Havarti grilled cheese

Are you looking for an easy grilled cheese recipe that is made with havarti cheese? Then check out this tasty havarti grilled cheese with fresh apples and apricot jam. The sweet flavor of the apricot jam is the perfect complement to the shape, salty flavor of the havarti cheese.

We make this havarti grilled cheese with gluten free bread so that the end product will be entirely gluten free. That being said, if you do not have a gluten intolerance then you could also use regular bread. No other substitutions are necessary.

A havarti grilled cheese sandwich with havarti, swiss, apples, and apricot jam. One grilled cheese is stacked on top of another. There are three apples in the background.

What is in a havarti grilled cheese?

What is in this recipe for havarti grilled cheeses? Here are the main ingredients in this recipe for havarti grilled cheeses.

  • Gluten free bread. You can’t have a grilled cheese without bread. We used this seeded Schar bread to make our grilled cheese sandwiches, but we are also a huge fan of canyon bakehouse bread (it is the brand that is most recommended by the gluten free community after all). If you do not have a gluten intolerance then you can also use regular bread rather than gluten free bread.
  • Havarti cheese. Havarti cheese is the main cheese that is used in this havarti grilled cheese recipe. Havarti has a strong, salty flavor so it pairs well with sweet elements such as fruit jams and jellies.
  • Swiss cheese. Some swiss cheese is added in addition to the havarti cheese. The creamy taste of the swiss cheese provides a nice contrast to the sharp, salty flavor of the havarti cheese.
  • Honeycrisp apple. Thin slices of honeycrisp apple are also added to this havarti grilled cheese recipe. If you do not have honeycrisp apples then you can also use another sweet red apple such as a fuji apple.
  • Apricot jam. Finally, some apricot jelly is added to this havarti grilled cheese recipe. The sweet flavor of the apricot jelly perfectly compliments the sharp, salty flavor of the havarti cheese. We always use this Stonewall Kitchen apricot jam and we could not recommend it enough. Stonewall kitchen jams are some of the sweetest and most flavorful jams around!

How to make havarti grilled cheese

How do you make a havarti grilled cheese? Here is how to make a havarti grilled cheese.

  • Cut the apple. The first step in making a havarti grilled cheese is to slice the apple into thin slices. You will need a sharp, high quality kitchen knife to do this. We use this chef’s knife by Victorinox and we recommend it to anyone who is looking to upgrade their general purpose kitchen knife. If you need to shred your cheese, now is also a great time to do that.
  • Toast one side of the bread. After the apple has been sliced, it is time to toast the bread for your grilled cheese. Heat a pan over medium low to medium heat and melt the butter before adding the bread to the pan. Toast the bread for 2 – 3 minutes per side until the bread is a nice golden brown color. You may need to toast the bread in batches or use 2 pans.
  • Assembled the grilled cheeses. After you toast one side of the bread, it is time to assemble the havarti grilled cheeses. You should use the side of the bread that has been toasted on the inside of the grilled cheese and put the toppings directly on the toasted part. Add the swiss cheese, havarti cheese, apricot jam, and a few apple slices before topping it off with another piece of bread.
  • Toast the outsides of the grilled cheeses. After the grilled cheese has been assembled, it is time to toast the outsides of the grilled cheese. Since we used the toasted sides of the grilled cheese on the outsides, the outsides should be untoasted. Toast the grilled cheese one side at a time until the outsides are also a nice golden brown color. If it seems like the cheese is not going to finish melting by the time the bead is done toasting, lower the temperature on your pan to the lowest setting and let the cheese melt slowly.
  • Add the salt. When you are done toasting your assembled grilled cheese, all that is left is to add some salt to the outsides and serve!

A havarti grilled cheese sandwich with havarti, swiss, apples, and apricot jam. One grilled cheese is stacked on top of another.

How to store a havarti grilled cheese

How do you store a havarti grilled cheese? You can store a havarti grilled cheese in the refrigerator for up to 3 days if it is kept in an airtight storage container or ziplock bag. We recommend putting a paper towel in the container alongside your grilled cheese so that any excess moisture gets directed towards the paper towel.

If you plan to have leftovers after making this havarti grilled cheese recipe we also recommend trying to line both pieces of bread with cheese so that the apple and apricot jam are not touching the bread too much. This will help to prevent the liquids from the apples and the jam from soaking into the bread and making the bread soggy.

How to reheat a havarti grilled cheese

How do you reheat this havant grilled cheese? You have a few options when it comes to reheating this havarti grilled cheese.

  • On the stove. The best way to reheat this havarti grilled cheese is to cook it on the stove. You should cook the grilled cheese over low to medium low heat for a few minutes per side until the cheese is fully melted. You may need to add some extra butter to your pan when you reheat your grilled cheese.
  • In the microwave. If you do not want to dirty any more dishes, you can also reheat your havarti grilled cheese in the microwave. Just be warned that grilled cheeses that are reheated in the microwave will have bread that is more chewy and less crisp than grilled cheeses that are reheated on the stove. We recommend reheating the grilled cheeses on full power for 30 – 45 seconds then checking them to see if they need any more time. Once the cheese is fully melted, the grilled cheese should be ready.

Havarti grilled cheese

This tasty havarti grilled cheeses is made with a blend of creamy swiss cheese and salty havarti cheese. Some apricot jam and sweet red apple slices are also added to provide a nice contrast to the sharp, salty flavor of the havarti cheese. This grilled cheese recipe is vegetarian friendly, egg friendly, nut free, and gluten free when made with gluten free bread.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian
Keyword: egg free, gluten free, nut free, vegetarian
Servings: 4 grilled cheeses

Ingredients

  • 8 slices gluten free bread
  • 2 cups havarati cheese
  • 2 tbsp apricot jam
  • 1 honeycrisp apple
  • butter for frying
  • salt for outside

Instructions

  • Slice the apple into thin slices using a sharp kitchen knife. Cut the apple slices into halves o quarters when you ae done.
    If you need to grate any cheese, now is also the time to do that.
  • Heat a pan over medium low to medium heat then add some butter. Toast each side of bread on one side for 2 - 3 minutes or until it achieves a nice golden brown color.
    Depending on the number of grilled cheeses you are making and the size of your pan, you may need to toast the bread in multiple batches.
  • Add the havarti chees, swiss cheese, apricot jam, and apple slices on top of the toasted side of one of the pieces of bread. Add another piece of bread with the toasted side facing the toppings.
    When you are done assembling your grilled cheeses, the untoasted sides of the bread should be on the outsides.
  • Add more butter to the pan if necessary and toast the grilled cheese fo 2 - 3 minutes per side or until the bread achieves a nice golden brown color.
  • Salt the outsides of the grilld cheeses then serve.

Notes

Add the cheese when the bread is still hot. If you add the cheese to the toasted bread when it is still warm, this will help the cheese melt faster. 
Lower the temperature if  your cheese is not melting. Is your bread reaching a nice golden brown color before your cheese melts? That means that the temperature on your pan is too high. Try decreasing the temperature next time. You can also let the grilled cheese sandwiches cook on low for a few minutes before cranking the heat up to brown the bread.
Increase the temperature if bread is not browning. Is your cheese melting before your bread reaches that nice golden brown color? That means that the temperature on your pan is too low. Ty increasing the temperature a little next time!

Substitutions for this havarti grilled cheese

  • Gluten free bread. If you do not have a gluten intolerance then you can use regular bread rather than gluten free bread. No other substitutions are required.
  • Honeycrisp apples. If you do not have honeycrisp apples then you can use a different red apple. You should stick with sweet red apples rather than sour green apples.

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