Sally's Kitchen Β· Copycat Breakfast
Copycat McGriddle Waffles (Sausage & Cheese)
All the best parts of breakfast, baked right into one bite. Sausage and cheddar folded into the batter, brewed Breakfast Blend standing in for water, and a mini waffle iron doing the work a pancake ring usually does. Go ahead, dip twice in the coffee maple syrup β no judgment here.

12β14
Mini Waffles
15 min
Prep Time
~35 min
Total Time
Easy
Difficulty
The Coffee That Makes This Work
Breakfast Blend is the one that's always in the pot, which makes it the obvious choice here β it does double duty, brewed into the batter for depth and used to deglaze the sausage pan for a little extra flavor in every bite. Nothing fussy, no drama, just really good coffee doing quiet work in a breakfast waffle. You could use another JM coffee β but this is the one the recipe was built around.
Shop Breakfast Blend βAvailable in whole bean, ground, and pods. Never tried it? The 2oz sample is a good place to start β fresh roasted, enough for a few cups to know if it's yours.
Ingredients
- 2 cups boxed pancake mix
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp brewed Breakfast Blend coffee, cooled
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 lb breakfast sausage
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Directions
- Brown the sausage: Cook breakfast sausage in a skillet over medium-high heat until browned. Deglaze the pan with 1β2 Tbsp brewed Breakfast Blend, if desired. Set aside to cool.
- Mix the batter: Combine pancake mix with water, brewed coffee, milk, and maple syrup.
- Fold in: Stir in the cooked sausage and shredded cheddar.
- Waffle it: Spray a mini waffle iron and add a scoop of batter. Repeat until batter is used β this makes about 12β14 mini waffles. For crispier waffles, toast them after cooking.
- Keep warm: Hold finished waffles on a wire rack in a low oven while you finish the batch.
- Serve: Dip in warm maple syrup or the bonus Coffee Maple Syrup below. Freeze extras and reheat in the toaster.
Bonus: Quick Coffee Maple Syrup
Combine 1 cup pure maple syrup with 1/4 cup strong brewed Breakfast Blend coffee in a small saucepan. Simmer 3β5 minutes over medium-low heat to reduce slightly. Remove from heat, cool, and store in the fridge up to 7 days. This one's entirely optional β regular maple syrup works fine too β but it's a five-minute upgrade if you want it.
Swaps & Permission Slips
- No mini waffle iron? A regular waffle iron works too β you'll just get fewer, bigger waffles instead of 12β14 minis.
- Want a bright contrast on the plate? Sally serves these with a few fresh blackberries on the side β not essential, but the tartness plays well against the maple and sausage.
- Meal prep friendly: Freeze extra waffles in a single layer, then transfer to a freezer bag. Reheat straight from frozen in the toaster.
- Skip the coffee-maple syrup? Totally fine β regular maple syrup is exactly what the original recipe called for.
Made this one? Breakfast Blend is available whole bean, ground, and in pods β so however you make your coffee, it works. Fresh roasted to order, every time.
Not sure yet? The 2oz sample is the right place to start β a few cups to know before you commit to a bag.
This isn't the only place we've swapped water for coffee β the same trick shows up in our Mocha Brownies.
More recipes like this one are at The Menu.
FAQ
Can I make these in a regular waffle maker instead of a mini one?
Yes β you'll get fewer, larger waffles instead of 12β14 minis, but the batter and technique are exactly the same.
Can I taste the coffee in the batter?
Not really as "coffee" β it deepens the overall flavor the same way it does in baked goods, without reading as a coffee flavor on its own.
Can I freeze these waffles?
Yes β freeze in a single layer until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. Reheat directly from frozen in the toaster for a quick breakfast.
Do I have to make the coffee maple syrup, or is regular syrup fine?
Regular maple syrup is exactly what the original recipe calls for. The coffee maple syrup is a five-minute bonus if you want to take it further, not a required step.
Can I make these ahead for a busy week?
Yes β this is a genuinely good meal-prep recipe. Make a full batch, freeze what you won't eat right away, and reheat individual waffles in the toaster as needed.