One of the fondest memories I have as a young kid is sitting down to watch Saturday morning cartoons while Dad whipped up some delicious baked bean and cheese Jaffles in the Breville. Jaffles have been a staple snack for Aussie households for decades and they can also be found in many countries around the world. In this article we answer what is a Jaffle? When and where they came about and what made them so loved.
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What is a Jaffle?
A Jaffle is a toasted sandwich that has sealed edges. They are also commonly cut down the middle into two individually sealed triangles however this is not always the case. Popular throughout Australia, a Jaffle is just a variation of the standard toastie and the difference comes from the way it’s cooked.
To make a Jaffle you need a dedicated Jaffle maker which differs from a conventional sandwich press. Jaffle makers are specifically designed in a way to clamp the edges of the bread together sealing in the filling which is great to avoid the sandwich contents leaking out the sides and making a mess everywhere which can be an issue with a standard toastie.
There are two main types of jaffle makers, the traditional hand held Jaffle iron which is commonly used on an open fire and the electric jaffle maker. Showcased below is an example of the cooking plates of an electric Jaffle maker, you can see the grooved plate design and diagonal cut line which mold the sandwich while cooking.
History of the Aussie classic
The innovation of the first Jaffle iron in 1949 came from a man called Dr Earnest Smithers in Bondi, Australia. The simple design was comprised of a circular molded cast iron press, attached to 2 long handles that could be used toast a sandwich over heat such as a BBQ. This device soon became a hit with the Australian public who viewed jaffles as a creative way to spruce up a classic sandwich.
Fast forward to 1974 and society was blessed with the introduction of the first electric Jaffle maker from Breville known as the ”Breville Snack N Sandwich Toaster”. These nifty household appliances took Australia by storm, the clamshell design and convenient diagonal cut were much loved by many with 400,000 Aussie households purchasing one in the first year alone. It wasn’t long before the appliance made its way around the globe and according to Breville, is now enjoyed by over 6 million people worldwide.
Fun fact: The first Breville Jaffle maker was so iconic that in some parts of the world Jaffles are actually known by and called Brevilles!
There are many versions of the Jaffle maker today with various brands producing their own take on the classic. Breville still produces these great kitchen appliances and actually pays homage to the origins of the first electric Jaffle maker with their popular The Original ’74. We have an in depth review of the Original ’74 which you can check out.
Why is it called a Jaffle?
There is no known specific reason why Dr Earnest Smithers decided to called his great invention a Jaffle. In saying that, it’s probably fair to assume that it was called a Jaffle because it sounded similar to Waffle.
To conclude
Jaffles have been a favourite in Aussie households and around the world for over 70 years. The variation of the classic toasted sandwich is much loved due to its crispy and convenient sealed edges design that can only be achieved by using a dedicated Jaffle maker. If you’re someone who loves toasted sandwiches but hasn’t yet tried them in Jaffle form then you need to see what all the fuss is about! Check out our review of the best Jaffle makers on the market right now.
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Thanks for the great post. I’m not sure you are correct in saying a jaffle has to be cut down the middle. We have a breville we use at home and an old fashioned jaffle iron we use camping. Both make delicious jaffles but only the breville cuts it down the middle. Keep enjoying your jaffles, cut or not they are great.
It is pretty clear to me that Dr Earnest Smithers of Bondi (the inventor of the Surfoplane Surf Mat. (Inflated Rubber Mat) and true-slice bread knife, the stainless steel steak tenderiser and a contraceptive gel), totally “acquired” the design of the patented Jaffle Iron from the premier “pie iron” of the day inthe USA, the Toas-Tite. It is likely that the patent for the Toas-Tite was only for the USA/Noerth America and not registered here. He is responsible for the name “jaffle”
No. Just no. Us Aussies call it toasties. Cheese toasties. People don’t call it jaffles. It’s either a toasted cheese sandwich or a cheese toastie.