Dessert chain races to trademark ‘Froffle Toast’ after Brits embrace bizarre food combos, from banana and mayo to tuna and pineapple

The nation is embracing bizarre food combinations – with a pot noodle sandwich (43 per cent) topping the list of unlikely mashups Brits say they enjoy or would be willing to try.

Other favourites include fries dipped in milkshake (39 per cent), chocolate and avocado (39 per cent) and orange juice with cereal (37 per cent).

Brits are also developing a taste for tuna melts with pineapple (36 per cent), peanut butter on burgers (34 per cent) and popcorn with hot sauce (34 per cent).

The findings come as the UK’s biggest dessert chain races to trademark its latest brunch mashup, betting the nation’s appetite for unusual food will fuel its success – and encourage imitators.

Creams Café has launched “Froffle Toast” – a hybrid of French toast and a waffle – which has already become its best-selling brunch item across more than 100 UK stores.

The creation itself was inspired by Brits’ growing appetite for unusual food combinations, especially amongst young adults, where 72 per cent say they’re adventurous with their food combos.

The brand is now moving to secure the name early, staking its claim as the original as it anticipates copycats as the product continues to take off – with eight in 10 (80 per cent) young adults seeking out similar food mash-ups.

The move comes after lessons from viral food trends such as the Cronut, which was only trademarked after copycat versions with identical names had already begun appearing worldwide.

The dessert chain has even taken its campaign to the streets – with mobile billboards warning its latest creation may not remain unique for long.

Like previous mashups such as the Cronut and Cruffin, Froffle Toast is already proving a big hit with brunch-goers, with half of its sales happening before 2pm.

However, whilst some mashups are loved, some prove a step too far for most, including marmite and banana (28 per cent), banana and mayonnaise (23 per cent) and ice cream with gravy (20 per cent).

Everett Fieldgate, CEO of Creams Café, said: “Brits are far more adventurous with food than people give them credit for, some of these combinations and mash ups are genuinely surprising.”

“We wanted to create something that taps into that. Froffle Toast hits that sweet spot, different enough to get people talking, but still something you instantly want to try.

“It’s absolutely taken off in-store, so we’re trademarking so everyone knows where it started.”

Creams says Froffle Toast – which combines the custardy softness of classic French toast with the crunchy texture of a waffle – has quickly become a standout item, with more than 5000 sold since launching last month.

The brand says toppings for the new creation also lean into unexpected combinations, ranging from chicken teriyaki to banana chocolate and apple crunch.

But even Creams admits there are limits.

“I don’t think we’ll be trademarking banana and mayonnaise anytime soon – there are some combinations even we wouldn’t try!” Fieldgate added.

And if Britain’s appetite for unusual food mashups is anything to go by, the brand believes it may not be long before others attempt their own versions.

“If you start seeing something similar elsewhere,” he added, “you’ll know where it came from.”