I still remember the first time I made this after a late night out with friends. We demolished a plate and everyone asked for the recipe. A donut grilled cheese is officially my emergency mood-lifting snack.
Ingredients
- Glazed donuts: Sliced in half. Each donut brings softness and sweetness choose ones with a light glaze for less mess
- Bacon: Thick cut recommended for best crunch and flavor
- Cheddar cheese: Sharp cheddar melts beautifully and has enough flavor to stand up in this rich sandwich
- Maple syrup: Pure maple is ideal for real depth but any will do in a pinch
- Ground cinnamon: Adds subtle warmth that makes this sandwich extra special
- Cayenne pepper: Just a pinch gives a gentle kick use it if you like a little heat
Instructions
- Cook the Bacon:
- In a skillet set over medium heat let the bacon cook slowly. Turn occasionally and it will take about eight minutes to get that perfect crispy edge. Lay the cooked strips on paper towels to drain off any extra fat. The goal is fully rendered crunchy bacon that will not go soggy in the sandwich.
- Mix the Maple Drizzle:
- In a small bowl stir together maple syrup with ground cinnamon and the optional cayenne. Mixing the spices with the syrup infuses it with a wonderful aroma and just a hint of heat. Set this aside ready for later.
- Toast the Donuts:
- Place the donut halves cut side down in the still warm skillet. Toast them for about one to two minutes until the insides are golden and a little crunchy. This is key for building both flavor and structure so your sandwich holds up.
- Add Cheese and Bacon:
- Flip the donut halves so they are glazed side down. Top each bottom half with two slices of cheddar covering the cut surface edge to edge. Crumble the cooked bacon evenly over the cheese. Layering the cheese first helps it melt around the bacon locking everything in place.
- Drizzle Maple Mixture:
- Take your maple drizzle and spoon it all over the bacon so every corner gets some sweetness with that cinnamon aroma. Let it soak into the bacon and cheese below.
- Assemble and Melt:
- Place the top donut halves over the bacon and cheese gently pressing down. Cook for another minute or two. The cheese will start to melt and the donut will be perfectly warm and just a little crisped on the outside.
- Serve:
- Carefully lift the finished sandwiches out of the pan. Slice with a sharp knife if you like and serve them right away while the cheese is at peak gooeyness and everything inside is steamy and fragrant.
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