Let's meet Toast Hawaii, the mysterious German open-faced sandwich that somehow does not sound German at all!
Who would have thought that this exotic layering of toast, salty cooked ham, fresh sweet and slightly tart pineapple, plus a layer of crispy melted cheese, is a German household classic? Sweet and salty in every bite, with the cheese still warm and a little gooey against the crisp toast, it's a strange combination that just works.
It is in our house. My kids scream with excitement when it's on our dinner menu. Everyone builds their own sandwich, and five minutes later, they tuck in with gusto. And we live in Germany, so I can tell you with certainty: it is a German phenomenon.
Let me clear up how this dish became a German cult classic, and how to make it, so you can experience the authentic Toast Hawaii for yourself!
History
This Hawaiian toast is a product of Germany's economic recovery, the Wirtschaftswunder, in the 1950s. TV cook Clemens Wilmenrod first unveiled the recipe on February 20, 1953, on his show "Within 10 Minutes to the Table." Germans still mark that date informally as Toast Hawaii Day.
Wilmenrod never trained as a chef. He was actually a trained actor, and it showed: he loved dressing up plain, simple dishes with elaborate, exotic-sounding names. A basic dish of fried ground beef became "Arabian Horseman's Meat." A breaded schnitzel turned into a "Venetian Christmas Feast. (Venezianischer Weihnachtsschmaus)" Toast Hawaii got the same treatment: ham and pineapple on toast, given a name that promised a trip to a faraway island most Germans at the time could only dream of visiting. Postwar Germany was hungry for a taste of the wider world, and Wilmenrod knew exactly how to sell it to them.
Whoever came up with it, Germans embraced it as the embodiment of "modern cooking" at the time, and it kicked off a quick trend: Schnitzel Hawaii, Steak Hawaii, Salad Hawaii.
Fun Fact: If this sandwich were invented today, it would probably be called Toast Philippines, not Toast Hawaii. In the 1950s, Hawaii was the largest exporter of pineapples, but the Philippines has taken over since.
How to make Toast Hawaii
Ingedients you'll need
- Bread - Bread for Hawaiian Toast is called "Toastbrot" in German. It is soft white or wholewheat bread that is meant for toasting, and should not be mistaken for traditional German bread such as Rye Bread of Pumpernickel.
- Butter - German Butter is usually unsalted
- Pineapple Rings - from a tin or can
- Ham - cooked or cured ham is traditional but you can also use raw ham or bacon for this dish.
- Sliced cheese - Swiss cheese such as Emmental is traditional. You can swap in Gouda, cheddar, or Jarlsberg
Hawaiian Toast Recipe Steps:
- Preheat your oven to 392°F (200°C).
- Toast the bread.
- Spread the slices with butter (optional).
- Lay a slice of ham on each piece of toast.
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- Drain the pineapple well, then place a ring on top of the ham.
- Cover the pineapple with a slice of cheese. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and golden brown.
Alternative Cooking Methods
Instead of using a conventional oven, you can also use:
- Oven broiler/grill : My favorite method. Set your oven to broil / grill(high) and place the toasts on the top rack. It gets the cheese perfectly crispy and melted, and it's the fastest of all the methods, just watch closely since cheese can go from melted to burnt quickly under a broiler.
- Sandwich maker: Assemble the toast and grill in a closed sandwich press until the cheese melts and the bread is golden. If your sandwich maker divides the bread into triangles, halve the pineapple ring first so it fits neatly within each triangle.
- Air fryer: Air fry at 392°F (200°C) for about 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Outdoor grill: Place the toasts over indirect heat with the lid closed, and grill until the cheese is melted.
What to Serve with This German Pineapple Sandwich
Serve Toast Hawaii as a quick snack or a main course. It pairs well with a simple green salad on the side. Plan on two slices per person.
In Germany, you'll find Toast Hawaii just about everywhere: as a quick family dinner, as bar food at your local Kneipe, and even as a beloved hangover breakfast the morning after a big night out. It shows up at birthday parties and get-togethers too, so don't be shy about scaling this recipe up for a crowd.
Beyond that, the toppings are up to you. A few traditional options:
- Dust with paprika powder before serving
- Add a maraschino cherry on top, the traditional finishing touch
- Decorate with fresh basil or mint leaves
- Add a dollop of cranberry sauce (affiliate link) or blackberry sauce
Storage Instructions
I would advise you to consume this open-faced sandwich as soon as you cooked it. If you store it too long, the pineapple could make the bread too soggy.
More German Snacks
Have you made this recipe?
I'd love to hear how it turned out! Leave a rating and comment below.
You'll help fellow readers enjoy it too and help me spread the word about German cuisine. - Marita x
Recipe
Authentic German Toast Hawaii
Ingredients
- 8 slices toast bread
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 8 slices ham cooked or cured
- 8 pineapple rings
- 8 slices cheese Emmental is traditional but cheddar, Gouda, or Jarlsberg all work well
to serve
- maraschino cherries to serve OR
- cranberry sauce (affiliate link)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 392°F (200°C).
- Toast 8 slices of bread.8 slices toast bread
- Lightly butter each slice of toast (optional).2 tbsp butter
- Lay a slice of ham on each piece of toast.8 slices ham
- Drain off any excess liquid from the pineapple rings and then place a slice on top of the ham.8 pineapple rings
- Cover the pineapple with a slice of cheese (Emmental is traditional, but cheddar, Gouda, or Jarlsberg all work well). Bake for 8 to 9 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and golden brown.8 slices cheese
- Traditionally, with a maraschino cherry on top - I, however prefer it with a dollop of cranberry sauce (affiliate link).maraschino cherries, cranberry sauce (affiliate link)
- As a side dish, a simple green salad is perfect.
Alternative Cooking Methods
- Oven Broiler (Grill setting) Set your oven to broil /grill setting (high) and place the toasts on the top rack. Watch closely; this method is fast, and the cheese can burn quickly.
- Air fryer: Air fry at 392°F (200°C) for about 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Outdoor Grill: Place the toasts on the grill over indirect heat, close the lid, and grill until the cheese is melted.
- Sandwich Maker: Layer ham, cheese, and a pineapple ring between two slices of bread. If your sandwich maker divides the bread into triangles, halve the pineapple ring first so it fits neatly into each section.Grill in the closed press until the cheese melts and the bread is golden.
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Nutrition
Made this recipe?Drop a ⭐ rating and a quick comment below. I personally read and reply to every review!
Alan in chester... says
I would be cheeky and and maybe put a poached egg on top as well
Marita Sinden says
Ha! A poached egg on Hawaiian toast? That's breakfast anarchy right there! Though I have to admit, runny yolk dripping over pineapple sounds either brilliant or disastrous. You brave enough to find out? 😄
Martin says
Sorry Marita, I'm not a great commenter but as far as I'm concerned your recipes are pretty good, you have them well laid out even background information about them. 11 out of 10 from me.
Martin
Marita Sinden says
Oh thank you Martin! That is so kind of you! I am glad you enjoy them.