Swirled Monte Cristo Bites

Creamy havarti cheese, ham, smoked turkey, and tangy raspberry preserves make these Monte Cristo Bites an irresistible party appetizer!

Note: This post is sponsored by Castello. You can get creative with any of Castello’s uniquely crafted cheeses. Click here for a $1 off coupon to create your own gourmet masterpiece!

Raspberry Monte Cristo Bites from Neighborfoodblog.comOne thing has become abundantly clear during this pregnancy. This baby LOVES cheese.ย It started with my insatiable desire for cream cheese, quickly advanced to macaroni and cheese, and has finally settled firmly on grilled cheese loaded with banana peppers. Yes, banana peppers. I don’t even know who I am anymore.

At this point, I think I could eat a grilled cheese every single day and never tire of it. Still, I enjoyย a little variety in my cheese delivery system, and these Monte Cristo Puff Pastry Bites are giving my beloved grilled cheese a run for their money.

When I discovered the Monte Cristo sandwich in college I instantly fell in love. Stuffed with ham, turkey, and cheese then dunked in egg and pan fried like french toast, it’s a combination that satisfies both my sweet and savory tooth.

Swirled Monte Cristo Bites from Neighborfoodblog.com

I recently got the opportunity to try Castello’s Creamy Havarti Cheese, and the moment I tasted this slightly tangy, extra smooth cheese, I knew it was made for Monte Cristos. Both the texture and flavor of this cheese lends itself well to fruity combinations. Though it was tough not to eat the entire block in one sitting, I knew this cheese was destined for more than just a knife and my mouth.

I decided to stray a bit from tradition and turn the classic Monte Cristo Sandwich into a bite sized appetizer, because bite sized = I can have five. Traditionally, Monte Cristos are served with some kind of fruit topping. I know some of you cringe at the idea of spreading fruit on a ham and cheese sandwich, but trust me, this combo is addictive. Savory ham and melty cheese wrapped in a flaky puff pastry blanket and dunked in tangy raspberry preserves? It’s enough to make you hoard all of these for yourself and grab some store bought cookies for the party instead (<<<No shame).

Monte Cristo Bites with Raspberry Preserves from Neighborfoodblog.com

Made in under 30 minutes, this is an appetizer recipe you’ll definitely want to keep around for last minute parties. Or hey, maybe just lunch today.

creamy havarti

Monte Cristo Bites with Raspberry Preserves from Neighborfoodblog.com

Monte Cristo Swirls

Yield: 16
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 sheet puff pastry
  • 8-10 slices ham
  • 8-10 slices smoked turkey
  • 2 cups shredded Creamy Havarti cheese
  • 1 egg + 1 Tablespoon water

For the sauce:

  • 1/3 cup raspberry preserves
  • 1 Tablespoon dijon mustard

Instructions

  • Thaw the puff pastry until it's easy to work with. it should be cold, but rollable.
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  • On a lightly floured surface, roll out the puff pastry to about a 16 by 12 inch rectangle. Top with a layer of ham slices, slightly overlapping, followed by a layer of turkey slices. Spread the shredded cheese evenly overly the meats.
  • Starting on the long end of the rectangle, roll the puff pastry up into a log. Use a fork to whisk together the egg and the water in a small bowl. Brush the log with the egg wash, then slice it into 14-16 rounds. Place the rounds on a parchment paper lined baking sheet, leaving at least an inch between each one. Bake for 14-16 minutes or until cheese is melted and puff pastry is golden.
  • In a small bowl, stir together the raspberry and dijon. Serve the monte cristo bites warm with the raspberry dipping sauce.
  • Did you make this recipe?

    Leave a review, or head over to Instagram and share a photo! Tag your projects with #neighborfoodies!


    Note: This post is sponsored by Castello. You can get creative with any of Castello’s uniquely crafted cheeses. Click here for a $1 off coupon to create your own gourmet masterpiece!

    11 Comments

    1. I would like to make this for a reception, where we would not eat until 1.5 hours after arrival. Would they be good at room temperature? Would transporting with a lid or foil cause them to become soggy?
      Thanks

      1. I think these would taste ok at room temperature, but they probably would get a little soggy if they were baked and then covered with a lid. Are you able to keep them in a low oven at all during that wait time?

    2. I also discovered the Monte Cristo in college, but had the opposite reaction: I was horrified by it. BUT, back in the day, I really just did not like sweet and savory foods mixing. My taste buds have definitely done a 180 on that in the last 10 years, because now I’m ALL ABOUT all things Monte Cristo. I am so in love with this recipe, it’s not even funny.

      1. Ha! That’s totally my husband’s reaction. He hates the sweet and savory together. (I think he’s totally crazy). He downed about five of these swirls, but scorned the sauce. He doesn’t know what he’s missing!

    3. Courtney, I freaking LOVE your site’s redesign! It looks amazing! The logo/header (whatever you call it) is absolutely perfect for your blog and your vision. And lady, monte cristo sandwiches are the best and I love that you turned it into a delicious ‘n easy appetizer. Good call on using raspberry preserves for that sweet ‘n salty combo.

      1. Ah Nancy! THANK YOU! That means so much to me. I really wanted something that was very “me” so I’m glad other people think it reflects that well. I’m currently wishing we could be at the same table dunking way too many monte cristo bites!

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.