Authentic Disney Grilled Cheese Recipe

Nothing is more magical than visiting a Disney park and enjoying the indulgent food. But say you can't make it to Disney in the near future, but you have a major hankering for their unbeatably delicious grilled cheese sandwiches. Thankfully, we have Liz Capozzoli, who blogs at OwlBBaking, to thank for taking us through the authentic Disney grilled cheese recipe so anyone can make magic in their very own kitchens any time they want! Mickey Mouse ears totally optional. 

Of course, as Capozzoli admits, "There's always a nostalgic element that can be hard to achieve at home." She adds, "But this recipe was shared by Disney, so it should be pretty close to the real thing!" Plus, you can make this recipe your own, unlike when you order the sandwich at Disney, with Capozzoli noting, "I personally loved using more of the cream cheese spread and probably applied it a bit more generously than what you might get in the park." Wait, cream cheese spread? That's right — and this mouthwatering element of the sandwich is only the beginning!

To cook up some Disney fun at home with this grilled cheese sandwich worthy of a prince or princess, you will need the following ingredients: cream cheese, shredded Double Gloucester or cheddar cheese, heavy cream, coarse salt, mayo, minced garlic, cheddar and provolone slices, and your favorite artisan bread. 

We asked Capozzoli what exactly Double Gloucester cheese is, and she had quite a bit of seriously useful info to share, telling Mashed, "It's an English-style cheese that is hard and crumbly in texture. Double Gloucester is aged longer than regular Gloucester cheese to create a stronger flavor. It is a very rich and buttery cheese. It adds a lot of subtle complexity to this grilled cheese." Um, yeah, we like everything about what she just said!

Meanwhile, we had to know how cream cheese complements the cheeses she used to create this dreamy Disney sandwich at home, and she told us about the surprising ingredient: "It adds a slight tang and helps to create a silky, cheesy filling!"

To get your Disney grilled cheese from page to plate, you will start by making the cheese spread and your mayo mixture, which goes on the outside of the sandwich. Yes, we are as serious about this last detail as Jasmine was about escaping from the palace in Aladdin. So, in the bowl of a food processor, combine the cream cheese, Double Gloucester or cheddar cheese, which is shredded ahead of time, heavy cream, and a quarter teaspoon of the salt. You will pulse the creamy mixture until it's combined and then set it aside.

But, say you don't have a food processor. Well, as Capozzoli told Mashed, you are still good to go to enjoy this treat without a park pass. But she notes, "The cheese will melt more evenly if it is processed. It's also easier to apply the right amount of cheese to each sandwich."

Now, make your mayo spread, which comes together by combining the mayo, minced garlic, and a pinch of your coarse salt. "The Disney recipe calls for one cup of mayonnaise," Capozzoli said, adding, "I found this to be a lot and ended up using about half that amount."

Time to assemble sandwiches that will make your family smile like the Cheshire cat. To get the grilled cheese ready for the pan, you will lay out all of the slices of bread on a cutting board or work surface. Two slices of cheddar go on one side of each sandwich. Two slices of provolone go on the other side. The savory glue that holds the sides together is the cream cheese mixture, which gets spread on the provolone side — yes, on top of the cheese.

Now, press the two sides together, and heat up your skillet. When the pan is ready to receive some cheesy sandwich love, you will spread a nice, thick layer of the mayo mixture on the outside of the bread, with Capozzoli telling Mashed, "Using mayo on the outside of the sandwich instead of butter is a real game changer!" She explains, "Mayo is mostly made of oil, so it is able to withstand the cooking temperature better than butter would. It also adds good flavor."

Now, it's time to grill your sandwiches for about two minutes on each side. You're looking for the cheese to melt and for the bread to get golden brown. Capozzoli offers these tips for not burning your sandwiches: "Cook the sandwich on low-to-medium heat and check on it often by lifting a corner with spatula to check on browning," she advised, adding, "If your sandwich is taking longer than two minutes to cook on each side, it's okay. Don't crank up the heat! Just keep it steady and remove the sandwich as soon as the bread is a medium golden brown. It's also helpful to cover the pan with a lid or piece of aluminum foil to trap the heat and ensure the cheese melts at the same rate of browning."

Finally, cut your sandwiches on a diagonal, and serve them immediately. Might we suggest cranking up some Disney tunes while you munch?