estimate is per serving, without the jam.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 243kcal

    Nutrition Disclaimer

    Nutritional information is an estimate. Values vary based on products used.

    Read our full Nutrition Disclaimer.
    Keyword fried, ham and cheese, sandwich
    Have you tried a recipe? Tag @pipercooksblog or tag #pipercooksblog!

    Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.

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    Monte Cristo Roll-Ups on a plate with jam and with text overlay for pinterest

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    218 shares

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    1. Tracey Orsborne

      May 20, 2022 at 7:41 am

      I'm obsessed with your technique and am going to try today!! I will note, every Monte Christo Sandwich I've ever eaten or been served (in 40 years over half the country) has had both ham and turkey and swiss, and a honey dijon on the bread. Had a couple of fave restaurants but it seems a bit out of fashion now. Hope I can get it to roll. I've also had it served with maple syrup whichi is good but not as good as rasberry jam.

      Reply
      • Jacqueline Piper

        May 22, 2022 at 10:56 am

        Hi Tracey, I hope you liked this recipe and technique when you tried it. Feel free to change up the ingredients as you like. I also have a peanut butter and banana version you could try. Thanks for commenting!

        Reply

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