Monte Cristo Sliders

Mini Monte Cristo Sliders that are baked (not fried) and easy to share! These sliders are layered with sliced ham, sliced turkey, strawberry jam, gruyere cheese, and dijon mayonnaise. Then, they are baked until the cheese is melted and finally, topped with a light layer of powdered sugar. These monte cristo sliders are a delicious mix of sweet and savory in every bite.

Monte Cristo Sandwiches on Hawaiian Rolls

I think by now you all know how much I loved making sliders. I have a good collection of slider recipes on my blog and I am always thinking up new sandwiches that I would like to turn into sliders. It was finally the Monte Cristo’s turn.

I first learned about a monte cristo from a restaurant named Bennigans in the early 00s. They had a version of this sandwich that was deep fried. I was amazed by it. It is a ham, turkey, and swiss cheese sandwich that that got battered, and then fried, topped with powdered sugar, and then served with jam. As you can imagine, it tasted pretty great. It had that sweet and savory thing going for it and it was just delicious.

My monte cristo sliders are not deep fried, and I layer them with the jam and a dijon mayonnaise and then bake them until the cheese is melted and delicious. Once baked, I add a little powdered sugar to the tops and serve with a side of jam. These are the perfect sliders to make for brunch or lunch or anytime you want to share these delicious sliders with anyone.

Mini Monte Cristo Sandwich

Disneyland was one of the first places in the country to make the monte cristo sandwich famous. In Cafe Orleans they serve a delicious version of the monte cristo with turkey, ham and Swiss cheese and then dusted with powdered sugar and served with seasonal preserves. They also have a meatless version with swiss, mozzarella, and double creme brie. Both versions are served with garlicky french fries and a cajun spice remoulade.

I haven’t been to Disneyland but when I go, I will be sure to stop here to try this iconic sandwich. I had a lot of fun testing this recipe. Not only is it delicious, but it also keeps well int he fridge and I was able to eat the leftovers for a couple of days. Making this sandwich into sliders is also a great idea if you are going to a brunch or hosting a brunch. Each sandwich is small and the perfect size if you are eating a few other things with it.

What you need to make Monte Cristo Sliders

• Hawaiian Rolls – I use these rolls to make all of my sliders. King’s Hawaiian is the most popular brand, but I actually like to use the ones they sell at Trader Joe’s. They have more of a golden top and just hold together better.
• Deli Sliced Ham – You can buy this at the butcher shop of a grocery store or buy pre-packed deli meat. I used smoked ham for this, but you can also use honey glazed ham
• Deli Sliced Turkey – I used pre packed turkey from trader joe’s but you can also get this from the butchers counter at a grocery store. Choose your favorite deli sliced turkey.
• Cheese – Swiss or Gruyere cheese is traditionally used for monte cristos but if you do not like these cheeses, you can substitute this. Choose a white cheese for the traditional look, like muenster or even mild white cheddar.
• Jam – Raspberry jam is traditionally used, but I used strawberry jam because that is what I had on hand. Also, personal preference since I happen to like strawberries more than raspberries.
• Dijon Mustard – Try not to skip this part. Even if you are usually not a big fan of mustard, once you mix it with the mayonnaise it becomes very mild and goes great with the rest of the ingredients.
• Mayonnaise – Hellman’s mayonnaise is the best, but use whatever you prefer
• Powdered Sugar – this is the traditional topping for the sandwich

How to make Monte Cristo Sliders

INGREDIENTS  

• 1 pack Hawaiian Rolls
• 9 slices deli sliced ham
• 6 slices deli sliced turkey
• 8 ounces shredded swiss gruyere blendif you can’t find this, you can buy just Swiss cheese or just Gruyere cheese
• 1/3 cup strawberry jam plus extra for dipping
• 1 tbsp dijon mustard
• 2 tbsp mayonnaise
• powdered sugar optional

INSTRUCTIONS 

• separate the top sheet from the bottoms of the Hawaiian rolls by cutting them across carefully. Lay them on a baking sheet
• preheat your oven to 350 F
• Combine your dijon and mayonnaise and spread most of it evenly on the inside of the top sheet of rolls, Reserve some on the side so that you can add it to the tops of the rolls after they bake.
• Spread your strawberry jam on the inside of the bottom sheet of rolls
• Add half of your cheese on top of the strawberry jam, then layer on the ham and then the turkey, followed by the rest of your cheese. Add the top sheet of the rolls on top. 
• Loosely cover the rolls with a sheet of aluminum foil to protect the tops of the buns from browning too fast. Bake on a baking sheet for 30 minutes or until the cheese in the middle is melted. 
• Remove from the oven and add the remaining dijon mayo to the tops of the rolls and then gently dust a little powdered sugar on top. Serve with additional jam.