Everywhere I look, people are changing their eating habits. They are trying to make changes in the new year, and with that comes the search for healthy recipes. I am also in that boat, but I also really love good food. Luckily I found something that takes care of both needs with my Healthy Monte Cristo Breakfast Cups recipe!
Low calorie recipes can be tricky, especially when you also want that sweet factor involved. When you are trying to make a low-fat breakfast with a combination of flavors, it is even more challenging. But hey, being creative in the kitchen is something I thrive on. Some meals turn out better than others, and this easy breakfast recipe is one that I am most proud of.
With simple ingredients such as reduced fat ham lunchmeat, low fat Swiss Cheese, Oroweat Sandwich Thins and Eggbeaters (which I have never used before, but they are FANTASTIC!), it really is easier than I thought to make something just as satisfying as a similar breakfast cup that had ingredients with full fat and full sugar in it. I honestly wouldn’t guess that these were low calorie if somebody served these to me without telling me! I think I hit the nail on the head with this one, folks!
Ingredients:
Six 1/2 Round Sandwich Thins (we used Oroweat Multi-Grain)
Small carton of Egg Beaters
12 slices Reduced fat/heart healthy ham lunchmeat
3 slices Low-fat Swiss cheese (cut in half)
6 tsp. Sugar-free Strawberry Jam
Powdered Sugar (optional)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Separate the bread into halves, and make four cuts in each bread half as shown above. Pour the egg beaters in a shallow dish. Poke the bread several times with a fork, then soak each bread half in the dish of egg beaters, until the egg has absorbed somewhat, but you don’t want the bread to be soggy. Carefully fold each cut section over the next and place each bread half in one of the muffin cups.
Put two slices of ham in each cup, right on top of the bread. Add 1/2 slice of Swiss Cheese (broken into pieces) on top of the ham.
Bake these in a 350 degree oven for approx. 25 minutes.
Take out of the oven and top each with a teaspoon of sugar-free Strawberry Jam and for the final touch, give a light sprinling of powdered sugar on each.
To say these were pretty darned amazing would be an understatement. We happily gobbled a couple down and we didn’t have to feel guilty as each cup is only approximately 125 calories. Here is the breakdown:
1/2 Sandwich thin: 50 calories
Egg Beater: 10 calories
2 slices reduced fat/heart healthy ham: 20 calories
1/2 slice Low-fat Swiss cheese: 30 calories
1 tsp. Sugar-free strawberry jam: 15 calories
Pretty impressive, right?
The Monte Cristo Cups are really versatile actually. If you didn’t want something sweet, you could omit the jam and powdered sugar and instead add spinach leaves, tomatoes, or anything else your heart desires! Or you might want to try these amazing Huevos Rancheros Breakfast Cups – the perfect breakfast cups for brunches.
I hope you will give these Healthy Monte Cristo Breakfast Cups a try. I know that I will be making them for my family frequently. It is fun to have something that is so healthy, be so delicious too!
92 Responses
That looks really yummy! I’m glad you used Eggbeaters because that’s what I always use.
Is it really? This is actually the first time I have used Egg Beaters, and I am impressed!
This looks amazing! I’ll have to try this. Thanks for the recipe and how to pics =D
You are very welcome – I’m glad the pictures help!
I love Monte Cristo sandwiches and I LOVE that these are healthy! Pinning!
Thanks so much for pinning! I was really surprised how few calories they had, especially with all of the goodies in them!
Wow! Those look great! Thanks for sharing the recipe, I might just have to try them!
Hubby would like that ! I never thought of a Monte Cristo for breakfast. Sounds like something my family would like !
This looks so delicious, I can’t believe its healthy!
That looks really good! My grandson would love to hold these and eat them.
wow-i love recipes that look delicious AND are healthy! i’m going to have to try this because breakfast is my fave meal of the day and i’m always looking for more ideas.
Those look like a yummy change from our normal breakfast cereal! I’m going to add these to the menue
Menu!
These look really good. I like how you can mix it up with what your family might like. I love that it is a healthy version. Thanks for the recipe!
that looks really good,ive never used eggbeaters before so this is new to me but looks good enought to try
This looks like a good recipe that people could eat on the run
Those are addictive looking.
Yum! I love that they are the perfect size to eat with your fingers…maybe I could even get my 2 year old to try this!
I honestly don’t think I would like these. I tend to not like things with fruit in them (although I LOVE fruit!). Plus they would be way higher calorie for me, because I always get full-fat, as close to nature intended as I can afford. I bet a lot of people appreciate this recipe though 🙂
These look so delicious I’ve never tried Egg Beaters.
These look so delicious! I’d love to use them with tomato and cheese for a midday snack.
Looks delicious!
o wow, yummy! we are akways looking for healthy meal ideas. Bookmarking 🙂
These look wonderful. I will definitely try them.
that sounds yummy! you could even put a scramble egg (using egg beaters) on top!
Oh great idea!
I want to try this. They look great and very healthy!
What a neat idea. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve been looking for a lighter breakfast – this is it!
Thanks for the recipe.
You are very welcome – I’m so glad you found what you were looking for!
THIS IS A VERY PRETTY BREAKFAST, I WISH YOU COULD MAKE IT FOR ME!
Lol I would be glad to! Thanks for the kind words. We were so pleased at how appealing they are (taste wise and looks too!)
VERY impressive! I never would have thought of this combination. Looks great! Thanks for the step-by-step photos too!
First off, this recipe looks so good, with its layers and I love that each portion is small so you get big flavor & satisfied easy. And I guess we are big on light bread here in TN, I never heard of that kind of bread until this post and I aim to try it now. Thanks for sharing. I will put this one in my recipe files 🙂
sewitupjulie@gmail.com
We love these little bread rounds. They are really tasty and it’s nice to still be able to enjoy sandwiches, but not have to worry about calories. I hope you can find them in your store!
Wow, a healthy version of a favorite Elvis dish!
I want some with Black forest ham and swiss. Yum. Thanks.
They look delicious and to be only 50 calories for 1/2 is awesome. I need to try this
What a fun and delicious recipe!
wow-super yummy!! they look pretty easy too.always a plus!
Healthy AND convenient–right up my alley! I need ways to spice up breakfast, so I will try this out. Thanks!!
Very yummy idea. I’ve pinned this for future reference.
This looks so healthy and delicious! I find it to be easy to make, and something that would be great to have for breakfast. Thanks for sharing such an awesome recipe!
I love this recipe! It’s easy and healthy 🙂
I actually tried this out this morning except with real eggs and it was delicious!Thanks for the recipe!
Oh now fun – I am so glad you liked it!
Not only do those look pretty, they look DELICIOUS!
It’s so important people start eating healthy and it’s great that people like you and companies like Lucky Supermarkets are promoting that 🙂
Speaking of which, thanks so much for the recipe!
Why thank you! I agree, it really is important. And this just goes to show that you can eat healthy and enjoy REAL flavor. Healthy food doesn’t have to be boring 🙂
absolutly good info thanks
Boy, they look yummy! I like the dollop of preserves on top. It would be hard to not eat a bunch of them 🙂
I love the fact that they are healthy, but they look delicious too.
What a brilliant and tasty looking breakfast. I never would have thought to do this and I’ve been cooking forever. 🙂
Love the pics and the sharing.
Carol L
Thanks so much!
I tried this an the grandkids loved it,so much fun
That is nice to hear – kid friendly too! I’m so glad you had a chance to try it. Thanks for letting me know!
Very creative!! Great combination of flavors!
Wow, these look really yummy!
These look amazing. I like that you use Egg Beater since that is what we use in our house. Plus it is so easy to make. Yum!
It looks good but unfortunately I don’t eat eggs or ham…..lol. My family would love it tho.
I will make these but use a different cheese instead of swiss.
You could definitely use any type of cheese!
This looks delicious. We are really trying to eat healthier but I have a hard time getting creative with breakfast so I will definitely try this! We dislike ham though so I will probably use a different meat. 🙂
You could use a turkey bacon maybe? Or even leave out the meat and add veggies!
The breakfast cups look really good
My Hubby would like these! He is into the Low Fat/ Low Calorie thing.
I eat pastured eggs fried in coconut oil or grass fed butter. lol
I WILL BE MAKING THESE!!!! They sound so good! Thank you for sharing!
You are very welcome! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe 🙂
These look yummy, I’m gonna make them with the kids this weekend!
Creative way to serve breakfast! Looks good!
Wow, it’s hard to believe by looking at these that they are healthy! They look delicious, I would love to try this recipe.
I’d love to hear your thoughts after trying it!
Wow that looks super good!
These look delicious- have you tried making these with sugarfree-apple pie filling instead of the strawberry jam? Scrumptious.
You did a great job! They look delicious and I am one of those people that never likes anything healthy. I would definitely eat this 🙂
I used to eat the regular Monte Cristo Sandwiches but stopped because they were too bad for my health. These are a great replacement. Thanks.
those look really good to eat. i should try and make them.
I’ve never tried Egg Beaters but seeing how easy this recipe is and how good they look I think I will
This looks so good and super easy to make. I may have to try to make this for my son this weekend. Thanks for the yummy recipe and for sharing it. Have a wonderful day!!!
You are very welcome – enjoy!
These look and sound amazing. and is definitely something that my family would enjoy eating. We will be trying these this weekend.
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This is a good idea. Very creative.
These look good. I like how you could probably put different stuff in them.
They look really good, thank you for sharing.
It looks so much better than a bowl of cereal, thanks for the pictures.
Wow! These breakfast sandwiches look delicious and so easy to make too! Will definately give this a try to feed to my husband and daughter – and me too of course! 🙂
would like to try these. Look like they might take a little while to make.
Not sure how I feel about the strawberry jam. Then again, I’m a guy lol.
They look delicious!
Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes!!! Monte Cristo is my absolute fave! Thanks for posting this!
That looks really good!
I love breakfast food so much and I have got to try this one.
Okay…. these look amazing and one recipe that I must try. I love breakfast food and I have never heard of this one thanks so much for sharing.