Cranberry Brie Grilled Cheese

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This Cranberry Brie Grilled Cheese features the sweet and tart flavor of cranberry that pairs perfectly with the creamy, slightly funky flavor of brie. This is a wonderful way to use up that leftover cranberry sauce in a new way! The sandwiches are simple enough to tide you over between holiday meals yet fancy enough to serve at a casual holiday brunch. It's the perfect quick meal for fall!

Cranberry Brie Grilled Cheese features the sweet and tart flavor of cranberry that pairs perfectly with the creamy, slightly funky flavor of brie. | aheadofthyme.com

If you haven't been adding cranberry sauce to your sandwiches, you absolutely should! It adds such a lovely fall flavor to any recipe and pairs really well with turkey breast or sliced ham. This cranberry grilled cheese sandwich is such a treat. It uses both regular cheddar and creamy brie cheese for a delicious combination of flavors that tastes like you turned your favorite baked brie appetizer into a sandwich.

Why You'll Love This Cranberry Brie Grilled Cheese

Delicious flavor. Cranberry and brie are the perfect combination! They taste luxurious together, and you'll want to keep cranberry sauce on hand all year just for this sandwich!
So quick to make. Just like making a regular grilled cheese, this recipe comes together with just moments of effort. You can even make a big batch in the oven to feed a crowd!
Great use of leftovers. This leftover Thanksgiving grilled cheese sandwich is a perfect recipe to whip up when you have leftover cranberry sauce from a holiday party. We love repurposing our leftovers into something new. See all our favorites in our 15 Leftover Cranberry Sauce Recipes..
Fancy enough for a holiday lunch. If you're hosting a brunch or an afternoon holiday meal, you can easily serve this brie sandwich with butternut squash apple soup for a quick, easy meal full of your favorite fall flavors.

Ingredient Notes

To make this delicious cranberry brie grilled cheese, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

butter - apply unsalted butter to the outsides of the bread before cooking.
sandwich bread - choose your favorite white sandwich bread.
brie - thinly slice brie. Avoid the rind of the brie cheese, as it can have a very strong flavor.
cheddar - we use another cheese, like shredded cheddar, to balance out the flavor of the soft brie. Feel free to substitute with another kind of melty cheese such as mozzarella, provolone, or smoked gouda.
cranberry sauce - use either store-bought or homemade sweet cranberry sauce.

You will also need a skillet or griddle and a spatula.

How to Make the Best Cranberry Brie Grilled Cheese

Spread butter. Spread ½ tablespoon of butter on each of the 4 slices of bread and place them on a plate. Flip 2 of the slices over with the butter side facing down.

Add toppings. Divide the sliced brie cheese evenly onto the 2 flipped over slices (unbuttered side) and top with an even layer of cranberry sauce and a pinch of salt. Top with shredded white cheddar. Place the remaining 2 slices on top (with the buttered side up) to make a sandwich.

Cook. Heat a skillet or griddle pan over medium-low heat. Add the sandwiches (you may have to do this in 2 batches) and cook until golden brown and the cheese has melted, about 3 minutes per side.

Serve. Slice in half and serve immediately.

Recipe Variations

Add meat. Add a few leftover turkey slices from Thanksgiving dinner to make these sandwiches even more substantial.
Slice some apple. Slice a fresh, firm apple into very thin slices and add it between the layers of cheese for a little pop of flavor and extra crunch.
Change the bread. This sandwich would taste wonderful with a tangy slice of sourdough, soft brioche, or even a crusty French baguette.
Add mustard. A little whole grain mustard or Dijon would add a nice sharp flavor to contrast the tart cranberries and brie.
Try a different cheese. The brie pairs perfectly with any type of melty cheese, like mozzarella cheese, gouda, or even goat cheese. Feel free to use the leftovers from your holiday cheese platter and use what you have!

How to Serve

This cranberry brie grilled cheese is delicious served on its own, or paired with a bowl of delicious soup on the side such as:

For more soup recipes, see our 60 Best Soup Recipes.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Warm the pan first. If your pan is too cold, the butter will melt instead of crisping up the bread. If the pan is too hot, the butter will brown immediately and burn the bread. Let the pan warm up over medium-low for a few minutes first for the perfect sandwich.
Use shredded cheddar. Shredded cheese will melt faster than cheese slices, and it will sink into all the nooks and crannies for extra flavor.
Adjust to taste. There are so many add-ins that can take this sandwich to the next level! Raid the fridge. Feel free to add bacon, ham, turkey, mustard, apple slices, and more.

Storing and Freezing Instructions

How to Store

Store any leftover sandwiches in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.

How to Reheat

Apply a little extra butter or olive oil to the sides of the sandwich, then either toast the sandwich in a hot skillet over medium heat or bake it in the oven at 350 degrees until the cheese melts and the bread becomes crispy again.

How to Freeze

Although this grilled cheese recipe is best served fresh, you can freeze the leftovers for about a month. Be sure to thaw them in the fridge before reheating.

FAQ

Can you reheat leftover grilled cheese?

Yes! If you make a bunch of grilled cheese sandwiches for a party or meal, you can easily reheat the sandwich by toasting it in a large skillet or baking it in your oven (or air fryer). Add a little extra butter on each side and warm it until the cheese begins to melt.

What cheeses go well with cranberry sauce?

The tart flavor of cranberry sauce pairs well with a variety of cheeses, especially funkier types that benefit from the sharp flavor of the fresh berries. For example, cranberry sauce tastes great with brie, sharp aged cheddar, feta, goat cheese, blue cheese, and other soft-ripened cheeses. It's also great with milder cheeses, like mozzarella, but the cheese flavor tends to hide behind the cranberry flavor.

What is the best type of bread for cranberry brie grilled cheese?

There are so many different types of bread to choose from, but we prefer to use regular white sandwich bread. It has a soft, tender texture and mild flavor that pairs perfectly with the smooth melted brie cheese and cranberry sauce. Some other great options are sourdough bread, which has a crispy texture after toasting, or soft, sweet brioche slices. You can also use a French baguette, but it will be more like a panini than a grilled cheese. No matter which of these bread options you choose, it'll be a delicious sandwich to serve with those Thanksgiving leftovers!

More Sandwich Recipes

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