Pumpkin Shaped Grilled Cheese – Crispy and Cheesy
This Pumpkin Shaped Grilled Cheese is crispy, golden, and filled with gooey melted cheese. It is an easy and festive fall or Halloween lunch that both kids and adults will love.
Ingredients
- 8 slices sturdy sandwich bread
- 4 oz sharp cheddar cheese
- 4 oz mozzarella cheese
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter softened
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 4 small pieces fresh parsley optional for pumpkin stems
Instructions
- Prepare the Bread: Place the bread slices on a cutting board. Using a pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter or a sharp knife, carefully cut each slice into a pumpkin shape. Save the bread scraps for breadcrumbs or another recipe.
- Add the Cheese: Place the cheddar and mozzarella over four pumpkin-shaped bread slices, leaving a small border around the edges. Sprinkle lightly with garlic powder and black pepper.
- Assemble the Sandwiches: Place the remaining pumpkin-shaped bread slices over the cheese. Press gently around the edges to help hold the sandwiches together. If desired, carefully score a few shallow pumpkin-ridge lines into the top of each sandwich.
- Butter the Bread: Spread softened butter evenly over the outside of each sandwich. Make sure the butter reaches most of the surface for an evenly golden and crispy crust.
- Cook the First Side: Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat. Place the sandwiches butter-side down and cook for about 4–5 minutes, or until the bottoms are golden brown and crisp.
- Flip and Finish Cooking: Carefully flip each sandwich with a wide spatula. Cook the other side for another 4–5 minutes, lowering the heat if needed, until golden brown and the cheese is completely melted.
- Add the Pumpkin Stem: Transfer the grilled cheese sandwiches to a cutting board and let them rest for about 2 minutes. Add a small piece of fresh parsley to the top of each sandwich to resemble a pumpkin stem.
- Slice and Serve: Slice the sandwiches in half if desired and serve immediately while the bread is crisp and the cheese is warm and gooey.
Notes
- For the best pumpkin-shaped grilled cheese, use sturdy sandwich bread that is large enough for your cookie cutter. Don't make the cheese layer excessively thick because too much filling can squeeze out while the sandwich cooks.
- Keep the skillet at medium-low heat. This is the key to getting a deeply golden, crispy exterior while giving the cheese enough time to melt completely.
- For Halloween parties or fall gatherings, make smaller sandwiches using a smaller pumpkin cutter and serve them alongside tomato soup or pumpkin soup.
- Best cheese combinations: Cheddar and mozzarella work especially well, but Monterey Jack, Colby, Gruyère, or American cheese can also be used.
Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 485 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 39 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fiber: 2 g
- Sugar: 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates and can vary depending on the bread, cheese, and butter brands used.