A classic sandwich! This Monte Cristo is made with GLUTEN FREE waffles, turkey, melted Monterey Jack cheese, raspberry jam and toasted to a golden brown! I make it super easy to create this Monte Cristo at home!
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Van’s Foods. All opinions are entirely my own.
Over the holiday break, we learned that my daughter is not only sensitive to gluten but she's full blown allergic to yeast. Great...just one more limitation around food for my 8 year old. Let me tell you...it's very difficult to accommodate for an 8 year old with food allergies. Actually, it's very frustrating for her because all she hears is, "Read the label...No, you can't have that...etc.", "This one has yeast in it".
Once we heard the news from her doctor, I decided to start researching and reading food labels a little more closely to figure out what she can...or shall I say CAN'T have food wise anymore. I was so shocked at how many products have yeast in their list of ingredients! We're talking some cereals, salad dressings, aged cheese, etc. I mean, come on! Feeling discouraged, I decided to tackle a menu with one meal at a time.
Breakfast. Ok...let's start there.
In trying to get creative for her meals (because she gets sick of eating the same things over and over and over), I remembered I used to make these fabulous breakfast sandwiches with waffles a long time ago. I started getting excited, but then thought...wait - I bet waffles have yeast in them. I ran to my freezer and grabbed my Van's Gluten Free Totally Original waffles box. I read the list of ingredients and NO YEAST! We have a winner!! Small victories!
I have been eating Van's Gluten Free Totally Original waffles for years and they are certified gluten-free by the Gluten-free Certification Organization. They are made with 23 grams of gluten-free whole grains, including brown rice, and are sweetened with fruit juice for a light, crispy, delicious taste that is also egg and dairy-free. Van’s waffles are also Non-GMO project verified, contain no artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, or hydrogenated oils. You can find Van’s waffles at grocery stores, mass merchandisers and natural food retailers nationwide. To find Van’s waffles in a store near you, visit: http://www.vansfoods.com/store-locator.
What Are Monte Cristo Sandwiches?
That's actually a loaded question and I bet you will get different answers based on who you ask. Back in the day, this sandwich was a bit more savory than sweet. But not today's version...nope! People tend to make these sandwiches sweet and they use a lot of different ingredients.
I've seen Monte Cristo Sandwiches made with the following:
- egg (fried, scrambled or poached)
- syrup
- bacon
- raspberry sauce
- pancake batter
- crescent rolls
- hawaiian rolls
- french toast
There's just no wrong way to make these!
Ingredients
As for me, I make my Monte Cristo with the following ingredients:
- 3 frozen Van's Gluten Free Totally Original waffles
- 2 Tablespoon seedless Raspberry Jam
- 6 slices Oven-Roasted Turkey
- 2 slices Monterey Jack cheese
- 1 large eggs
- ¼ cup milk
How to Make a Monte Cristo Sandwich
Monte Cristo breakfast sandwiches are super EASY to make, fast and they taste so fantastic! I'm going to walk you through how to make these sandwiches in 3 simple steps.
Step 1
Pull out that toaster and toast 3 waffles in a toaster and set aside.
Step 2
In a shallow bowl, whisk together the egg and milk. You are now ready to start making your waffle sandwich. You're going to take a toasted waffle and spread 1 Tablespoon of Raspberry Jam on it and then set it aside. On another toasted waffle, take 3 slices of Oven-Roasted Turkey and lay on top of that waffle.
Next, take 1 slice of Monterey Jack cheese and place on top of turkey. Lay the waffle with the Raspberry Jam on top of Monterey Jack cheese slices, jam side down. On top of that waffle, you're going place 3 additional slices of Oven-Roasted Turkey. Again, you'll take 1 slice of Monterey Jack cheese and place on top of turkey. Take your last waffle and spread 1 Tablespoon of Raspberry Jam on top and lay the jam side down on top of the Monterey Jack cheese.
You now have your Monte Cristo sandwich put together! Layering has never been so simple!
Step 3
Let's cook this big mama jamma! Holding your stacked sandwich, carefully dip your Monte Cristo sandwich in the egg batter, using both hands to keep sandwich together. Now, place the sandwich in skillet and cook for about 3 minutes, or until lightly browned. Flip the sandwich over onto the other side and cook until cheese is melted. And that's it, my friends! You're ready to eat!
What You Should Know About Monte Cristo Sandwiches
Here's some other fun stuff I thought you'd like to know about Monte Cristo Sandwiches:
- Monte Cristo Sandwiches have been around for a long time, 1910 to be exact! The original name for this sandwich is Croque Monsieur. A croque monsieur is simply a baked or fried ham and cheese sandwich. That's it. Simple, huh?
- When you see this sandwich on the menu at a restaurant, you're going to see different variations. EVERYTIME! There is no right or wrong way to make these sandwiches! And...I've never had a bad Monte Cristo sandwich...ever!
- The original Monte Cristo sandwich was a grilled cheese sandwich consisting of Gruyere cheese and lean ham between two slices of crustless bread. Gruyere cheese is my absolute favorite cheese!
- This sandwich is still really popular today in France and Switzerland!
- The theory is that Monte Cristo sandwiches started becoming popular in the United States in the 1950s. That's when people started seeing all kinds of variations show up in cookbooks.
- This sandwich is SUPER popular at Disneyland! In 1966, it appeared on the menu at Blue Bayou and Cafe Orleans and is STILL a super popular menu item today! They make their version to consist of Sliced Turkey, Ham, and Swiss fried in a light batter, dusted with Powdered Sugar, and served with a Berry Purée.
You should know that these sandwiches are highly DELISH and make for the perfect breakfast, brunch or snack item. And my kids LOVE when I make these! It never fails...after they finish their sandwich they always ask me why I don't make them more often!
And then I ask myself..."Why DON'T I make these more often?!?!?"
Monte Cristo Breakfast Sandwich
Ingredients
- 3 frozen Van’s Gluten Free Totally Original waffles
- 2 Tablespoon seedless Raspberry Jam
- 6 slices Oven-Roasted Turkey
- 2 slices Monterey Jack cheese
- 1 large eggs
- ¼ cup milk
Instructions
- Toast 3 waffles in a toaster and set aside.
- In a shallow bowl, whisk together the egg and milk.
- You are now ready to start making your waffle sandwich. Take a toasted waffle and spread 1 Tablespoon of Raspberry Jam and set aside.
- On another toasted waffle, take 3 slices of Oven-Roasted Turkey and lay on top of that waffle.
- Next, take 1 slice of Monterey Jack cheese and place on top of turkey.
- Lay the waffle with the Raspberry Jam on top of Monterey Jack cheese slices, jam side down.
- On top of that waffle, place 3 additional slices of Oven-Roasted Turkey.
- Take 1 slice of Monterey Jack cheese and place on top of turkey.
- Take your last waffle and spread 1 Tablespoon of Raspberry Jam on top and lay the jam side down on top of the Monterey Jack cheese. You now have your Monte Cristo sandwich put together.
- Holding your stacked sandwich, carefully dip your Monte Cristo sandwich in the egg batter, using both hands to keep sandwich together.
- Place in a skillet and cook for about 3 minutes, or until lightly browned.
- Flip the sandwich over onto the other side and cook until cheese is melted.
- Move to a cutting board and slice in half. Serve warm.
Nutrition
Update Notes: This post was originally published in January of 2016, but was re-published with updated step-by-step instructions, pictures and tips in August of 2018.
Emma @ Supper in the Suburbs
I am SO hungry right now - in that awkward gap between breakfast and lunch. I would kill for one of these right now!
Denise Wright
I've never had a monte cristo sandwich before and I know this is a breakfast version but it looks yummy. Can't wait to try it.
Loreto Nardelli
What a great idea to use the gluten free wale they get nice and crisp when you toast them, put that with the Monte Cristo filling and what you are left with is crumbs.
Great Creative work.