Bennigan’s Monte Cristo Sandwich – talk about guiding the lilly! This deep-fried triple-decker sandwich is served up with raspberry preserves jelly.
With only 15 locations in the continental US, chances are you don’t live near a Bennigan’s and can’t get yourself one of their delicious Monte Cristo Sandwiches. But with my copycat recipe, you can make it any time you want in your own kitchen.
Monte Cristo Sandwich Origin
It is thought that the Monte Cristo sandwich was a variation of the classic, French, Croque Monsieur, which has a lot of variations of its own.
It was Disney that made it popular in the USA by serving it in restaurants at Disneyland Anaheim in the 1960s. From there, it spread across the land changing according to local tastes along the way.
Monte Cristo Sandwich recipes have evolved like barbecue sauce. They change according to where you are in the USA and the batter recipe is a tightly kept secret.
In many regions though, the Monte Cristo is a savory sandwich of fried ham and cheese.
Most often, it is dipped in its entirety in a batter and either pan-fried in butter or deep-fried in oil or fat. Other variations make the sandwich more sweet than savory. And still, others change out the ham for sliced turkey.
In some parts of the US, it is a closed, grilled sandwich. While in others, it is an open sandwich with only the bread battered and fried, then assembled as a sandwich before being heated slightly under a broiler.
Bennigan’s Monte Cristo sandwich is sprinkled with powdered sugar and served with preserves. This sandwich is crisp on the outside with layers of ham, turkey, American, and Swiss cheese on the inside.
Ingredients
Here’s a list of what you need:
- Wheat bread slices
- Deli turkey slices
- Deli ham slices
- American cheese slices
- Swiss cheese slices
- Egg
- Water
- Salt
- Sugar
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Vegetable oil for frying
How to Make Bennigan’s Monte Cristo
- Place turkey and Swiss cheese on one slice of bread and ham and American cheese on another slice of bread.
- Place a third bread slice in-between and use toothpicks to secure the triple-decker sandwich in the corners.
- Place the egg in a mixing bowl, add water, and beat together.
- Add salt, sugar, flour, and baking powder. Beat batter until smooth.
- Dip sandwich in batter and carefully cover all the sides and surfaces.
- Carefully place the dipped sandwich in hot oil and fry until golden.
- Remove the sandwich from the hot oil and place it on a paper towel.
- Let it cool for a few minutes before removing the toothpicks.
- Slice the sandwich into fourths and sprinkle with powder sugar.
- Serve with raspberry preserves, pickle garnish, and your favorite side order of French fried potatoes.
If you like French toast, then you will enjoy this sweet and savory, deep-fried, triple-decker sandwich, served with raspberry preserves for dipping.
Try your own variations by choosing different sandwich meats and cheeses or by experimenting with different pieces of bread.
Any way you slice it, you will love the classic Monte Cristo Sandwich.
Love Bennigan’s? Try these copycat recipes!
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Be sure to check out more of my easy sandwich recipes and the best copycat restaurant recipes here on CopyKat.com!
Bennigan’s Monte Cristo Sandwich
Ingredients
- 9 slices Wheat bread
- 3 slices Deli turkey
- 3 slices Deli ham
- 3 slices American cheese
- 3 slices Swiss cheese
Batter
- 1 egg
- 1 1/4 cups water
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- Place turkey and Swiss cheese on one slice of bread and ham and American cheese on another slice of bread. Place third slice in-between and secure the triple-decker sandwich in the corners with toothpicks.
- Place egg in mixing bowl, add water and beat together. Add salt, sugar, flour, and baking powder. Beat batter until smooth.
- Dip sandwich in batter and carefully cover all the sides and surface. Carefully place in hot oil and fry until golden. When the sandwich has turned a warm gold color remove it from the hot oil and place it on a paper towel. Let cool for a few minutes before removing the toothpicks. Before serving slice into fourths and sprinkle with powder sugar.
- Serve with raspberry preserves, pickle garnish, and your favorite French fried potatoes.
Jack
Pretty much the #1 reason I went to Beenigan’s
I didn’t use wheat bread because I don’t remember Bennigan’s using it. Also, this is a double decker sandwich. A triple decker would have 4 slices to make three levels.
Just good stuff.
LRuss
I just made these and they were a big hit! The tip to wrap prepped sandwich tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate a couple hours worked great!
Phylis
Since we are not eating fried foods and my husband has mentioned Bennigans Monte Christo as one of his all time favorites, I tried this in a George Foreman grill with butter spray and it came out tasty.
Mark
Ran a Bennigan’s for several years before they started mass closing. Here is how to make them the real way. 1 slice bread down, stack Turkey and Swiss on it, then middle slice bread. Put Ham and American Cheese on then top slice of bread. Pull out plastic wrap over the edge of the table and lay it over the sandwich. Smash the sandwich as flat as you can get it and keep rolling it pulling towards you to keep it tight. Fold over plastic wrap on edges to make sure it has no air leaks. Put in the fridge for at least 12 hours. Bread should be fresh and moist when you start your assembly. After it has sat, pull it out and cross cut in an X from corner to corner to get 4 pieces. Dip it in “Tempura Batter”, that is what we used and make sure it’s well coated. Drop it into a 350 degree fryer until Golden Brown. I preferred to let it get a little darker to make sure cheese is melting inside. Once out of fryer, put it on an absorbent tray and or stack of paper towels and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Dip in Raspberry Preserves. If done correctly, the sandwich will not fall apart in fryer as the sandwich should be very dense.
Austyn
I tried this and…. bread desintegrated as I put them in the fryer….
marcee
I’m trying this 2marro I love Bennigans Monte Cristo’s… do you deep fry this …? if so what temp, and how long? Or just fry each side in a pan with grease a couple inches deep then flip and do the other side…If so how long and what temp…thanks for this!
Stephanie
I would try to fry this in a deep fryer, or a makeshift one. The oil should be 350 degrees when you fry this.
Bre
Wow! I made this Monte Cristo last night and it was like I was at Bennigans again. It was great. Thank you so much for this recipe, I truly appreciate this. I will be making this again for lunch today lol! So happy I came across this site.
lovestocook
Actually they use a wheat berry bread wrap it in cellophane for 1 day that way it will stay together dont cut before frying
Brentsky
Wrong.
Taken right from Bennigan’s menu
World Famous
Monte Cristo
Honey wheat bread layered with
tender ham, roasted turkey, Swiss
and American cheeses.
Batter-dipped, gently fried and coated
with powdered sugar. Served with
red raspberry preserves for dipping.
DONALD
I WAS WATCHING THE FOOD CHANNEL, AND I WENT STRAIGHT TO THE WEB SITE TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECIPE FOR BENNIGAN’S MONTE CRISTO. THANK YOU I WILL BE SHOPPING FOR THE INGREDIENT’S TOMORROW.WILL LET YOU KNOW HOW IT TURN’S OUT.
Stephanie
Donald, let me know how this tastes. I hope you enjoy the recipe.
Amaris Ledoux
Just tried this tonight…it was exactly perfect! Thanks for posting this! I have been wanting a monte cristo for a while, and decided to take matters into my own hands since the bennigan’s closed nearby. Again…..phenomenal!
Lorna S
Bought my son a deep fryer for Christmas. Today I am making my first monte carlo. I have missed them so much. Can’t wait!
Stephanie
I hope it turns out well. I read an article that 88% of the bennigan’s closed 🙁
melissa jordan
just a hint that we do at our restaurant for the monte. after u build the sandwich wrap tightly in plastic wrap and put in the fridge for at the very least 1hour or even overnight if possible. when ready to cook un-wrap and batter and fry. and if the bread has a hole in it put it in the middle or when frying the oil will soak in to the sandwich
guest
If your in the mood and the area, the Bennigan’s in Warsaw, Indiana is still open. Its in business with a Ramada hotel and the Wagon Wheel Theater. The one in Angola, IN was still open last time I was up there a few years ago too(also hooked up to a hotel).
Debi
I live in Indiana. My sister was a manager of a Hardee’s in Angola, IN uber long time ago. I wonder if Bennigan’s is still open there. Man I used to love that restaurant 😔
Kylene
I made these today with this recipe. I also tried it in a sugar free funnel cake batter and I have to say it was really good… Just some food for thought…
Anonymous
That’s a great suggestion!
Eva
One trick to keep the sandwich from falling apart while frying, is to cut the crust off the bread, then wrap each triangle tightly in plastic wrap. Squeeze the edges of the triangle down. Can be made up a day ahead and kept in the fridge. Where I used to order these, they didn’t even need toothpicks when preparing them this way 🙂
Ash
I just made these last night and they were delicious. I substituted smoked cheddar cheese for the american and it was delicious! I also used Challah for the bread just for my own personal taste but thank you thank you thank you for this. I have been craving this for so long since they went out of business!
margo
The Bennigans in Chicago I went to actually cut them in fourths dipping each separately. and I do believe the crusts were cut off. Thank you for this recipe..it is great to have
J.Maurer
Oh my gosh!! My son has been wanting a Bennigan’s Monte Cristo since they closed and now he is in the kitchen making one!!! He is SO happy!!! Thank you.
Tony
I made theses last night, and have a few things I will change for next time. I agree with Don about cutting the sandwiches in half before frying, especially if you don’t have an industrial sized deep fryer. Also, I will cut the crusts off of the bread, and smash the samdwiches down pretty well before battering. This way there is less fluffy bread to act like an oil sponge when the sandwiches are deep fried. Great taste, and it went perfect with my wifes home made raspberry preserves!
Missyyancey23
If you make the sandwich the night before and wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, store in the fridge overnight. It helps with the spongy bread you’re talking about.
Don
This recipe was perfect. I used hot pepper cheese instead of american, I cut the sandwiches in half, then wrapped them in plastic wrap and put them in the fridge for a few hours before I battered and fried them. This help to keep them together while dipping them in the batter.
Anonymous
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I will be trying this recipe out this weekend!