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Fresh ingredients including crisp apples, yellow onions, artisan bread, and a block of Gruyere cheese on a marble surface.

Gourmet Caramelized Onion and Apple Grilled Cheese

This Caramelized Onion and Apple Grilled Cheese features sweet golden onions, crisp tart apples, and gooey melted Gruyere on perfectly toasted artisan bread. A gourmet comfort food masterpiece.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 2 sandwiches
Course: Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 685
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Sandwich Ingredients
  • 2 large yellow onions (400g) thinly sliced
  • 1 medium crisp apple (150g) like Honeycrisp, sliced paper-thin
  • 1.5 cups Gruyere cheese (150g) freshly grated
  • 4 slices artisan bread (200g) sourdough or rustic white
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter (42g) softened, divided
  • 1 tbsp olive oil (15ml)
  • 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves (4g) plus sprigs for garnish
  • 0.5 tsp kosher salt (3g)

Equipment

  • 1 Large Heavy-Bottomed Skillet Cast iron or stainless steel.
  • 1 Box grater For freshly grating the Gruyere cheese.

Method
 

Making the Grilled Cheese
  1. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp butter in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add the sliced onions and cook for 30-40 minutes until deeply golden and sweet. Stir in salt, pepper, and thyme leaves during the last 5 minutes.
  2. Core and slice the apple paper-thin. Grate the Gruyere cheese using the large holes of a box grater for optimal melting.
  3. Butter one side of all 4 slices of bread using the remaining softened butter. Flip them over on a cutting board so the butter side is down.
  4. Layer half the grated Gruyere on two slices of bread. Top with warm caramelized onions, thin apple slices, and the remaining Gruyere. Cap with the second slice of bread, buttered side facing out.
  5. Heat a clean skillet over medium-low. Cook the sandwiches for 4-5 minutes per side, gently pressing with a spatula, until the bread is a deep golden brown and the cheese is gooey and dripping.
  6. Let rest for 1 minute, slice in half, stack, and garnish with fresh thyme sprigs. Serve immediately.

Notes

Patience is Key: Do not rush the onions; cook them low and slow.
Room Temp Butter: Ensure butter is soft so it spreads easily without tearing the artisan bread.