Fancy Grilled Cheese: Brie with Jam and Watercress

Sometimes for a happy hour snack, I want something hearty and comforting. So, often I will take the classic childhood lunch, a grilled cheese, and turn it into a fancy grilled cheese. Today’s take on this comfort food staple consists of brie, jam and watercress between two pieces of buttery, toasty bread.

This is no ordinary grilled cheese and I doubt my kids would like it, but I am okay with that. I won’t have to share this ooey gooey goodness!

Even better, this fancy grilled cheese is insanely easy to make and super versatile. Don’t have Brie on hand? Substitute with any mild cheese. Even sharp cheddar is tasty on this sandwich with the sweetness of the jam. I think the key to this grilled cheese is the mix of the salty cheese with the sugar of the jam. Who doesn’t love a salty sweet bite?

My friend, Jovan of Sage’s Larder gave me a jar of her Blueberry Jam. It’s so dreamy that I knew it was destined for a tasty creation that included buttered bread. It makes this sammie so awesome. She takes great care to make all of her tasty creations with the freshest fruits and veggies and you can really taste the difference. Her pickles are the bomb. They would be a great complement to this happy hour snack. Note to self: next time, serve it with a side of pickles.

To assemble this sandwich, I spread the jam on a slice of hearty whole wheat bread. I cut thick slices of Brie and layered them over the jam. Then I added watercress and a couple more slices of Brie. I topped it off with another piece of bread. I buttered the outside of the sandwich with softened butter and then put it in a hot iron skillet to toast the outside and melt the cheese.

It’s such a simple recipe and has endless variations. I know your hungry friends will appreciate this fancy grilled cheese filled with melted Brie, crisp watercress and sweet jam. Slice up the sandwich into fourths and it’s perfect for sharing! Make this for you next happy hour and let me know how it turns out! Cheers!