Sometimes an idea for a dish smacks me across the face and I can’t shake it until I make it. Even if I think that it might be an awful idea. This Apple Butter Sandwich started like that but is now one of my go-to breakfast sandwiches, especially in the fall!
This simple mix of slightly sweet apple butter, savory crunchy bacon, and breakfast eggs makes it was one of the best sandwiches I’ve made. I absolutely crave it some mornings!
What is Apple Butter and how to use it
Apple butter isn’t a very common ingredient, but there are a few different kinds in the store normally. You can find it in the jelly section and be sure to look at the ingredients in your apple butter.
Good apple butter will contain exactly two ingredients:
– Apples
– Apple juice or concentrate
Don’t get anything with added sugar or high fructose corn syrup. It’ll be too sweet. Just get the real stuff even if it costs an extra buck or two. Completely worth it. If you wanted to try to make your own apple butter, this tutorial from Simply Recipes is a great start!
Once your bread is toasted you can slather one side with a good amount of the apple butter.
It’s pretty hard to over-do it so do a nice thick layer.
Then pile on that nice crispy bacon right on top of the apple butter.
Another idea: Slather Apple Butter on a grilled cheese like this Apple Gruyere Grilled Cheese Sandwich.
What kind of bread works for this sandwich
I’m not precious when it comes to bread for breakfast sandwiches. I’ll use plain sandwich bread, fancy sourdough, ciabatta rolls… heck, I’ve even used hot dog buns in a pinch.
Most days though, I’ll just use plain sandwich bread for these sandwiches. Nothing fancy and it gets the job done!
Bacon Instructions
The best way to cook bacon, in my opinion, is in the oven, on a wire rack over a sheet pan at around 350 degrees F. This takes about 20 minutes, but for just a few strips of bacon you can also just cook it in a skillet over low heat so the bacon crisps up nicely.
Let these strips cook until they are nice and crispy.
Bacon Variation: Try this Sriracha Bacon for a spicy kick!
Cooking The Eggs
Anytime I’m putting eggs on a sandwich, I usually cook them the same way: fried over-easy or sunny-side up. There’s really no other way to make them in my opinion.
Assuming you have a decent non-stick pan, just add about a teaspoon of butter to it over medium-high heat. Once the butter is melted and bubbling, crack in a few eggs and let them cook on side one for a minute or two.
The whites should be mostly cooked before flipping them. Once you flip them, cook them for only 15-20 seconds on side two or you’ll run the risk of over-cooking the eggs which is possibly the worst thing in the world.
Then add your eggs right on top of the bacon. One egg per sandwich is good, but you could use two if you really want something filling!
A little arugula adds nice color and some peppery crispiness to the sandwich!
I like to cut my sandwich in half which makes it easier to eat and prettier to photograph.
There’s something really wonderful about the slightly sweet apple butter flavor, the crispy salty bacon, and the creamy egg.
It’s seriously one of the best breakfast sandwiches I’ve had.
Sometimes a few ingredients are all it takes.
Can you add cheese?
I’m almost always a cheese guy for breakfast sandwiches, but I actually skip it for this apple butter sandwich. The sandwich has plenty going on without the cheese.
That said, if you want to add some cheese, go for it! A nice slice of Swiss Cheese or sharp cheddar cheese would go fine with the apple butter and other ingredients. I definitely won’t stop you.
Apple Butter Breakfast Sandwich
Ingredients
- 4 slices of good sandwich bread, toasted
- Bacon, 2-3 strips per sandwich is good
- 2-4 eggs, over easy
- Butter, to cook the eggs
- Apple butter, for sandwich
- Fresh arugula
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Cook bacon. I like to cook it on a wire rack in the oven at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes until it’s really crispy or in a skillet over low heat until it’s nice and crispy.
- Toast bread and slather with apple butter.
- Top with bacon.
- Add a teaspoon of butter to a non stick skillet over medium high heat.
- Once melted and bubbling, add two eggs. Cook for a few minutes on side one and then flip.
- Cook for a few seconds on side two and top sandwich with eggs and fresh arugula.
- Eat immediately!
Matthew SG
Can I ask precisely what kind of bacon you used?
Nick
This was thick cut, applewood smoked bacon. I don't really do cheap bacon. I try to buy the best I can find.
Tammy
Those eggs look perfectly cooked. I am jealous!
I have such a hard time with over easy eggs because I want the whites fully cooked and the yolk still runny. I always seem to end up with either gooey whites or semi-solid yolk. I guess I'll just have to keep practicing for that perfect balance.
Shanti
I finally learned how to make them once I got my 12" cast iron skillet. I fry up some bacon in there first and save the grease. Then crack an egg in there. As soon as the whites set so that you can flip it, flip it over then cook for 30 seconds to a minute more. The bigger skillet is a must since you need the room to maneuver (unless you are talented at this – I am not). You also need to make sure you have enough fat in the pan so that it doesn't stick. It should lift up easily. For some reason I never could do it on my "nonstick" pans that I had because it stuck, but it's super easy in the cast iron.
Nick
I learned how to make eggs in a cast iron skillet also! These days I do the nonstick thing though.
Tammy, I frequently use the poke test to see if my eggs are done. After I flip them, just lightly poke around the white. You should be able to tell when it's set and then pull them right away. The whites should set 30-60 seconds before the yolk does.
Nicole
If you don't want to flip the eggs.. a tablespoon of water and a large lid.. this will steam the whites and keep the yokes perfect…. and not worries about breaking it on flipping!
Mary Love
I’m so glad you learned how to cook your eggs. I guess I must be talented because I cook mine in a small skillet and I flip mine in the skillet with the skillet. I don’t use a spatula because I don’t want to take the chance on breaking my yolk. Buy yourself a dozen cheap eggs and practice flipping in the skillet. If you fail, just boil some water, finish cooking the messed up eggs and make an egg salad for lunch. That way, you didn’t waste any money. But try it, it’s so easy. It’s all in the wrist . Good luck.
Sue S
Love the idea! I make a breakfast sandwich that many think is weird. It's simply a fried egg, a piece of cheese (cheddar or pepper jack work well), and spicy hot bread and butter pickles. I usually use toasted wheat bread. YUM!
Mary Love
That’s not weird,that sounds good. I make mine with brioche hamburger bun. I toast it, spread apple butter on the inside of both buns. Then I layer a sausage patty, meunster cheese, a preformed hash brown, two criss cross slices of applewood bacon, another slice of meunster cheese, top with an over easy egg and sprinkle with chopped green onion,,then put on the top bun. When you mash it in order to be able to bite it, the yolk bursts and runs over the entire sandwich and it is filling and delicious. I’m making them for breakfast this morning because my husband is off today. So no, your sammich is not weird. I’m gonna try yours one day this week
HEidi
There really is NOTHING worse than an overcooked egg. I have my own backyard chickens and I hate to waste their eggs but if one gets overcooked it goes in the garbage.
We have a strange breakfast sandwich that is always i hit if I can get newbies to try it:
Toasted ww or nutty bread, egg- perfectly cooked, peanut butter. So delish!
Jules L
I just made this for my roommate. It is VERY VERY good!!!!!!
Nina D
Thanks for this, Nick! I still have a cr@pload of apple butter in my freezer from last year. (Apples from my tree and a bit of lemon are the only ingredients in mine!) Always on the lookout for a way to use up apple butter, not to mention egg sandwich ideas. Pork and apples are such a solid combo, I should have thought of this myself!
Karly
Okay, you really hit one out of the park here. I mean, I can’t stop drooling. Seriously. I cannot wait to give this a try!!
Nick
Thanks Karly! :)
Elizabeth
Very delicious! The bacon went so well with the apple butter! (applewood smoked, maybe?) Instead of arugula, we used bibb lettuce from the garden. We would definitely make this again. Thanks!
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