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Save some cranberry sauce for a cranberry pear grilled cheese sandwich that your kids will rave about!

Learn how to turn those holiday leftovers into an epic cranberry pear grilled cheese and how to keep it fresh in a school lunchbox!

two grilled cheese, pear and cranberry sandwiches

Grilled Cheese with Pears & Cranberry Sauce

Even my kids are feeling the holiday (and finals) stress lately, so we have a current comfort go-to that’s like hitting the pause button on all the chaos: a grilled cheese with pears & cranberry sauce! Sweet, tart and melty takes school lunch from simple to special!

And since my fridge is definitely going to be bursting with leftovers for a while, I’ve got this amazing turkey cranberry sandwich in rotation and a turkey and bacon bento for when my kids start giving sandwiches the side-eye.

What You Need

This is the kind of upgrade I love-just as quick and easy as the classic! A few slices of pear, a smear of cranberry sauce, and ta-da! You can find exact measurements in the recipe card:

Bread: any bread will work, but sturdy options like sourdough, multigrain or french bread will hold up the best for this sandwich.
Cheese: I’m opting for brie because it pairs great with fruit, but feel free to use your favorite! My daughter likes to use sharp cheddar for a fun flavor twist. Give it a try!
Pear: thinly sliced and ripe for the perfect sweetness!
Cranberry Sauce: Homemade or store-bought adds a bright, tangy flavor.
Butter: for a golden, crispy layer while grilling; room temperature butter will spread more easily than refrigerated butter.

How to Make a Cranberry Pear Grilled Cheese

Here are some tips to build this deliciously sweet-and-savory cranberry pear grilled cheese so that it stays amazing inside a lunchbox.

Assemble Sandwich
Place a slice of cheese on one side of the bread. Add a layer of pear slices, followed by a dollop of cranberry sauce and top with another slice of cheese for extra melt-factor! Close the sandwich and butter the outside.
Grill
Heat a skillet over medium heat and grill the sandwich until golden and crisp on both sides, about 2-3 minutes per side. The cheese should be fully melted and oozy.
Cool it off
Let the sandwich cool to room temperature. This will prevent moisture from building up in the lunch container and making the bread soggy.
Pack it for school
Place the sandwich in a sturdy lunch container keeping any lunch sides separate. Refrigerate everything until it’s time to leave.

Keeping a Grilled Sandwich Fresh Until School Lunch

Grilled sandwiches might be best hot off the pan, but these tips will help them shine even hours later and ensure that texture stays crunchy and fresh until the last bite:

Use the right container
I recommend using a hard, sandwich-sized container to keep your lunch from getting squished in a lunch bag. Everything will be tasty and intact when it’s time to eat!

Keep lunch sides chilled
if you’re adding fresh fruit or yogurt to this sandwich, including an ice pack in the lunch bag is the best way to ensure everything stays safe to eat and fresh by lunchtime.

Layer correctly
Place a layer of cheese on both sides of the bread with the cranberry sauce and pear slices in the middle. This creates a barrier that helps keep the bread from getting too moist.

Let it Cool
Make sure the sandwich cools completely before packing so condensation doesn’t form and turn that crispy bread into a soggy mess.

More Gourmet Grilled Sandwich Ideas

Whether your kids are into bold sandwiches like jalapeño grilled cheese and chicken pesto or prefer more familiar tastes like Hawaiian grilled cheese and grilled PB&J, these gourmet grilled sandwiches will make their lunchboxes anything but boring!

Cranberry Pear Grilled Cheese

Servings: 1

Prep Time: 5

Total Time: 5

Save some cranberry sauce for a cranberry pear grilled cheese sandwich that your kids will rave about!

5 from 4 votes

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Ingredients

2 slices of sandwich bread
2 tablespoons cranberry sauce
½ ripe pear, thinly sliced
2 slices of brie cheese, or enough to cover bread
Butter, for grilling

Instructions

Assemble the sandwich:

Place 1 slice of brie cheese on a piece of bread and layer on the cranberry sauce and pears. Top with remaining slice of cheese and close the sandwich. Butter both sides.

Grill it:

In a medium non-stick pan over medium-high heat, grill the sandwich for 2 to 3 minutes until the bottom is golden brown. Flip and continue to grill until the cheese is melted.
Remove from heat and allow the sandwich to cool to room temperature.

Pack it for lunch:

Once cooled, slice it in half and pack it inside a lunch container. If adding sides, pack them in a separate compartment or container with an ice pack, if needed.