Odd food mashups are one of my favorite things. Some feel like they were meant to be, while others sound downright questionable. For me, food “rules” don’t matter as much as curiosity does. And I’m willing to try pretty much anything once.
I’ve always been a sucker for these kinds of combinations. I’ve tried fries dipped in milkshakes (an instant classic), hot honey on pizza and sour cream and onion potato chips stuffed into a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a la Julia Roberts. And then there were the PBJ-topped hard-boiled eggs that were making the social media rounds. Hmmm. Some experiments were instant wins, others were one-and-done, but that’s half the fun of trying them. Mashups invite play, and they reward a little culinary chaos.
And classic dishes are the perfect jumping off point for mashups. Take the grilled cheese, for example. It’s iconic, beloved, delicious and primed for customization. The viral French onion grilled cheese was a big hit here at Parade, but I wasn’t sure about another creative sandwich spin I ran across recently: crème brûlée grilled cheese.
It’s a concept that sounds wild at first, but the longer I thought about it the more I wanted to try it. Why? Grilled cheese is one of my favorite foods, crème brûlée is my favorite dessert and I love a sweet-and-savory combo.
So when I saw a stripped-down, no-frills version, shared by record producer, songwriter, and artist Benny Blanco, it felt less like a stunt and more like an invitation to try something fun. Sometimes the weirdest ideas are just familiar flavors meeting in a new place. Here’s what happened when I made this sandwich in my kitchen.
Related: This Oregon-Famous Grilled Cheese Has Been Ordered More Than 78K Times—We Tried It To See What the Hype Was About
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What Is Crème Brûlée Grilled Cheese?
Crème brûlée grilled cheese takes the defining element of the classic French dessert—crunchy caramelized sugar—and applies it to the outside of a grilled cheese sandwich. Instead of plain buttered bread, the exterior gets a buttery sugar coating that toasts into a crackly, golden crust as it cooks.
Courtesy Angel Albring
Some versions online go all out, calling for heavy cream, brioche or challah, fancy cheeses and a kitchen torch to brûlée the sugar. While those look decadent and absolutely worth trying someday, they also feel more like a weekend project than a quick lunch.
Blanco’s version caught my attention because it leaned into simplicity, using pantry staples and a skillet. I had everything I needed on hand, which immediately lowered the barrier to actually trying it.
@itsbennyblanco crème brûlée grilled cheese
♬ Little Things – Adrián Berenguer
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Ingredients Needed
To make this viral sandwich, you’ll need bread, cheese slices, sugar, melted butter and cinnamon. Blanco suggests Wonder Bread and Kraft singles, but I had sourdough and sliced cheddar on hand, so I went for a slightly more upscale version. I also added a splash of coconut coffee creamer to mine for an extra boost of flavor and to dial up the crème vibes.
Courtesy Angel Albring
How To Make Crème Brûlée Grilled Cheese
Start by mixing melted butter with sugar and a pinch of cinnamon. If you’re using creamer, add just a splash. The viscosity of the butter and sugar mixture will determine the thickness of your brûlée crust. Mine was on the thinner side, but if you want a more substantial crust, add a bit more sugar to the mixture. Just keep in mind that the more sugar you add the more likely the brûlée layer is to burn so you’ll need to lower the heat in the pan and keep a close eye on the sandwich.
Courtesy Angel Albring
Spread the butter and sugar mixture generously over one side of each slice of bread. Place one slice, sugar-side down, into an oiled, preheated nonstick skillet. Top it with slices of cheese, then add the second slice of bread on top, sugar-side up.
Courtesy Angel Albring
From there, cook it like a normal grilled cheese, keeping the heat at medium or medium-low. This part matters because the sugar needs time to caramelize without burning. Let the sandwich cook until it’s deeply golden and crisp, then flip and repeat on the other side.
Courtesy Angel Albring
The result is a sandwich with a crackly, caramelized exterior and a gooey, savory center.
Related: I Tried the Boxed Mac and Cheese Hack That’s Going Viral and It’s a Total Game-Changer
Crème Brûlée Grilled Cheese: My Honest Thoughts
Courtesy Angel Albring
Surprisingly, this was really good! The contrast is what makes it work so well. I loved how the crunchy, sweet crust played against the melty, salty cheese. It hits the same pleasure points as dipping fries into a milkshake or adding honey to something cheesy.
This isn’t an everyday grilled cheese replacement, but it’s a fun, fast twist when you want something familiar that still feels exciting. If you love grilled cheese, love dessert or just enjoy trying things that sound a little unhinged but are actually totally delicious, this is it!
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