This recipe is a yummy, sweet waffle-grilled cheese breakfast sandwich recipe that kids repeatedly ask for. The buttery grilled cheese waffle sandwich is filled with tasty cream cheese and jam or fruit spread. It is sure to be gobbled up by kids, young and old. The best part is you don’t have to make the waffles from scratch with a waffle iron to enjoy this fun twist on a breakfast idea.
I loved finding new, tasty ways to introduce my kids to foods when they were little. This is one recipe I came up with that they love even still as young adults. The frozen waffles make the ideal ‘bread’ for your sweet grilled cheese. If you don’t go really heavy on jam, it’s not overly sweet. If you do prefer a sweeter breakfast, by all means, smear away!
The exterior of the frozen waffles is easily buttered because we are working with a solid frozen waffle. That’s also why we cook these delicious breakfast gems on med-low heat. All that freeze needs to exit!
We hope you are enjoying our Busy Moms Kid-friendly Series. Be sure to read our first and second recipes, too!
Why You Will Love These Freezer Waffle Breakfast Sandwiches.
Quick and Easy: Using frozen toaster waffles, this recipe is a fast breakfast solution with just four ingredients—cream cheese, jam, butter, and waffles. Perfect for busy mornings!
Customizable to Family Preferences: Whether you prefer classic jam, homemade fruit spread, or even leftover cranberry sauce, this recipe can easily be tailored to your family’s favorite flavors. Plus, you can skip the cream cheese if your kids aren’t fans, ensuring everyone gets a delicious sandwich they’ll love.
Kid-Approved: The plain waffle is elevated into crispy waffles, with creamy cheese, and sweet jam, this breakfast sandwich is a hit with kids. They’ll keep asking for more, making it a go-to recipe that pleases even the pickiest eaters!
The Timeless Pairing of Fruit and Cheese: A Delicious Breakfast Combo
The combination of fruit and cheese has a long history, dating back to ancient civilizations. The pairing was particularly popular in Europe, where the rich variety of local cheeses was complemented by fresh and dried fruits. In medieval times, fruit and cheese were often served together at feasts, with the sweetness of fruits like grapes, figs, and apples balancing the saltiness of cheeses such as cheddar, goat cheese, and brie. This combination evolved over centuries, with regional variations across Europe. Today, fruit and cheese continue to be a beloved pairing, enjoyed in everything from casual snacks to elaborate cheese boards, offering a delightful contrast of flavors and textures that stimulate the palate.
As a breakfast combination, fruit and cheese bring a balance of sweetness and richness that makes for a satisfying meal. Whether paired with a fresh pastry, toast, or incorporated into more complex dishes, the contrast of flavors works beautifully. The natural sweetness of fruits like berries, apples, or pears complements the creaminess or sharpness of cheeses like brie, cheddar, or goat cheese. This combination not only provides a refreshing start to the day but also offers a balance of protein, healthy fats, and vitamins, giving you sustained energy throughout the morning.
How to Make Easy and Delicious Sweet Waffle Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Gathering ingredients for this recipe is a breeze, requiring just four simple items: regular cream cheese, jam or fruit spread, butter or margarine, and frozen waffles. Once your kids try these delicious waffle grilled cheese sandwiches, you’ll definitely want to keep a stockpile of waffles in the freezer!
Start by buttering the outside of two frozen waffles. While the butter may want to settle into the waffle grooves, don’t worry—that extra butter will melt in the pan, giving your sandwich a wonderfully crispy and golden exterior with a delicious melted butter flavor.
Once both waffle exteriors are buttered, turn your attention to the inside. Spread a thin layer of regular or whipped cream cheese on one of the waffles. If you’re a fan of cream cheese, feel free to add a thicker layer! Then, heat a frying pan over low to medium heat and place the cream cheese-covered waffle in the pan. While it’s heating, spread your jam or fruit spread on the other waffle.
Be sure to keep the heat low and steady. Though you may be tempted to crank up the heat to speed up the process, doing so will burn the butter and prevent the waffle from thawing properly, leaving you with a soggy, uneven sandwich.
After about four minutes, check the bottom of the waffle by gently lifting the edge with a spatula. If it’s golden brown, flip it over and cook for another three to four minutes on the other side. The beauty of this recipe is that you can make more than one sandwich at a time in a regular-sized frying pan, which is perfect for feeding multiple hungry kids!
For this batch, I used red raspberry jam paired with leftover cranberry sauce from Thanksgiving—such a tasty combo! But you can get creative with whatever jam or fruit spread you have on hand. And if your kids aren’t big fans of cream cheese, you can skip it altogether. These waffle sandwiches are still incredibly delicious and satisfying.
NOTE: If you have a toaster oven you can pop these in there to cook. Be sure to flip them if needed (depending on your toaster oven).
Ingredients.
Frozen Waffles: The key is using frozen waffles because they are solid, so spreading the ingredients on them is much easier. You can use homemade or store-bought waffles. It’s entirely up to you. In fact, I am not even recommending one brand over another because it really is up to your food budget.
Butter: I use salted butter in this recipe because it tastes so good on those crispy waffle exteriors. The brand isn’t as important, but having that rich, buttery flavor does make these breakfast sandwiches better.
Jam or Fruit Spread: There is a bit of product placement in my photo; no, I am not endorsing any jam. In fact, I prefer homemade but didn’t make raspberry this year. You can use any flavor of jam, jelly, or fruit spread you have on hand.
Cream Cheese: This recipe was made using regular cream cheese. Cream cheese and jam is a classic flavor combination you will love!
Substitutions And Add-Ins For The Sweet Waffle Grilled Cheese
Frozen Waffles: Can be subbed with a frozen pancake or bread. It’s a simple recipe that gets your mornings off to a tasty start. You can also use whole wheat waffles for a bit of added nutrition.
Butter: You can use margarine if you prefer or even coconut butter. But remember this is going to drastically affect the end result in terms of flavor.
Jam or Fruit Spread: Aside from regular jams, jellies, or fruit spreads, try a marmalade or thinly sliced apples. If you do use apples, a green apple cooks well. Be sure to slice apples super thin to heat through sufficiently.
Cream cheese: As stated, you can use regular or whipped cream cheese. Try using flavored cream cheeses, cottage cheese, ricotta, or Greek yogurt.
Looking for more great ideas to fill your golden waffles? Apple and a sharp cheddar cheese make a great pairing that kids gobble up. My kids love green apple and brie too! Try making a plateful of bite-sized mini waffles as sweet grilled cheese sandwiches for your entire family this weekend. There are so many creative ways to use frozen waffles as an easy breakfast idea.
Expert Tips, Serving, And Storing Suggestions:
Tip #1: Work From Frozen: Okay, so the biggest tip is to ensure the waffle is frozen because trying to spread anything on a thawed waffle will result in a mess. The second tip I have for you is to
Tip #2: Don’t Rush The Cook: Its important to take your time. If you crank the heat, it’s going to burn. And I promise kids will notice the burnt outside and cold interior in these.
Tip #3: Use Softened Cream Cheese: To make spreading cream cheese easier, let it soften a bit before using. This makes it smooth and easy to spread across your waffle, ensuring a more even filling.
Elevate plain waffles with some simple yet delicious toppings. A spread of Nutella or peanut butter adds richness, while fresh fruit like berries or banana slices brings a natural sweetness. For that added “good stuff” touch, drizzle with maple syrup or honey, creating a satisfying and delicious bite.
If you have leftover portions, no worries! Small children may only need half of the waffle, so simply wrap the rest tightly in plastic wrap or foil to keep it fresh. Store it in the fridge, and you can easily reheat it later for a quick snack or breakfast.
It’s best to make these sweet waffle grilled cheese sandwiches fresh with frozen waffles rather than preparing and freezing them for meal prep. Freezing them with jam and cream cheese could affect the texture and make it difficult to achieve that perfect crispy exterior and gooey interior when reheating.
Also, if you’re considering reheating the sandwiches, avoid cooking them in a toaster unless you have a toaster bag. Without the bag, the fillings may leak out, posing a fire hazard. For the safest and most delicious result, reheat on a skillet to ensure a golden, crispy finish with all the fillings intact.
If you enjoyed this recipe, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Feel free to leave a rating or a comment below to share your experience or any variations you tried. Your feedback helps others discover great recipes. As always, happy cooking!
Easy Frozen Waffle Sweet Breakfast Sandwich
Equipment
- 1 Frying Pan
- 1 Butter Knife
- 1 Spatula
- 1 Tablespoon
Ingredients
- 2 Frozen Waffles *Not thawed
- 2 Tbsp Cream Cheese *Or preferred amount
- 2 Tbsp Jam or Fruit Spread *Or preferred amount
- Butter
Instructions
- Heat your frying pan on low-med.
- Butter the outside of both waffles.2 Frozen Waffles, Butter
- Spread the cream cheese to the inside of one of the waffle halves and place face down in the fry pan.2 Tbsp Cream Cheese
- Spread the jam to the other waffle inside and place face down on the cream cheese side.2 Tbsp Jam or Fruit Spread
- Cook on low-med for four minutes.
- Use spatula/flipped to lift edge and see if the waffle is cooked.
- Flip and cook the other side for additional four minutes.
- Serve while hot.