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BlogRecipes
Magnolia Table Monte Cristo Sandwiches

Monte Cristo Sandwiches

byJoanna Gaines
Total 1 hour and 45 minutes
Active 105 mins
Makes 8 sandwiches
Ingredients
Batter
  • 3 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3 large eggs
  • 3 cups milk
Sandwiches
  • 16 ounces Gruyère cheese, shredded (about 4 cups)
  • 16 slices white sandwich bread
  • 16 slices deli ham
  • 16 slices deli turkey
To Finish
  • Vegetable oil, for deep-frying
  • 1/3 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 cup seedless raspberry preserves
Directions
  1. To make the batter: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the eggs and milk and whisk until smooth. Set aside.
  2. To make each sandwich: Sprinkle about 1/4 cup of the Gruyère over 1 slice of bread. Top with 2 slices ham and 2 slices turkey, then sprinkle 1/4 cup Gruyère over the meat. Place a second slice of bread on top.
  3. To finish: Pour 3 inches of oil into a deep saucepan or Dutch oven. Have ready a wire rack lined with paper towels to use for draining. Heat the oil to 350°F on a deep-fry thermometer.
  4. Working with 1 sandwich at a time, carefully dip it in the batter, letting the excess batter drip back into the bowl.
  5. Slowly lower a battered sandwich into the oil and fry until golden brown on the bottom, about 4 minutes. Using a spatula, flip the sandwich over and fry until golden brown on the other side, about 4 minutes. Remove the sandwich to the paper towel-lined rack to absorb the excess grease. Repeat to fry the remaining sandwiches.
  6. Using a sifter or fine-mesh sieve, gently tap 2 teaspoons of the powdered sugar over each sandwich.
  7. In a small, microwave-safe bowl, stir together the raspberry preserves and 2 teaspoons of water. Microwave on high for 30 seconds, until loosened.
  8. Serve each sandwich with about 2 tablespoons of raspberry preserves for dipping.
“Magnolia Table: A Collection of Recipes for Gathering, Volume 2” by Joanna Gaines © William Morrow 2020. Provided courtesy of Joanna Gaines. All rights reserved.