Classic Croque Monsieur

Direction :

Preheat oven; prep baking sheet; melt butter and whisk in flour:
Preheat oven to 450°F. Butter a baking sheet; set aside. In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add flour, and cook until foaming, whisking constantly, for 3 minutes.
whisk and pot with flour
Kelsey Hansen
Heat milk and add to butter-flour mixture:
In another medium saucepan, heat milk over medium heat. Slowly add milk to butter-flour mixture, whisking to prevent lumps from forming. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and cook 2 minutes more.

milk being added into croque monsieur mixture
Kelsey Hansen
Add cheese and seasonings:
Stir in 1/2 cup grated cheese, and season with salt, white pepper, nutmeg, and cayenne. Cook until thickened, 2 to 3 minutes.
cheese and seasoning for croque monsieur in pot
Kelsey Hansen
Set sauce aside:
Remove from heat, transfer to a bowl, and set aside to cool.
croque monsieur sauce in white bowl with wooden spoon
Kelsey Hansen
Spread sauce on toast:
Place 4 pieces of toast on a work surface and spread each piece with a 1/4 cup of sauce.
croque monsieur sauce on bread
Kelsey Hansen
Add cheese and ham to each sandwich:
Cover sauce with a slice of cheese, a slice of ham, and another slice of cheese.
cheese and ham on bread
Kelsey Hansen
Finish assembling sandwiches:
Top each sandwich with remaining 4 slices of toast. Spread each sandwich with 1/4 cup sauce and sprinkle evenly with remaining 1/2 cup grated cheese.
croque monsieur assembled before baking
Kelsey Hansen
Bake:
Place sandwiches on prepared baking sheet, and bake until heated through, about 5 minutes.
croque monsieur on baking sheet
Kelsey Hansen
Broil and serve:
Preheat broiler; transfer baking sheet to broiler and broil until golden brown and bubbly, 2 to 3 minutes. Serve immediately.