Spiked Pumpkin Pie Grilled Cheese With Goat Cheese

Written by
MacKenzie Smith
Recipe developer, food stylist, author, and teacher with a passion for sandwiches. She's behind the popular blog Grilled Cheese Social.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
MacKenzie Smith
Updated 09/11/19
Pumpkin pie grilled cheese recipe

The Spruce / Katarina Zunic
  • Total: 4 hrs 10 mins
  • Prep: 4 hrs
  • Cook: 10 mins
  • Yield: 1 sandwich (1 serving)

If you're looking for unique, festive, Fall-themed food, then look no further. This spiked pumpkin pie grilled cheese with tangy goat cheese is the perfect treat for the holiday season! Made with slow cooker pumpkin butter, tangy goat cheese, crunchy candied nuts, and hearty, buttery toasted bread, this sandwich can be served as lunch, dinner or dessert. 

This homemade pumpkin butter is utterly simple to make. Just mix the ingredients, put it in the slow cooker while occasionally stirring until a rich, thick velvety butter develops. 

And if you don't want to spend time making the pumpkin butter, just check out your local grocer or specialty food store during the holiday season. Trader Joe's, Whole Foods and many more national chains typically carry it during the holiday season. 

Looking to make things even more interesting? Try making the sandwich on cinnamon swirl bread. 

Don't do alcohol? No worries, you can simply swap it out for 1/2 cup apple juice and enjoy!

Ingredients

  • For the Pumpkin Butter:
  • 1 can pumpkin puree
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/2 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 shot whiskey (or spiced rum)
  • Spiked Pumpkin Pie Grilled Cheese:
  • 2 slices bread (hearty)
  • 3 tablespoon soft goat cheese (divided)
  • 2 tablespoon pumpkin butter
  • 1 tablespoon candied nuts
  • 1 tablespoon salted butter

Steps to Make It

Note: while there are multiple steps to this recipe, this pumpkin grilled cheese is broken down into workable categories to help you better plan for preparation and cooking.

Make the Pumpkin Butter

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for pumpkin butter
    The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

  2. Spray crockpot with nonstick spray.

    Butter crockpot
    The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

  3. Combine all pumpkin butter ingredients in a bowl and stir until smooth.

    Combine ingredients
    The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

  4. Pour the mixed ingredients into the crockpot and turn the crockpot on to high heat with the lid.

    Pour into crockpot
    The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

  5. Let the pumpkin butter cook for at least 2 hours, or up to a maximum of 4 hours. Try to stir and scrape the sides every hour or so, this way the mixture does not stick to the crockpot. When it's done, it will be thick and creamy. If it needs some added richness, feel free to stir actual butter into the mixture.

    Let cook
    The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

  6. When it has thickened and become creamy, remove from heat, allow to cool, and then store in an airtight jar with a fastened lid. 

    Put in jar
    The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

Spiked Pumpkin Pie Grilled Cheese

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for grilled cheese
    The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

  2. Begin by smearing, or crumbling, the goat cheese onto one slice of bread.

    Add cheese
    The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

  3. Place the pumpkin butter on top and sprinkle it with the candied nuts.

    Add pumpkin
    The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

  4. Add the rest of the goat cheese to the other slice of bread and place it on top.

    Add bread
    The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

  5. Smear butter onto the exterior of the sandwich and place it in a cast-iron skillet or a panini press. Turn the heat to medium-high and cook until the crust is golden and the goat cheese has softened and is warm in the middle. Make sure to flip if needed. 

    Press bread
    The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

  6. Once the sandwich is done, remove from heat and let the sandwich sit for a minute to help thicken the ingredients back up.

    Sandwich
    The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

  7. Cut it in half and serve immediately. 

    Pumpkin pie grilled cheese
    The Spruce / Katarina Zunic