This Honey and Banana Grilled Cheese Sandwich is the BEST—good enough to be dessert! Buttered brioche is layered with creamy mascarpone, thick banana slices, a drizzle of honey, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Grilling caramelizes the bread and bananas for an explosion of sweet, rich flavor.
Check out more easy grilled cheese recipes: Grilled Cheese Margherita Sandwiches or these French Dip Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.
Sweet grilled cheese sandwich
To add a little geography and culture to your day, I’m bringing you a grilled cheese sandwich that represents Utah — where I’m from and where I currently live.
In Utah (the Beehive State, by the way), we’re known for our honey, so I wanted to incorporate honey into the sandwich. And in my opinion, nothing pairs better with honey than bananas and cinnamon.
And then there is always a need for cheese in a grilled cheese sandwich. Mascarpone cheese makes this sandwich unbelievably creamy and sweet. If you’ve never tried mascarpone– fair, warning–you might be hooked. I’d describe it as a sweet (less tangy) cream cheese. The flavor of mascarpone is milder and texture creamier than cream cheese thanks to the heavy cream in the mixture.
This grilled Honey Banana Sandwich is a bit unique, but you have to give it a try; you’re going to love it!
Brioche Bread
The bananas, honey, cinnamon, and mascarpone cheese are sandwiched in between two unforgettable pieces of brioche bread. Brioche is my favorite to use for sandwiches, and it’s even better when it’s grilled for a grilled cheese sandwich.
The brioche bread makes the sandwiches mouth-wateringly delicious. Brioche has a rich flavor, soft texture, and offers big thick slices (a must for a good grilled cheese). The bread is made with real butter, sea salt, and a touch of milk.
Quick Tip
How is brioche different from regular bread? Brioche bread contains more butter and eggs than regular bread. This increases the fat content, which gives brioche bread its light, flaky, pastry-like qualities as compared to regular bread. The eggs give it a slightly golden color, which adds to its specialness!
How to make a sweet grilled cheese sandwich
- Start by adding a thick layer of mascarpone cheese to one piece of bread. Mascarpone cheese can be pricey, but we don’t use that much in these sandwiches, so it’ll last you for quite a few. The mascarpone cheese is a highlight in these sandwiches so don’t skip it!
- Add thick slices of a ripe banana to the other slice of bread. Because the bread is so thick, you don’t want the filling to get lost; cut the bananas into 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch thickness. Get a banana with golden yellow (not brown, not green) skin.
- Drizzle on the honey. Be as generous or as scarce here as you’d like. We like about a tablespoon of honey, but it does make for a pretty sweet sandwich. If you prefer less, cut back on the honey or replace it with peanut butter or almond butter.
- Add a sprinkle of cinnamon. This spice is optional but adds another dimension of flavor. You could spice this sandwich up even more with an extra sprinkle of nutmeg. For a fun fall/winter twist, add a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice!
- Place the pieces of bread with the fillings together; add a good amount of butter to the outsides of the bread (where it will hit the skillet). I recommend using REAL butter in a tub for easy application and smooth spreading onto the sandwich.
- Add the grilled cheese to a large skillet or, even better, a griddle. Grill for 2-3 minutes, on medium-high heat, or until browned to your liking on each side. The timing will vary depending on the pan/griddle you use, the actual heat of the oven or griddle, and how browned you like the bread.
- Slice the sandwich in half and enjoy immediately!
More Unique Sandwich Recipes:
- Cucumber Sandwiches–perfect to serve with high tea!
- Churro Ice Cream Sandwiches–add a little Latin flair to your ice cream!
- Vegetarian Tuna Salad–comfort food for vegans!
- Egg Wraps–make use of those leftover egg whites!
- Halloween Sandwich Cookies –frightfully tasty!
Honey and Banana Sandwich
Ingredients
- 2 slices brioche bread I like Sara Lee® Artesano™ Brioche
- 1 and 1/2 tablespoons mascarpone cheese
- 1/2 large banana
- 2 teaspoons honey
- Sprinkle of cinnamon
- 4 teaspoons unsalted butter
Instructions
- ASSEMBLY: Lay out the pieces of bread. Spread mascarpone cheese on one side of one piece of bread. Cut bananas into thick (½ to 3/4-inch thick) slices and place them on the other piece of bread. Drizzle honey all over the bananas -- add to taste ( we like about 2 teaspoons). Sprinkle cinnamon to taste right on top – about 1/8 to ¼ teaspoon, depending on preference. Place the piece of bread with mascarpone cheese on top of the bread with bananas. Smooth butter on that top piece of bread (facing outwards).
- COOK: Preheat a griddle or skillet to medium-high heat. Add the sandwich, buttered side down, to the skillet. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until lightly browned. While the sandwich is cooking, spread butter on the side of bread facing you that hasn't been buttered yet. Using a large spatula, flip the sandwich and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
- ENJOY: Remove from heat, slice in half, and enjoy.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
As your sister, I’m not sure how you made something so simple look and TASTE so good🤩
Thanks Callie! 🙂