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This Brie Grilled Cheese with ham and cherry jam is a continental delight. Sweet, salty, gooey, and crunchy, you're gonna wish it would never end. It's that awesome.

Brie Grilled Cheese with ham & cherry jam with text

I grew up in small town America, and Europe seemed far away and endlessly romantic. As a teenager, I dreamed of backpacking through Europe like the rich kids, having adventures on trains and dancing in the rain. I was not a rich kid, so that never happened. It took me until I was well into my 30's to finally visit Europe.

Now that I live in the UK, continental Europe is on my doorstep. And I'm an adult with a job, so I don't have to slum it in hostels. I can stay in a halfway decent hotel and eat halfway decent food. Maybe I don't stay out partying until midnight, but I've seen some truly amazing things. Now that travel restrictions are properly lifting, I can't wait to get back to the continent to explore.

What makes this Brie Grilled Cheese so awesome?

This Brie Grilled Cheese with Brunswick ham and cherry jam is deeply continental. I use French brioche and brie. If I was in the US, I'd use Black Forest ham, but Brunswick ham here in the UK is suitable as well. And of course, cherry jam is a key ingredient in a Black Forest cake. Cherry liqueurs are also popular in Eastern Europe. This is a pan-Continental sandwich, and I love it.

The bread is tender and crisp, the cheese is creamy and gooey, the ham is salty, and the jam is sweet. It's got everything going on. I ate this for breakfast and then had another one for lunch. I think you could make these as part of a fun brunch gathering. I'd try to eat at least 100 all by myself.

Brie Grilled Cheese with ham & cherry jam with pink linen

Magical Properties of Cherries

Humans have been enjoying cherries throughout Europe, Northern Africa, and Western Asia for centuries. This juicy red fruit has been used to attract love for nearly as long. They have also been used in divination. Apparently, there is a rhyme involving cherry pits that will tell you who you will marry. Cherries are ruled by Venus and carry feminine energy. They are associated with the elements of water and air. (Source: Rachel Patterson)

For information on the magical properties of other ingredients in this recipe, check the Kitchen Magick page.

Brie Grilled Cheese with ham & cherry jam on a wooden board

Tips for making Brie Grilled Cheese

Because we're using such a soft bread, you want to make sure you have butter that is very spreadable. Maybe even pop it in the microwave for 10 seconds if it's very cold. On the inside of the sandwich, spread a bit of cherry jam on both sides of the bread, then a couple of slices of ham and plenty of brie. There are measurements in the recipe, but they're just suggestions. You know how to make a sandwich.

Make sure you preheat your pan, but keep it low. You don't want your bread to burn before the cheese has a chance to get good and melty. You might want to create an assembly line or get someone to help you assemble sandwiches while someone else does the actual cooking. They're so delicious, you're gonna want to keep eating for days.

Brie Grilled Cheese with ham & cherry jam

Maybe you can't get to Europe right now, but you can make yourself a Brie Grilled Cheese with ham and cherry jam, and that's still pretty awesome.

Looking for more awesome Grilled Cheese recipes? Try this Fig Jam, Crispy Prosciutto & Brie Grilled Cheese or an Apple Butter & Sharp Cheddar Grilled Cheese.