Hot Honey Apple Cheddar Bacon (Printable)

Golden bread layered with cheddar, beef bacon, apple slices, and a drizzle of hot honey.

# What You'll Need:

→ Bread & Spreads

01 - 8 slices artisan bread, sourdough recommended
02 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

→ Bacon

03 - 8 slices thick-cut beef bacon

→ Cheese & Fruit

04 - 6 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, grated or thinly sliced
05 - 1 medium Granny Smith apple, cored and thinly sliced

→ Hot Honey

06 - 2 tablespoons hot honey, store-bought or homemade
07 - Pinch flaky sea salt, optional
08 - ½ cup honey, if making from scratch
09 - 1–2 tablespoons red pepper flakes, if making from scratch
10 - ½ teaspoon apple cider vinegar, optional, if making from scratch

# Method:

01 - In a small saucepan, combine ½ cup honey, 1–2 tablespoons red pepper flakes, and optional ½ teaspoon apple cider vinegar. Gently heat over low heat for 5–7 minutes without boiling. Remove from heat, let steep for 15–20 minutes or longer for additional spice, then strain if desired. Store at room temperature.
02 - In a skillet over medium heat, cook beef bacon slices for 8–12 minutes, turning occasionally, until crispy. Alternatively, bake at 400°F for 15–20 minutes on a lined baking sheet. Drain on paper towels and reserve approximately 1 tablespoon rendered fat. Break bacon into 2–3 pieces per slice.
03 - Wash, core, and thinly slice the apple to approximately ⅛-inch thickness. Grate or thinly slice the cheddar cheese.
04 - Butter one side of each bread slice. On 4 unbuttered sides, layer half the cheese, apple slices, and beef bacon. Drizzle each with 1 tablespoon hot honey. Top with remaining cheese, then close sandwiches with remaining bread, butter-side up.
05 - Preheat a heavy skillet over medium-low heat with 1 teaspoon reserved bacon fat or additional butter. Place sandwiches butter-side down. Cook 4–6 minutes per side, pressing gently, until golden-brown and cheese is fully melted. Cook slowly to avoid burning.
06 - Transfer sandwiches to a cutting board and let rest 2–3 minutes. Cut each sandwich diagonally. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt or an extra drizzle of hot honey if desired. Serve warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's proof that grilled cheese can be a real meal, not just comfort food nostalgia.
  • The hot honey creates this addictive sweet-spicy-savory balance that keeps you coming back for another bite.
  • Everything comes together in under an hour, so you can impress someone without the stress.
02 -
  • Medium-low heat is non-negotiable here; I learned this the hard way when I cranked up the heat trying to speed things along and got a burned crust with cold cheese inside.
  • Slicing your apple right before assembly keeps it from browning and tasting oxidized, and keeping the slices thin means they cook through instead of staying hard and tart.
03 -
  • If you're making hot honey, let it sit for a full day before using—the flavor compounds need time to really develop and mellow out.
  • Grate your cheese fresh if you can; pre-shredded cheese has anti-caking agents that prevent it from melting as smoothly, and you'll notice the difference here.
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