This Roasted Apple and Brie Panini is filled with sweet apples, buttery cheese, and pecans on cinnamon-raisin bread! It’s a wonderful grilled cheese sandwich perfect for Fall or all year round for an easy lunch, or light dinner paired with a bowl of soup.
Whoever invented this brilliance of deli meat and cheese stuffed in-between two slices of bread is a genius. Want something quick and easy? Make a sandwich. Too tired to prepare a full meal for dinner? Make a sandwich. Taking the kids to the park? Bring sandwiches!
Only thing better than a regular sandwich is a grilled cheese. This apple and brie panini combines the flavor combo of sweet apples, buttery cheese, and cinnamon-raisin bread and it’s fantastic! What better way to welcome in Fall than with something apple-y.
And if you’ve got cranberry sauce and turkey, try our Turkey Brie Grilled Cheese, too!
What’s in this Apple and Brie Panini Recipe?
Here’s what you’ll need to make this apple brie panini recipe. You can find the exact measurements in the recipe card below.
- Apple – A sweeter apple like Honey crisp is my preference for this sandwich, but use your favorite or whatever you have on hand. It should be cored and cut into 1/4-inch thick slices.
- Cinnamon-raisin bread – I think this type of bread is so underrated! I love the addition of cinnamon flavor and sweet raisins built right in, which pair perfectly with the other sandwich ingredients.
- Brie cheese – This cheese is creamy, soft, and mild but rich and buttery. I prefer it without the rind, but it is perfectly edible if you want to leave it on.
- Pecans – Finely chopped pecans give the grilled cheese sandwich another level of flavor and provide a subtle texture crunch. If you don’t like pecans or can’t eat nuts, just simply omit them.
- Unsalted butter – Room temperature butter is spread on the exterior slices. Regular salted butter can also be used if you don’t mind the extra saltiness.
Tips and Variations
- Don’t have a panini maker? That’s ok! You can still cook these in a skillet on the stovetop like a regular grilled cheese sandwich. Or even in the oven like our oven grilled cheese sandwiches.
- Roasting the apple first. Roasting the fruit first can enhance its flavor and reduce the amount of liquid it releases while cooking. But if you want to include the apples raw, you can. Make sure they’re sliced thin so they warm through. You don’t want cold apple in the middle of hot bread and melted cheese.
- Use a different bread. I love cinnamon-raisin bread for this sandwich, but if you’re opposed to it, you certainly can use a different kind. I would stick with something that has more built in flavor than white bread, but really anything works.
- Try another cheese. If you don’t like brie, another soft buttery cheese works like Gruyère, Monterey Jack, or Fontina.
More Sandwiches To Try:
I hope you love this easy delicious recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Roasted Apple and Brie Panini
Ingredients
- 1 medium apple , cored and cut into 1/4-inch thick slices
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter , at room temperature
- 8 slices cinnamon-raisin bread
- 4 ounces sliced Brie cheese (with or without the rind)
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
- Arrange the apples on the baking sheet. Transfer to the oven and roast until the apples are soft and golden brown, with a caramelized crust on the bottom, about 15 minutes.
- Heat a panini press to medium-high.
- For each sandwich, spread butter on two slices of bread. Flip over once slice and top the other side with Brie, roasted apple slices, and pecans. Close sandwich with the other slice of bread, buttered side up.
- Grill two panini at a time, with the lid closed, until the cheese is melted and the bread is toasted, about 3-4 minutes (checking on it after a few minutes to make sure it doesn’t burn.)
- Let cool slightly, slice in half and enjoy!
Big panini fan here! Always looking for unique ways to consume more pecans. I didn’t see this coming but you nailed it. Thanks!
I love this recipe!! All the ingredients were so perfect together!
Pecans, cheese and apples? Be still my beating heart! Beautiful!! P.s. found you via a recipe highlight at Mother Nature Network – love your website!!
I swapped the brie with Fontina and added a little thyme. Sublime! The cinnamon-raisin bread is genius.
My favorite grilled cheese sandwich would have Brie cheese, pecans, and roasted vegetables.
My favorite is a caprese grilled sandwich
I love a good cheddar cheese and apple panini. Or a banana and chocolate panini.
I like sandwiches very much because they are really easy and fast in the process of cooking. But I`m not sure about the taste of this sandwich because I`ve never tried sweet sandwiches, especially with fruits. How did you find this recipe?
I really love paninis, but I’ve never thought to buy a press. Pretty much regretting that decision right now, as the few sandwiches you mentioned literally made my mouth water. Love!
PECANS IN A SANDWICH?!?!?!?! Holy shizz, YES. And cinnamon bread. And apples. And brie. And I just died and went to heaven.
(For the record, I’m a humongous fan of grilled pimento cheese. Another heaven moment, right there.)
I am literally salivating right now. “Grilled cheese” is my favorite food group. I live in NYC and there are a few places I go and ALWAYS get the grilled cheese. I think grilled cheese actually seeks me out. I can’t see it on a menu and not try it! The other day I had one with caramelized apples and three cheeses (gruyere, and 2 others I can’t remember…I blacked out) on rosemary bread. Die.
There’s also a school bus turned restaurant in Portland, OR where I had my first marscapone, nutella, and banana grilled cheese. Ok…have to stop talking about this. Let’s just say I share your love of grilled cheese and all sandwiches to the max. YUM!
Holy smokes that looks wonderful! I just added brie to my shopping list…
Roast beef, Brie with spicy russian dressing or granny smith apples, brie and turkey.
Havarti cheese with mango chutney
I’ve only had plain grill cheese sandwiches but I’d love to try one with bacon, caramelized onions, and tomato.
my favorite cheese sandwich by far is,smoked gouda with caramelized onions. I ALWAYS say mmmm after the first bite!
I like a grilled cheese with dill pickles!
Thank you so much, Amy!! I’m so glad you tried this one, it’s one of my favorites, especially at this time of year. :-)
What’s in my favorite grilled cheese sandwich? Mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, banana peppers and green peppers. Yummy!