Name: Brie and Apple Grilled Cheese Melt Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 large slices Sourdough bread; 1 large garlic clove, (peeled); extra virgin olive oil for the pan; 1 cup thinly sliced yellow onion; 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves; 1 cup thinly sliced firm apples, washed and dried ((Fuji, Honey Crisp, Pink Lady)); 8 ounces firm brie cheese; 1 tablespoon honey; salt and freshly ground black pepper

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Brie and Apple Grilled Cheese Melt is a wildly popular fall dish that’s nothing short of amazing. Packed with fresh flavors and comforting textures, you won’t be able to get enough! It’s an excellent lunch, appetizer or anytime snack.

I think I can speak for most of us when I say that grilled cheese sandwiches are an exceptional comfort food.

It’s easy to turn the concept of a typical grilled cheese into more sophisticated fare.

Take this Brie and Apple Grilled Cheese for instance — it’s not just two pieces of bread with melted cheese between them. Brie cheese is special — it’s rich, buttery and creamy, and it lends itself to this preparation.

Imagine this melting deliciousness with sweet caramelized onion, soft apples and fresh herbs.

I serve this as an open-faced grilled cheese because I think it’s especially pretty.

Ingredients for Brie and Apple Grilled Cheese

(I often suggest brands I love and use — these are only suggestions — this is not a sponsored post.)

sourdough bread
garlic – Look for firm heads of garlic without any soft spots or green shoots, which is an indication of old garlic. (Raw garlic cloves should be firm without any dark spots.)
extra virgin olive oil – I like this one.
yellow onion – Try to choose onions that are firm, heavy for their size and without bruises.
fresh thyme – Look for perky bunches and avoid any brown, bruised or yellow leaves.
apples – I use Fuji apples for this recipe. Choose firm apples without bruising.
brie cheese – Select a firm brie for this recipe. (Here are some brie purchasing tips.)
honey
salt – I bake and cook with Kosher salt. (It’s coarse and salts foods in a subtle way that enhances their flavor without making them taste salty.)
pepper – Freshly ground is best.

How to Make it

– Place the bread on the foil-lined baking sheet and when the oven is hot toast the bread just until it’s slightly golden.

– Rub each piece of bread with a garlic clove. (A peeled clove rubbed along its surface will become softer as it moves, leaving its delicious juices behind to flavor the bread.)

– Sauté the onion until golden and then add fresh thyme and apples. Cook until the apples become soft and golden. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

– Cut the brie into slices and top each slice of bread with them, followed by an equal portion of the onion-apple mixture.

– Bake just to melt the brie. Remove from the oven and drizzle each one with a bit of the honey.

(More detailed instructions are in the recipe card below.)

Serving Suggestions

Brie and apple grilled cheese melt makes for a great appetizer dish during the holiday season, or any time during the fall and winter months. It would be lovely for Thanksgiving.
You can also use a thin baguette and slice it into small rounds, instead of the large slices of Sourdough.
How about dinner? Just add a delicious salad and you’re set.

Recipe Tips and Substitutions

I don’t peel the apples for this recipe because they are sliced thinly and it makes for a pretty presentation. Feel free to peel them if you prefer the texture that way.
If you want to substitute the apple with another fruit. Go for it. Pears would also be fantastic. And in the summer, it would delightful with peaches or strawberries.
You can of course add another piece of garlicky bread of top if don’t want it to be an open-faced sandwich.
I suggest sourdough bread in this brie melt recipe. You can use any bread you like as long as it’s not too soft, so it can easily hold all of the added ingredients.

Enjoy every last bite!

More scrumptious recipes with apples: