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    Home » Recipes » Savory Breakfast

    Published: May 8, 2023 by Willow Moon · This post may contain affiliate links. · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

    Vegan Monte Cristo

    Jump to Recipe Pin Video

    This Vegan Monte Cristo is rich, sweet, and savory. It has the perfect balance of flavors. Eat it for breakfast or other times of the day.

    Vegan Monte Cristo stacked on a plate.

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    A Monte Cristo is basically a combination of French toast and a ham and cheese sandwich. For this recipe, I made a vegan version of the classic.

    This Vegan Monte Cristo is sweet and savory with a touch of spice from Dijon mustard. Raspberry jam adds a tart, sweet component, and vegan Swiss gives this sandwich a rich, creamy flavor.

    Tofu Bacon adds a sweet smoky flavor. Some other ways to use tofu bacon are a Vegan Submarine Sandwich, Vegan Reuben Sandwich, and a Vegan BLAT.

    And if you prefer a Vegan Onion Quiche or a Vegan French Toast recipe, I have those too!

    Jump to:
    • 🧾 Ingredients
    • 📖 Variations / Additions
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 🥡 Storage
    • 💭 Tips
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQs
    • 🥪 Other Vegan Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
    • 🎥  Video
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    🧾 Ingredients

    Ingredients with labels foe Vegan Monte Cristo.
    • Bread: I used a gluten-free millet chia bread. You could use whatever your favorite bread is.
    • Unsweetened plain almond milk: I used unsweetened because I like to control the amount of sugar. You could use the dairy-free milk of your choosing.
    • Ground chia seeds: Gets gelatinous in liquid and acts as a binder. You could also use ground flax seeds.
    • All-purpose gluten-free baking flour: Is the batter for the French toast. I haven't tried other flours, but I'm sure any all-purpose baking flour would work.
    • Tofu bacon: Replaces bacon. Adds a sweet smoky flavor.
    • Vegan Swiss cheese: Replaces Swiss cheese. Adds a mild nutty flavor.
    • Raspberry jam: Adds a sweet tart flavor.
    • Dijon mustard: Adds a sharp tangy flavor.
    • Vegan butter: To cook the bread in. Adds a rich buttery flavor. Any neutral-flavored oil would work. You could also use coconut oil or olive oil, just keep in mind the flavors they will impart.

    This is an overview of the ingredients. To see the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    📖 Variations / Additions

    • Vegan mayo
    • Store-bought vegan ham, turkey, or bacon
    • Another vegan cheese like Provolone
    • Powdered sugar sprinkled on top
    • Maple syrup for serving

    5 Secrets to Transforming Tofu

    Maple Dijon Baked Tofu Sandwich

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    🔪 Instructions

    Open faced Vegan Monte Cristo on cutting board.

    Step 1: Whisk unsweetened almond milk with ground chia seeds and gluten-free all-purpose baking flour in a shallow bowl or baking dish. Set aside.

    Step 2: Spread raspberry jam and Dijon mustard on bread.

    Vegan Monte Cristo in batter and being fried.

    Step 3: Place vegan Swiss cheese slices and tofu bacon on bread and sandwich them together.

    Step 4: Heat vegan butter in a skillet on medium heat.

    Step 5: Dip sandwiches in batter, then place in a heated skillet with vegan butter. Dome the sandwich with a lid to help the vegan cheese melt.

    Step 6: Fry on both sides until golden brown.

    Vegan Monte Cristo on a plate.

    🥡 Storage

    It is best to serve this sandwich right after making it. You can keep the batter in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. The tofu bacon will last 4-5 days in an airtight container in the fridge.

    💭 Tips

    • Some vegan cheese melts better than others. You can broil the sandwiches if the Swiss isn't melted enough or you can place a heat-safe bowl or a cheese-melting dome over the top.
    • I recommend cooking the sandwich in vegan butter. It imparts a rich buttery flavor.

    👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQs

    What's In a Monte Cristo?

    I have seen many variations of the Monte Cristo, but as I understand it, it is normally made with cheese, ham, or turkey, and dipped in egg before being grilled or fried. It usually has mustard or mayo and served with jam.

    Like so many recipes, I had to veganize it. Instead of meat and cheese, I used tofu bacon and vegan Swiss cheese.

    🥪 Other Vegan Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

    • Avocado Pesto Grilled Cheese
      Avocado Pesto Grilled Cheese
    • Vegan Pizza Grilled Cheese
      Vegan Pizza Grilled Cheese
    • Vegan Grilled Cheese with Caramelized Onions and Red Pepper
      Vegan Grilled Cheese with Caramelized Onions and Red Pepper
    • Refried Bean Grilled Cheese
      Refried Bean Grilled Cheese

    🎥  Video

    If you tried this Vegan Monte Cristo Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and let me know how you like it in the 💬 comments below. I love hearing from you!

    I originally posted this recipe on Dec. 7, 2016. I added new photos, text, and a video when I republished it.

    📋 Recipe

    Vegan Monte Cristo on a plate.
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    5 from 4 votes

    Vegan Monte Cristo

    This Vegan Monte Cristo is rich, sweet, and savory. It has the perfect balance of flavors. Eat it for breakfast or other times of the day.
    Course Breakfast
    Cuisine French inspired
    Diet Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time 20 minutes minutes
    Servings 2
    Calories 586kcal
    Author Willow Moon
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup unsweetened plain almond milk
    • 1 tablespoon ground chia seeds
    • 1 ½ teaspoons all-purpose gluten free flour
    • 4 slices gluten free bread
    • 4 slices tofu bacon
    • 4 slices vegan Swiss cheese
    • 2 tablespoons raspberry jam
    • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
    • 1 tablespoon vegan butter
    • Pinch salt
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • In a bowl, whisk unsweetened plain almond milk, ground chia seeds, gluten free flour, and salt together until lumps are gone. Set aside.
    • Spread raspberry jam on two slices of bread. Spread Dijon mustard on the other two slices of bread.
    • Put 2 slices of vegan Swiss and 2 slices of tofu bacon on top of raspberry jam. Top with the remaining slices of bread, mustard side down.
    • Heat vegan butter in a pan on medium heat. Dip one sandwich in the batter, then place it in the pan. Cover the pan with a lid so the vegan cheese melts. Repeat with the other sandwich. Cook both sides until golden brown.

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    Nutrition

    Calories: 586kcal | Carbohydrates: 75g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 1692mg | Potassium: 339mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 640IU | Vitamin C: 1.7mg | Calcium: 282mg | Iron: 3.2mg
    SIGN UP for my newsletter, get a FREE 30 Minute Vegan Dinners 7-Day Meal Plan as a welcome gift! 💌

    *Note: Nutrition information should be considered an estimate only. Different nutrition calculators give you different results.

    More Savory Breakfast

    • Spicy Chickpea Scramble
      Spicy Chickpea Scramble
    • Tofu bacon on an open faced sandwich.
      The Most Incredible Tofu Bacon
    • Vegan Tofu Omelette on a plate.
      Vegan Tofu Omelette
    • Vegan Chilaquiles
      Vegan Chilaquiles

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 4 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Lillie says

      September 16, 2020 at 6:26 pm

      I used lingonberry jam, added butter to the pan and mine wasn't gluten free. It was delicious. Thank you5 stars

      Reply
      • Willow Moon says

        September 16, 2020 at 7:03 pm

        I’ve never had lingonberry jam, I have to check it out!

        Reply
    2. Deana says

      June 11, 2018 at 2:01 pm

      I have been making this every week because I love it so much! Thanks for the recipe!5 stars

      Reply
      • Willow Moon says

        June 11, 2018 at 2:34 pm

        Thanks Deana, I'm so glad!

        Reply
    3. cara says

      December 16, 2016 at 8:03 am

      Drooling right now! These look/sound so good!

      Reply
      • Willow Moon says

        December 17, 2016 at 10:06 am

        Thanks Cara!

        Reply
    4. Cathy says

      December 09, 2016 at 10:23 am

      Oh my gosh I am sitting here literally drooling at the mouth haha!! You're making me want to have this for lunch!

      Reply
      • Willow Moon says

        December 10, 2016 at 9:17 am

        Haha! Thanks Cathy!

        Reply
    5. Bella says

      December 08, 2016 at 10:18 pm

      Yummy this looks so good!! I love grilled cheese

      Reply
    6. Amber says

      December 08, 2016 at 8:38 pm

      the minute you said, "breakfast" I was in. I loooove monte cristos and I love that this is vegan! Thank you for sharing the recipe!

      Reply
      • Willow Moon says

        December 10, 2016 at 9:13 am

        Thanks Amber!

        Reply
    7. Mallory Mitchell says

      December 08, 2016 at 3:41 pm

      This sound so good!! Sharing it with all my vegan friends right now 🙂

      Reply
      • Willow Moon says

        December 10, 2016 at 9:11 am

        Thanks Mallory!

        Reply
    8. Mary Barham says

      December 08, 2016 at 2:33 pm

      YUM!!!! I am going to make this tomorrow for my sisters and I!! They will beg me for the recipe! SHARING!

      Reply
      • Willow Moon says

        December 10, 2016 at 9:10 am

        Thanks Mary! I hope you all like it!

        Reply
    9. Ciera Chang says

      December 08, 2016 at 3:28 pm

      Yum! This sandwich looks delicious!

      xoxo, CiCi

      Reply
      • Willow Moon says

        December 10, 2016 at 9:10 am

        Thanks Cici!

        Reply
    10. anastasia says

      December 08, 2016 at 12:22 pm

      OMG YUM! Obsessed with this healthy alternative to such a classic dish. I'm vegetarian and totally going to make this - but probably with normal bread 😉

      Reply
      • Willow Moon says

        December 10, 2016 at 9:09 am

        Thanks Anastasia! I miss regular bread, especially sour dough and baguettes!

        Reply

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    I've been vegan for 25 years and
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