I made this the first time because I had half a wheel of brie that needed to be used up and a bunch of grapes that were getting a little soft. Not exactly a planned recipe situation. But it turned out so good that I’ve made it on purpose at least six times since.
Roasting grapes is one of those things that sounds fancier than it is. Fifteen minutes in the toaster oven and they basically turn into a jammy, slightly wine-y condiment that pairs with cheese in a way that feels like it belongs on a restaurant menu. I use red seedless, though I’ve done it with black grapes too and they’re even more intense. The thyme is important — don’t skip it.
You’ll want a good toaster oven for this since you’re doing two things: roasting and then grilling. If you don’t have one yet, a reliable toaster oven with a broil setting makes all the difference here (and honestly for about a hundred other recipes). Once you’ve got the grapes roasted, the sandwich itself comes together in under ten minutes. A sturdy toaster oven baking pan is your best friend for the grape roasting step — you want something with a little lip so the grape juices don’t drip.
The honey drizzle at the very end is one of those small things that makes the whole sandwich feel finished. Slightly sweet, a little herby, gooey brie, crusty sourdough. It’s genuinely one of my favorite things to make when I want something that feels special but takes almost no effort.
Toaster Oven Crispy Brown Butter Roasted Grape and Brie Grilled Cheese with Walnuts and Thyme
Roasted grapes get jammy and sweet in the toaster oven, then get piled onto crusty bread with melted brie and toasted walnuts for a grilled cheese that's genuinely worth the hype.
Ingredients
Roasted Grapes
Sandwich
Instructions
Roast the Grapes
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Preheat your toaster oven to 400°F on the bake setting. Toss the halved grapes with olive oil, thyme, salt, and pepper directly on your toaster oven baking pan. Spread them in a single layer.
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Roast for 12-15 minutes until the grapes are shriveled, jammy, and starting to caramelize at the edges. A few dark spots are totally fine — that's flavor. Pull them out and set aside.
Toast the Walnuts
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While the grapes roast, toss the chopped walnuts onto a small corner of the pan (or a tiny piece of foil) for the last 4 minutes of grape roasting. Watch them — they go from golden to burnt fast. Remove when fragrant and set aside.
Build and Grill the Sandwiches
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Butter one side of each bread slice. Lay two slices butter-side down. Layer brie slices over both, then spoon the roasted grapes on top, then scatter the walnuts. Top with the remaining bread slices, butter-side up.
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Switch your toaster oven to broil or use the toast setting at 400°F. Place the sandwiches on the baking pan. Cook 3-4 minutes, then carefully flip with a spatula and cook another 2-3 minutes until both sides are deep golden and the brie is fully melted. Every toaster oven runs a little differently, so peek at the 3-minute mark.
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Slice each sandwich in half, drizzle with honey, and scatter a few fresh thyme leaves over the top. Eat immediately.
Notes
The grapes can be roasted up to two days ahead and stored in the fridge — this actually makes weeknight assembly super fast. Brie straight from the fridge slices more cleanly. If your toaster oven runs hot, check at 2.5 minutes per side; the honey drizzle at the end is not optional in my opinion, it ties everything together. Don't skip the flaky salt on the grapes before roasting.
Nutrition
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Written by
Emma is a home cook who loves coaxing big flavor out of a toaster oven — from crispy roasted vegetables to easy weeknight dinners and sweet treats. She develops and tests Toastera's recipes for small-appliance kitchens.
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