Has this ever happened to you: you see someone eating something on TV or in the movies and all of sudden you just have a huge craving for what they’re eating? This summer I’ve been rewatching one of my favorite TV shows, Gilmore Girls — Remember? Lauren Graham? Rory? Stars Hallow? The dear, departed WB? — and this has become a major problem for me. If you don’t remember or never watched the show, let me just tell you: those Girls can eat. A lot. But they live in magical TV land where people can eat 20 pounds of junk food a day and not gain weight or have any kind of serious health problems. Sigh. I want to live in that world! Sadly, I don’t so there’s been a lot of watching Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel eating delicious things as my stomach growls grumpily.
But some things you just can’t shake. As I was leafing through a new cookbook these French Toast Waffles jumped right out at me. It’s like the perfect Gilmore Girl breakfast: two of their favorite things (and mine, too, of course) in one! This is one of those recipes where you’re like, “Why didn’t I think of that?” The French toast part is normal but instead of cooking each slice in a skillet, you put them into a waffle iron. And it’s actually a lot quicker and easier in your waffle iron since you don’t have to stand around with your spatula, flipping bread back and forth. The waffle maker does all work for you! I think even cooking-averse Lorelai would approve (even though she’d still get Luke or Sookie to make these for her anyway).
This French toast is a pretty basic recipe but that’s what makes it so flexible. Any kind of milk works, including non-dairy milks. Personally, I like to use half and half. I think it makes the bread taste richer and it feels a bit more extravagant. But I’ve made this recipe with plain ol’ 1% milk, too. You can also play with spices you use and maybe substitute almond or some other extract instead of vanilla. Lots of possibilities!
The recipe actually calls for slightly older/harder bread because otherwise the waffles would come out soggy. I rarely buy fresh French bread since my boyfriend and I can never eat the whole loaf before it starts getting stale. But now I have a good excuse! This is the perfect way to use up that old loaf of French bread and you get a great, easy breakfast out of it.
French Toast Waffles
adapted from Cooking Light Comfort Food
Breakfast | Servings: 4
Prep time: 5 min | Cook time: 5 min | Total time: 30 min
Ingredients
- 1 cup half and half or milk (non-dairy is fine)
- 2 eggs
- 1 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
- 1 tbsp. sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 16 (1/2-inch thick) slices of day-old French bread
Process
- Coat waffle iron with cooking spray and preheat.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, melted butter, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon.
- Arrange bread slices in one layer in a 13×9 baking dish. Pour the milk mixture over the bread, turning each slice to make sure they’re well coated. Let stand for 5 minutes.
- Place 4 bread slices in the preheated waffle iron and cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until done. Repeat with remaining bread slices.
Serve immediately with maple syrup and a sprinkling of powdered sugar.
Nutrition info:
(using fat-free milk)
Serving size: 4 slices
Calories: 236
Fat: 7g
Carbohydrates: 32.5g
Fiber: 1.6g
Protein: 9.6g
I’ve been rewatching Gilmore Girls too! I absolutely love that show, it makes me so happy whenever I watch it. And these waffles look amazing!
What a great idea! These sound amazing!
It’s the perfect Gilmore Girls meal! I LOVE THAT SHOW! ^_^
I want breakfast for lunch now! RT “@Emiline220: {new post} French Toast Waffles https://t.co/XSGwR2Pb #recipe”
SOUNDS WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!! I will have to try this out!!!!!!!! THANKS!!!!!!!! 🙂
I am glad you are back! I loved the Gilmore Girls.
this is going into the weekend breakfast rotation! love the idea
Someone told me about french toast waffles a little while ago and I’ve been meaning to try them. This looks delicious.
My husband (yes, you read that right) is currently hooked on Gilmore Girls. He’s home watching the baby for the next few weeks and he’s quickly working his way through all the seasons on Netflix. It cracks me up.