Apple Pie Panini

Today I am excited to share a mouthwatering recipe out of my friend, Kathy’s, new cookbook, The Ultimate Panini Press Cookbook!

I was very excited to get my hands on this cookbook because, well, I happen to love the delicious toasted sandwiches also known as panini. I much prefer a hot sandwich over a cold sandwich and Kathy’s book contains more than 200 recipes for just that.

In my pregnancy so far, I’ve been craving mega fruit. First it was strawberries, then it was blueberries, then watermelon…and now green apples. So sweet and tart and delicious!! I can’t get enough granny smiths in my life at the moment, which is why this recipe for apple pie panini is right up my ally! The idea of a panini using cinnamon raisin bread, honey sweetened mascarpone and tart green apples is…well…GENIUS. Just try it and you’ll see what I’m talking about!

And yes, it really does taste just like warm apple pie.

I made this sandwich as an afternoon snack {I ate half and shared the other half with my two year old neighbor who also gobbled it right up} but next time I’m making this for breakfast!

I used Rudi’s whole wheat cinnamon raisin bread, which I adore because it’s thick, dense and delicious both slathered with salted butter or this honey mascarpone spread.

Okay, does anyone remember when McDonalds offered those apple pie pockets? Oh, wait…I just checked and apparently they still do offer them. That just shows the last time I ate at McDonalds. Anyway, these panini taste like those. In other words, delicious.

Oh, and you totally don’t have to own a panini press to make these! You can just cook them up on a hot skillet, weighing the panini down with a heavy pan as they toast. You won’t get those pretty grill marks but it will still taste yummy.

Apple Pie Panini

yields 4 panini

From The Ultimate Panini Press Cookbook

Print this Recipe!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup mascarpone cheese

2 tsp honey

4 tbsp butter, room temperature

8 slices cinnamon raisin bread

1 granny smith apple, thinly sliced

2 tbsp brown sugar

Directions:

Either in a small bowl with a whisk or in a food processor, whip the mascarpone cheese and honey together until well combined.

Heat the panini press to medium high heat.

To assemble the sandwich, spread butter on two slices of bread. Flip over the slices and spread 1 tbsp of the mascarone mixture on each. Layer one slice with apple slices and close the sandwich. Sprinkle brown sugar on top.

Grill panini in the press until the fillings are warmed and the bread is toasted and golden, about 3-5 minutes.

Time:

15 minutes