Jammy Brie Grilled Cheese Is The Only Comfort Food We Need

If you're a fan of charcuterie-inspired foods, we have the perfect recipe for you. Instead of spending a fortune on an assortment of cheeses, deli meats, nuts, crackers, jams, and bread, take a fraction of the classic ingredients and smother them into a melty, sweet, and savory sandwich suited for any time of day. Our favorite iteration of a charcuterie-esque sandwich is a sophisticated take on a childhood comfort food — jam and brie grilled cheese.

To make this sweet and salty grilled cheese, all you need is bread, butter, brie, and the jam of your choice. Simply butter two slices of bread from your favorite loaf and compile brie and jam to the opposite sides of the bread before smushing them together and grilling on low to medium heat as you would a typical grilled cheese.

A comfort food indeed, this jammy brie grilled cheese might offer you more health benefits than other comfort foods like a platter of fried food or an extra cheesy plate of pasta. Brie is a high-protein cheese that also has some anti-inflammatory properties along with high levels of calcium and the essential B12 vitamin, while real fruit jam is high in fiber in gut-healthy prebiotics. Careful though, brie does have a high fat content and some store-bought jams can be loaded with sugars. If you're enjoying a healthy diet, opt for low-fat brie and sugar-free jams for a diet-friendly jam and brie grilled cheese.

Jam and brie are a match made in culinary heaven, but what jam exactly pairs best with this melty, nutty cheese? To make a charcuterie-approved grilled cheese with brie, ideally, you'll want to pair it with stone fruit jams made from peaches, cherries, apricots, and plums — the choice is all yours! If stone fruits aren't your jam (literally), then berry jams are an excellent alternative since the tart acidity will complement the mild, earthy tones of the brie.

When it comes to bread, just about any kind works, but crunchy bread like sourdough and French baguettes are the perfect contrast to brie's velvety-smooth texture. If you want to experiment with additional ingredients, consider adding nut butter like cashew or almond butter to enhance brie's deceptively-nutty aftertaste.

Add a protein to your souped-up grilled cheese by adding thin-sliced prosciutto or salami for a salty kick. You can even add a hit of capsaicin with sliced jalapenos for a spicy punch that confronts the sweet and salty facade of the cheese and jam.

Next time you're craving a grilled cheese sandwich, substitute classic American cheese with a dose of brie and jam instead — your tastebuds won't regret it.