French Toast Waffles

Who says you have to choose between French toast and waffles? These French toast waffles give you the best of both worlds – the custardy richness of French toast with the crispy texture and perfect syrup-catching pockets of waffles. Made with thick slices of brioche or challah bread, this recipe transforms your regular waffle iron into a French toast machine. Perfect for weekend brunches or when you want to make breakfast feel extra special without much extra effort.

Storage

Store leftover French toast waffles in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in a toaster or toaster oven to restore crispiness. They can also be frozen for up to 1 month - toast directly from frozen until heated through and crispy.

Steps:

Prepare the custard mixture
In a shallow bowl or pie dish, whisk together eggs, milk, heavy cream, vanilla extract, sugar, cinnamon, and salt until well combined. The mixture should be smooth with no streaks of egg white visible.
Heat the waffle iron
Preheat your waffle iron according to manufacturer's instructions. Lightly grease with cooking spray or brush with melted butter to prevent sticking.
Soak the bread
Dip each slice of bread into the custard mixture, allowing it to soak for about 30 seconds on each side. The bread should be well-saturated but not falling apart. Gently shake off excess custard.
Cook the French toast waffles
Place one soaked bread slice in the center of the waffle iron and close. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. The exact time will depend on your waffle iron and desired crispness.
Keep warm and serve
Transfer cooked waffles to a warm oven (200°F) to keep crispy while you finish the remaining slices. Serve immediately with your favorite toppings like maple syrup, fresh berries, powdered sugar, or whipped cream.

Nutritions

  • Calories

    385 kcal

    Energy

    1611 kJ

    Protein

    14 g

    Fat

    16 g

    Carbohydrates

    48 g

    Fiber

    2 g

    Sugars

    12 g

    Salt

    0.8 g

Recipe Variations

This recipe is easy to adapt to your taste. Try one of the variations below to change the flavor or ingredients.

FAQ

While a waffle iron creates the signature crispy texture and pockets, you can cook the soaked bread in a regular pan like traditional French toast. You’ll miss the waffle texture but still get delicious results.
Thick slices of brioche or challah work best because they’re rich, sturdy, and absorb the custard well without falling apart. Thick-cut Texas toast or day-old French bread are also good alternatives.
Soggy waffles usually result from oversoaking the bread or not cooking long enough. Soak for just 30 seconds per side and cook until golden brown and crispy on the outside.
You can mix the custard the night before and store covered in the refrigerator. For best results, soak and cook the bread fresh. Cooked waffles can be reheated in a toaster.
Make sure your waffle iron is properly preheated and well-greased with cooking spray or melted butter. Clean any custard buildup between batches to prevent sticking and burning.