Often times I take a look around these parts and realize I must have a secret agenda to put skinny jeans out of style, one recipe at a time. Strawberry cheesecake chimichangas? Check. Homemade Samoas Girl Scout cookies? Check. Homemade churros with chocolate sauce? Check. But today we may officially retire denim in favor of jeggings. Because today, my fellow calorie crushers, we feast on Apple Pie Panini.
I cannot take credit for this gastronomical greatness. This dessert creation was dreamt up by my friend, fellow San Diegan and cookbook author, Kathy Strahs, of Panini Happy. Kathy’s new book, The Ultimate Panini Press Cookbook, hit shelves last week and boy does it ever catapult everyday pressed sandwiches into extraordinary panini.
This book’s got it all, from Chicken Parm Panini and Pimento Panini to BBQ Rib Melt Panini and Monte Cristo Panini. While the savory sandwiches were enough to inspire me to crank up my panini press, it was the dessert section that had me sprinting to the supermarket.
This Apple Pie Panini stars honey-whipped mascarpone, juicy green apple slices and brown sugar-crusted raisin bread. Think of it like French toast meets apple pie. I took it one step further and topped it all off with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. After all, this is a dessert panini. (And definitely not for your bikini.)
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Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mascarpone cheese
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 4 tablespoons (½ stick) butter, at room temperature
- 8 slices cinnamon raisin bread, sliced from a dense a bakery loaf
- 1 Granny Smith or other firm apple, cored and thinly sliced
- 2 Tablespoons light brown sugar
- Vanilla bean ice cream (optional)
Equipment:
- panini press
Instructions
- Either in a small bowl with a whisk or in a mini food processor, whip the mascarpone and honey together until it’s well combined and fluffy.
- Heat the panini press to medium-high heat.
- For each sandwich: Spread butter on two slices of bread to flavor the outside of the sandwich. Flip over both slices of bread and spread 1 tablespoon sweetened mascarpone on each. Top one slice of bread with a layer of apples and close the sandwich with the other slice, buttered side up. Sprinkle some brown sugar on top.
- Grill two panini at a time, with the lid closed, until the fillings are warmed and the bread is toasted, with a sweet crust, 3 to 5 minutes. Top each sandwich with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream (optional) and serve.
- ★ Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to give it a star rating below!
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Recipe from The Ultimate Panini Press Cookbook. Reprinted with permission from Kathy Strahs.
This is a great base to work off of I swapped out the raisin bread for regular white bread and the cheese for american cream cheese and added cinnamon on top the apples before heating very yummy
YUM! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, William!
We made this for lunch on Abigail’s Oven Cinnamon Swirl Sourdough Bread, but we liked it better when we added sharp cheddar cheese and crisp bacon, but for dessert, it would be grand with vanilla ice cream too and NO bacon or cheese
YUM! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Darryl!
This was amazing! I made it for dessert after a smaller supper day and my whole family loved it. I served it with vanilla ice cream over top and a sprinkling of cinnamon. Thanks so much for sharing it.
Yay! I’m so glad you and your family enjoyed the recipe, Kyra!
I think that I may be in love with you!LOL!justdont tell y hubs!!
Hahaha!!
SO GOOD! Topped with vanilla bean ice cream and a drizzle of salted caramel sauce. Yummy!
Love the addition of salted caramel, Kathy!
Oh my, this looks beyond incredible!!!
This looks awesome…my dream dessert come true! What a great idea…thanks for sharing…it looks delicious!
Holy cow!! Love this!
Ohhhh my goodness. You know how they say nothing tastes as good as skinny feels? Or, as you said, skinny jeans feel? Well, false. This beautiful creation is totally proof of that.
Apple Pie Panini – super :-)
Pozdrawiam <3
I have had one panini in my life and, now more than ever, I feel like I need to change that. With this panini, of course. The sooner the better! :)
Wow, skinny jeans are definitely gone – a panini that mimics a pie, with ice cream on top?? So amazing!! This looks seriously dangerous, in the best possible way.
I think I might have fainted! Looks amazing!
I’m looking forward to making this. It looks easy and delicious!
Oh Mah Gawd. You are a genius!
Man oh man Kelly this panini is so beautiful. Congrats to Kathy for a wonderful recipe- and your photo of it is just perfect.
PS- Can I come over and learn some things form you? ;)
Ok, this looks too good to be true. The scoop of ice cream on top was a brilliant idea :) I need to get Kathy’s book even more now!
What a killer panini, love this concept!
This is a fantastic cookbook. I want to make every recipe in it! And I never say about cookbooks. Great flavors. Such creative ideas.
Agreed, Elise! Every recipe looks fantastic. Monte Cristo Panini is next on my list!
I cannot even get over this. I knew Kathy was amazing, but whoa, just whoa!
I could not be in a room alone with this!!
I wanted this cookbook but now after seeing your photo I know I can’t live with out it!
Oh, I love this – Panini a la mode! What a fab idea. The book sounds wonderful, and I am SO glad you chose to feature this particular recipe. I would never have thought of it on my own. Thanks!
Dying over the deliciousness!
I’m with Julie on this one: “WOW, just wow!”
I will gladly give up denim for this
I just about died and went to heaven, Kelly. I usually eat toasted cinnamon raisin bread with a pat of butter and thinly sliced apples on top but THIS brings it to a whole new level!
Your combination sounds fantastic, too, Sally!
Ahhhhh! This looks so insane! Love this!!
Oh my! I just fainted in sheer delight.
Good glorious apples and deliciousness! What a perfect dessert that fits a fancy lunch with guests like I might be having next weekend. It’s like a total show-off, and yet, a simple sandwich all at the same time.
I couldn’t agree more! Easy elegance for sure :)
Holy schmoly that looks fabulous. There goes my waistline…
Kelly, your Apple Pie Paninis looks divine! I’m hungry for lunch right now and these look perfect! I need Kathy’s book. Thanks for sharing!
Whoa! This is completely, brilliant! Gorgeous, gorgeous photos!!
this looks gorgeous kelly!!! nicely done :)
This is stunningly beautiful, Kelly! I’ve never wanted dessert for breakfast more in my life!
Woah! Gorgeous!!! I could eat this every day! Congrats to Kathy on her beautiful book!!
I am, like most, wordless over this magnificent creation!
This looks so good!! Congrats to Kathy (also as a fellow San Diegan) on her book!
It’s funny in my book, I put a green apple, brie cheese, and PB grilled cheese sandwich! We were probably writing our books at the same time, both in San Diego :)
Beautiful & pinned!
Oh heck yes!!! No words. Just, Heck yes!!
I am totally cool with all of your sweet, delicious, treats whether jeans fit or not. I’m all over this!
Wow, upon wow!!!!!!!!! I’m speechless!
Oh my goodness – a la mode??! #craving!!! Thank you SO much, Kelly! :-)
I’m loving your book, Kathy! The Monte Cristo Panini is next on my list :) Huge congratulations to you!