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An exciting twist on a classic Monte Cristo sandwich recipe using Van’s® Waffles instead of bread to add a touch of flair to an already iconic sandwich. French toasted waffles lightly coated with dijon mustard and filled with slices of black forest ham, roasted turkey and a heaping amount of melted Gouda!

Monte Cristo sandwich cut in half served on a white plate with some cheese chips and product nearby

Monte Cristo Sandwiches are not your average sandwich! They are a little bit of breakfast and a little bit of lunch all in one. For this recipe I used Van’s ® Gluten Free Waffles which are made with whole grain brown rice flour and sweetened with fruit juice making this sandwich the perfect combination of salty and sweet.

Van’s Gluten Free Waffles contains over 21 g of whole grains each and are free from dairy/egg/artificial anything/cholesterol/corn & are Non-GMO project verified. They are so delicious you honestly would never imagine they were nutritious and wholesome! A delight in every bite!

Product collage of Van's Waffles and Gluten Free products

Van’s has a whole line of great gluten free and organic products so while I was at Tops I also picked up some of the snacks as well. Van’s® Gluten Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Snack Bars are a perfect snack for on the run with over 4g of fiber. And I am in love with the Van’s Gluten Free Say Cheese! Crackers which are also gluten free and packed with over 16 g of multigrain goodness!

Next time you head out to the store be sure to pick up some Van’s products which are found in the organic and/or gluten free section of your local grocer. Click here more about Van’s products.

Grocery Store Shelf in gluten free section

What is a monte cristo sandwich?

Think of it like a sweeter grilled cheese sandwich but with meat and cheese. I know right?! There are lots of variations but the french toasted bread or in this case waffles combined with ham and/or turkey and cheese then pan-fried in butter…that is a Monte Cristo in a nutshell.

Where did the monte Cristo Originate?

It is said that the Monte Cristo originated in the United States as a take on the French classic Croque Monsieur.

what is the difference between a monte cristo and a Croque Monsieur?

A Croque Monsieur is topped with a bechamel sauce and gruyere cheese and then toasted whereas a Monte Cristo sandwich is dipped both sides in an egg batter similar to french toast and then pan-fried on both sides.

Van's waffle box behind a plate with a monte cristo sandwich on it with some crackers

monte cristo sandwich recipe ingredients

You will need the following ingredients:

Van’s Gluten Free or Organic Waffles in lieu of French bread
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 tsp vanilla
pinch of salt and pepper
1 tsp dijon mustard
2 oz black forest ham deli slices
2 oz roast turkey deli slices
2 oz grated gouda
1 tbsp butter

Ingredients needed to make a monte cristo sandwich recipe

how to make this monte cristo sandwich recipe

Overhead shot of a shallow bowl filled with french toast egg mixture and a wisk — In a medium shallow bowl add the egg, milk, cream, vanilla, salt and pepper and whisk till combined.

Two waffles with a light spreading of dijon mustard along with the knife on a cutting board — Spread the dijon mustard over one side of each waffle

A monte cristo sandwich recipe sandwiched between two waffles on a cutting board — Assemble the sandwich by adding 1 oz of cheese, the turkey and ham then the remaining cheese. The order should be waffle, cheese, meet, cheese, waffle. Press down to help the ingredients to stick together.

Overhead shot of a waffle sandwich being dipped in the french toast egg mixture — Then dip both sides of the sandwich into the egg mixture for about 3-4 seconds each side.

A monte cristo sandwich being pan fried in a white frying pan with butter — Add 1 tbsp of butter to a non-stick pan on medium heat and fry for about 3 minutes on each side or until the waffles are toasted and the cheese is melted.

Overhead shot of a monte cristo sandwich on a table with a striped red, orange and white tea towl — Cut the sandwich in half and serve immediately.

What do you serve with a Monte cristo sandwich?

There are lots of ways to serve this unique sandwich and some of the toppings are definitely not typical sandwich fare. Toppings can include:

A drizzle of maple syrup or a side cup for dipping
A dusting of powdered sugar
Preserves like jams or jellies to dip or spread on top
Nothing at all… I personally think the sweetness from these Van’s waffles with the salty meat and cheese filling is perfect as is!

I enjoyed adding even more cheesiness to my lunch with a handful of the Van’s® Gluten Free Say Cheese! Crackers on the side.

Monte Cristo Sandwich Recipe

Alisa Infanti | The Delicious Spoon

French toasted Van's waffles lightly coated with dijon mustard and filled with slices of black forest ham, turkey and a heaping amount of melted Gouda!

5 from 3 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 6

Total Time 16

Course Lunch

Cuisine American

Servings sandwich

Calories 1059 kcal

Equipment

Medium-sized shallow bowl
Measuring Cups
Measuring Spoons
Wisk
Cheese grater
Knife
non-stick frying pan
Spatula

Ingredients

2 Van's gluten free waffles
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 tsp vanilla
pinch each salt and pepper
1 tsp dijon mustard
2 oz black forest ham deli slices
2 oz roasted turkey deli slices
2 oz gouda shredded
1 tbsp butter

Instructions

In a medium-sized shallow bowl add 1/4 cup milk, 1/4 cup heavy cream, 1 tsp vanilla and a pinch of salt and pepper. Wisk until well combined. Set aside.
Spread a thin layer of dijon mustard over one side of each waffle
With the unseasoned side of one waffle facing down add 1 oz of the shredded gouda, the sliced meats and then the remaining shredded gouda and that order. Top with the other waffle with the dijon mustard seasoned side facing down towards the cheese. Press down on the top of the sandwich to help the cheese, meat and waffles stick together as one unit.

Nutrition

Serving: 1sandwichCalories: 1059kcalCarbohydrates: 76gProtein: 46gFat: 62gSaturated Fat: 29.2gCholesterol: 361mgSodium: 2807mgPotassium: 488mgFiber: 2.9gSugar: 7.2gCalcium: 616mgIron: 4mg

Notes

This sandwich is best served immediately.

Gruyere cheese can be substituted for Gouda.

Please Note:

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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For the step-by-step version of this recipe, check out the How To Make Butter Smothered Green Beans & Cashews Story.