Monte Cristo Sandwiches are easy to make at home. This classic sandwich is served warm with a crisp batter shell and gooey cheesy filling.
How I created this Monte Cristo sandwich Recipe
The first time I sat down and enjoyed a Monte Cristo sandwich I was 20 and living in Dallas. It was AMAZING and I have been in love ever since.
ANYTIME this is on the menu at any restaurant I order it, but NOW I don’t have to wait for the occasional trips to Disneyland… I can make my own at home (and I do… seriously all the time)
Anytime I have the fryer out (usually once a month) I make these – thankfully my kids love them just as much as I do! I mean WHAT’S not to love? Battered, fried, melted cheese, lunch meat… I DIE.
Seriously so so so so SO easy and the clean up isn’t bad either. KEEP the used oil in it’s own container and use again and again I fry a LOT (the fried sweets, the Tonkatsu, doughnuts… we go through oil so I always reuse – but keep non meat and meat oil separate)
Just take me to the Deep Fried Monte Cristo Recipe already!
If you’d rather skip my tips and tricks for deep-fried Monte Cristo sandwich, along with links to other deep fried food and get straight to this delicious Monte Cristo sandwich – simply scroll to the bottom of the page where you can find the printable recipe card.
Tips to Make the Perfect Monte Cristo Sandwich
-Getting a deep-fryer is absolutely worth it if you fry often. (but an electric skillet can work as well)
-If you don’t want to spend the money on a deep fryer, you will need a good thermometer and you’ll have to babysit the pot.
-Be sure to pick the right oil. Olive oil is not good for deep frying (too sensitive to heat), but many other oils are good, and their flavor can add to the dish.
-After stacking the sandwiches squish them to make them easier to dip
-Use toothpicks to hold the sandwiches together while dipping in the batter
-Use the toothpicks to dip the sandwich in the batter and then in the oil. A fork will leave areas of the sandwich without batter.
-Have a jelly roll pan with newspaper and a paper towel ready for the finished fried Monte Cristo sandwiches to drain before you start frying.
-When taking out the toothpicks twist first to break the batter then pull out. This way you won’t take a chunk of fried batter with you when you take the toothpick out.
-You can reuse frying oil, just strain it into a container till you want to use it again. And if you fry meat, be sure to keep your meat frying oil and your everything-else frying oil separate. Cross contamination is dangerous.
If you love the Monte Cristo you’ll love these other deep fried foods!
Fried Peaches and Creme Anglaise | Deep Fried Mac and Cheese Bites | Fried Cheesecake Chimichangas
Deep Fried Twinkies | Deep Fried S’mores | Deep Fried Cookie Dough Balls
Homemade Deep Fried Monte Cristo Sandwich
If you love the Monte Cristo sandwich as much as I do, I’d love a 5 star review. Be sure to share on social media and tag me if you make it @ashleemariecakes! If you want to stay updated on new recipes sign up for my newsletter and join my Facebook Group!
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To watch me make this Monte Cristo Sandwich play the video in the recipe card.
You can find all my cooking show style recipe videos on YouTube, or my short recipe videos on Facebook Watch, or my Facebook Page, or right here on our website with their corresponding recipes.
How to make a homemade deep fried Monte Cristo Sandwich
Ingredients
- 8 to 12 cups vegetable or Canola oil
For EACH sandwich
- 3 slices sandwich bread
- 1 slice Swiss cheese deli-style
- 3 ounces sliced turkey deli-style
- 1 slice cheddar cheese deli-style
- 3 ounces sliced ham deli-style
Batter (easily good for 2, MAYBE 3)
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 cup ice water
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
On Top
- Powdered sugar
On the Side
- raspberry preserves
Instructions
- Heat 8 to 12 cups (you want it 4 inches deep) of oil in a deep fryer or large saucepan to 375 degrees.
- Layer bread – cheddar – ham – bread – turkey – swiss cheese – bread. Press down on the sandwich with the palm of your hand to flatten it a bit.
- Slice the sandwich in half diagonally, press toothpick into each corner at an angle to hold the layers together.
- Mix the batter ingredients together until mostly smooth
- Dip a sandwich half into the batter and coat all the sides well, but let the excess batter drip off.
- drop the battered sandwich into the oil and repeat until you have all the sandwich halfs in that you can comfortablely fit (don’t over crowd in the oil)
- Fry the sandwich for 2-3 minutes on each side, It should be golden brown when done.
- Remove the sandwich halves to a cooling rack over paper towels to drain. When you can touch the sandwich, slice each half in half making four pieces (you want to eat the sandwiches still warm). Dust the sandwich with powdered sugar and serve it with a small bowl of raspberry preserves
Trina Saice
Hi Ashley – My name is Trina and I happened upon your recipe for Monte cristos while looking for a batter recipe. Of the choices online…yours looks EXACTLY like the one’s I used to get at this little 50’s diner that went out of business 20 years ago. I have tried MCs at a number of restaurants and they are never right😢! Enter Ashlee Marie…it is as if the angels are singing!! I am a baker, and I have now looked at a few of your recipes…and I might just be in love with you (don’t tell my hubby 😉)!
Thank you for bringing me a recipe to bring me back to the past…and some that will bring me to the future. You are wonderful!
Sweet eating to you and yours, from me and mine,
Trina Saice
Ashlee Marie
you are so welcome and so glad this is such a hit with you guys!
Jane Botts
Great
Ashlee
thank you so much
Amy
Do you mean cheddar or American cheese? The ingredient list is American and the directions state cheddar.
Also, when do you pull out the toothpicks? After battering the sandwich? Thanks!
Ashlee
cheddar – sorry about that! I keep the toothpicks in until after they’ve fried, then pull them out before I slice the sandwiches in half
Chef Tomm
So I introduced my coworker to this sandwich at a bar we went to, and the next day we worked together he decided we should make them. I had to create my raspberry sauce from scratch, but other than that, I followed your directions.
Now…..it is on our menu. Lol. Thank you.
Ashlee Marie
yay! so glad you enjoyed it!
Brandy chavez
Is there a special rasberry sauce u can make to go with the Monte Cristo sandwich
Ashlee
I just use raspberry jam – and yes you can make your own – I honestly have never made jam!!! crazy huh?
TIa
Could u use pancake batter instead
Ashlee Marie
yes you can!
Deb Garry
SODA??????….ewww!!!
Ashlee Marie
baking soda is normal in batters – why do you think this is a bad thing?
Mary D
Thank you so much! I made this for lunch today and it was delicious!! I had to alter your directions a bit because I wanted to make it today but didn’t have all the ingredients on hand. I used pancake batter – the “just add water” type. I only made enough batter for one sandwich, maybe two. I used shredded cheddar because I didn’t have sliced cheddar and I pretty much just put enough on the slice of bread to cover it. I used an “oil blend” that a certain company makes and since I don’t own a deep fryer, I fried it inside a stock pat and not a frying pan so the sides would limit the splatter. I didn’t measure the oil; I just poured until the bottom of the pot was covered. The only problem with frying it this way, or maybe I just put them in on too much of an angle, was that by the time the sandwich was done, some of my toothpicks got pushed all the way into the sandwich and I had to pry it open when it was cool enough to handle to find them. It made for a messy sandwich but the taste was still the same. I forgot to use the powdered sugar and since I didn’t have raspberry jam, I used strawberry jam.
Ashlee Marie
It happens, sometimes I have to make crazy last min substitutions as well because. Sorry the toothpicks disappeared into the sandwich.
Ryan
Do you think I could use something like almond flower in place of the white flower? Trying to make a keto-friendly version.
Ashlee Marie
Because it is a simple batter almond flour should work, but just so you’re aware, it is not a very healthy recipe