Best Belgian Waffle Recipe (2024)

The Best Belgian Waffle Recipe has a crispy exterior and light, fluffy interior! These waffles rival any that you’d find at your favorite breakfast restaurant and, with a couple of tricks, they’re super simple to make!

Best Belgian Waffle Recipe (1)

People don’t say breakfast is the most important meal of the day for no reason, you guys.

It’s because waffles exist and waffles are important. 😉

Those frozen waffles are fine in a pinch, but oh goodness, nothing beats a homemade Belgian waffle with a crisp exterior and deep pockets full of maple syrup and melted butter.

Our Belgian waffle recipe just melts in your mouth and if you’re not stopping what you’re doing to head to the kitchen RIGHT. NOW. you are missing out!

But enough about my love for the best waffle recipe to exist…let’s just get to the good stuff so you know how to make them too! You and your family are going to love this one and I won’t make you wait a minute longer.

Be sure to try our Biscuit Donuts and Monkey Bread too. We love all these breakfast treats!

Table of Contents

Waffle Ingredient Notes:

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Flour – We use all purpose flour, but a combo of white and whole wheat would likely work, if you don’t mind a heavier texture.

Cornstarch – This helps keep the waffles crisp on the outside and light and airy inside.

Spices – We add vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a bit of salt to the batter for flavor. You can skip the cinnamon and nutmeg if it’s not your thing, but we think it adds the perfect touch.

Baking Powder & Baking Soda – Both work to make the waffles light and airy.

Buttermilk & Milk – We use a combo of both here. No buttermilk? Just add a teaspoon of vinegar to milk and let it sit for 5 minutes. Instant buttermilk!

Oil

Egg – You’ll need to separate the white from the yolk for this one, but we’ll use the whole egg.

Sugar – Just a touch of sweetness.

What Readers are Saying!

“My family has been on a waffle making odyssey – and after a dozen or so recipes, I think we can stop searching!!! Yes, the egg is a bit more work than most recipes, but it’s definitely worth it for the airy texture. These are crisp and light with a pinch of that cinnamon flavor. Two thumbs up from my whole family!” – Leigh S.

Waffle Iron – We use and recommend this waffle iron. Easy to use and fairly budget friendly. We’ve had ours over 10 years now.

Electric Hand Mixer It’s so easy to whip up dessert (or in this case, breakfast) with this cute hand mixer. It doesn’t take up much space and is a must for any kitchen!

Rotating Hand WhiskIf you don’t have an electric mixer one of these rotating whisks works pretty well too without the need for any electricity.

How To Make Belgian Waffles:

Whip: To start, we’re going to whip an egg white. I KNOW. I hate whipping egg whites. I promise you, this is 100% worth it and is the key to this recipe.

If you have a hand mixer, drag it out and start whipping. Otherwise, count this as your arm workout for the day and go to town with a whisk.

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Combine: Once your egg whites are whipped to stiff peaks, you’ll stir together the rest of the Belgian waffle batter and, once combined, fold in those whipped egg whites.

One of the secret ingredients here is cornstarch. It helps to make the waffle crispy on the outside and the whipped egg white makes it light and airy inside. That’s why this is the best Belgian waffle recipe!

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Cook: Let your waffle iron preheat for a few minutes and spritz it with nonstick spray.

Every waffle iron is different and some will cook faster than others. Mine takes about 3 minutes. I generally just look for the steam to stop coming out of the iron and that’s when I know they’re done.

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Serve: As you cook these waffles, pop them right onto the rack of a warm oven. They’ll stay nice and crisp and everyone can enjoy breakfast at the same time this way. Genius, right?

Leftover Hack!

Leftover waffles freeze great! Just place them on a sheet pan in a single layer and freeze for one hour. Place in a zip top freezer bag, squeeze out as much air as possible, and freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat in a 325 degree oven for 10 minutes or until warmed through.

FAQs:

How many waffles does this make?

Great question, but the answer is…it all depends on your waffle iron. Some are larger than others and it’ll really all depend on that. The waffle iron I linked above is large enough that this recipe makes 3 large waffles.

I have another smaller iron that makes 4 waffles. It never hurts to double the recipe, just freeze any extra waffles for later and reheat in the oven!

Can you store waffles for later?

Yes, you can refrigerate or freeze them for later! They’ll last in the fridge for about 2 to 3 days and in the freezer for up to a few months. To freeze, first place them on a baking sheet and flash freeze before transferring to a sealed bag or container. It also helps to separate them with parchment paper.

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Waffle Mix-In’s:

We think a classic Belgium waffle is pretty perfect just the way it is, but my kids do have fun sprinkling in other ingredients. Makes for a fun breakfast!

Try adding 1/2 to 1 cup of these additions:

  • Chocolate Chips
  • Fresh or Frozen Blueberries
  • Cooked and Crumbled Bacon
  • Cinnamon Chips
  • Chopped Pecans

Belgian Waffle Toppings:

You can keep it simple with a pat of salted butter and a drizzle of pure maple syrup, but it’s also fun to get creative. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

  • Nutella and Strawberries
  • Biscoff and Raspberries
  • Fried Chicken
  • Air Fryer Bananas and Caramel Sauce
  • Apples and Cinnamon
  • Peaches and Pecans (like these peach pancakes)
  • Cherry Pie Filling
  • Apple Butter or Cinnamon Honey Butter

MORE BREAKFAST RECIPES!

  • Cake Donut Recipe
  • Amish Breakfast Casserole
  • Homemade Biscuits
  • Sausage Gravy
  • English Muffin Bread
  • Keto Oatmeal
Best Belgian Waffle Recipe (6)

Follow me on social for more recipe ideas & inspiration!

Best Belgian Waffle Recipe (7)

Recipe

The Very Best Waffles

This is the best Belgian waffle recipe we've ever tried at home. The waffles are crispy on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside. It beats restaurant waffles any day of the week!

4.11 from 179 votes

Print Pin Save

Prep5 minutes minutes

Cook15 minutes minutes

Total20 minutes minutes

Serves 4 waffles

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 cup buttermilk
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 6 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 large egg separated
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Heat the oven to 200°F and heat up the waffle iron.

  • Mix the flour, cornstarch, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, and baking soda in a medium bowl. Measure the buttermilk, milk, and vegetable oil in a measuring cup and stir in the egg yolk. Set aside.

  • In another bowl, beat the egg white almost to soft peaks. Sprinkle in the sugar and continue to beat until the peaks are firm and glossy. Beat in the vanilla.

  • Pour the buttermilk mixture into the dry ingredients and whisk until just mixed. Drop the whipped egg white onto the batter in dollops and fold in with a spatula until just incorporated.

  • Pour the batter onto the hot waffle iron (My Belgian waffle maker takes 2 1/2 ice cream scoops of batter, but your mileage may vary) and cook until the waffle is crisp and brown.

  • Set the waffle directly on the oven rack to keep it warm and crisp. Repeat with the remaining batter, holding the waffles in the oven (don’t stack them). When all the waffles are cooked, serve immediately.

Tips & Notes:

This recipe makes 3-4 waffles in my Belgian waffle maker. The number of waffles may vary depending on your waffle maker.

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 1waffle| Calories: 293kcal (15%)| Carbohydrates: 25g (8%)| Protein: 4g (8%)| Fat: 19g (29%)| Saturated Fat: 14g (88%)| Cholesterol: 42mg (14%)| Sodium: 345mg (15%)| Potassium: 138mg (4%)| Sugar: 4g (4%)| Vitamin A: 135IU (3%)| Calcium: 81mg (8%)| Iron: 1mg (6%)

Author: Karly Campbell

Course:Breakfast

Cuisine:American

Did You Make This?Tag Us On Instagram

This recipe was lightly adapted from Fine Cooking.

This post was originally published in May 2012. It was updated in March 2019 with new photos and a video. Old photo below:

Best Belgian Waffle Recipe (8)
Best Belgian Waffle Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to making good waffles? ›

Here are some tips:
  • Strike while the iron's hot. If your waffles come out pale and soft, it could be because the appliance isn't hot enough. ...
  • Whip your whites. ...
  • Opt for oil instead of butter. ...
  • Try a yeasted-waffle recipe. ...
  • Add cornstarch. ...
  • Finish them in the oven.
Apr 9, 2022

What makes Belgian waffles so good? ›

Belgian waffles are beloved for their extra-deep pockets—the better for filling with butter, jam, or maple syrup. They are often thicker than their American counterparts, and made with a yeasted batter and crunchy pearl sugar.

Why aren t my Belgian waffles crispy? ›

Not waiting until the iron heats up properly means your waffles will cook, but never achieve that satisfyingly crisp exterior. Overworking the batter will leave your waffles dense and chewy instead of light and airy. And stacking even the most perfect waffles will cause them to become soggy and limp in minutes.

What's the difference between a Belgian waffle and an old fashioned waffle? ›

The ingredients for both regular waffles and Belgian waffles are similar and include flour, milk, eggs, and butter or oil. However, Belgian waffles use egg whites to give a fluffier texture. Additionally, Belgian waffles have yeast in their recipe while regular waffles use baking powder.

What to add to waffle mix to make them better? ›

  1. Bacon! ...
  2. A handful of blueberries or other small or sliced berries.
  3. Miniature chocolate chips. ...
  4. Miniature cinnamon chips. ...
  5. Peanut butter (about 1/4 cup peanut butter for every cup of flour). ...
  6. 1/2 cup cocoa with 1/3 cup sugar.
  7. 1 cup crushed pineapples (drained well); top finished waffles with whipped cream and coconut flakes.
Aug 20, 2014

Should you let waffle batter rest? ›

Recommended overnight or 2 hr resting – for the tastiest waffles, rest the batter overnight in the fridge or for at least 2 hours. This makes the flour grains absorb the liquid so it makes the inside of the waffles softer.

How do you keep Belgian waffles crispy? ›

Other Ways to Keep Waffles from Getting Soggy
  1. Place your waffles on a cooling rack in a low-heat oven (don't stack the waffles on top of each other).
  2. Throw your waffles in a toaster to refresh their crispiness.
  3. Make sure your waffle iron is very hot.
Mar 17, 2023

Why do restaurant waffles taste better? ›

While the griddles themselves likely vary from one diner chain to the next, diners are pretty much all working with a waffle iron or griddle that's already hot. IHOP, for instance, requires its pans to be heated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and uses Crisco instead of butter to grease it, says Grimm.

What is the difference between a Brussels waffle and a Belgian waffle? ›

A Belgian waffle in the United States is called a Brussels waffle in Belgium. This waffle is lighter and crisper than the Liège waffle (see below), has deep pockets, and is typically served for dessert. Brussels waffles are rectangular or square and much larger than American waffles.

How to make waffles crispier in waffle maker? ›

If the waffles aren't fully crisped when they come out of the waffle iron, put them in a 250 degrees F oven for 5 minutes, directly on the metal racks of the oven (not on a baking sheet). This will crisp the waffles even further and putting it on the wire oven rack will allow the steam to escape and prevent sogginess.

What is the difference between a Dutch waffle and a Belgian waffle? ›

Belgian waffles taste more soft and crispy, while waffles in the Netherlands are made from a heavier batter with a chewy and sticky texture. Another prominent difference lies in the shapes used by Belgian and Dutch styles. The former is in the shape of rectangle and the latter is round.

What is the difference between German waffles and Belgian waffles? ›

In comparison to thick, rectangular Belgian waffles, German waffles are typically baked in a heart-shaped waffle maker and are much thinner. The batter has more sugar which makes the waffles incredibly delicious on their own. Belgian Liege waffles are typically sweeter as the batter includes pearl sugar.

Is pancake mix the same as Belgian waffle mix? ›

For one, waffle batter has a little bit more sugar, butter, and eggs than pancake batter. This helps make the waffles richer because they'll have a higher fat content. Alternatively, the pancake mix is thinner and easy to pour. The texture is another part of the equation.

What makes waffles taste better? ›

Vanilla Extract

The addition of vanilla will bring depth of flavor and touch of sweetness to the waffles, without adding any extra sugar. To get the vanilla levels just right, you should use a 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract for every 4-5 waffles. Double it if you're making a batch of 8-10.

Why won't my waffles get crispy? ›

Waffle recipes rely on sugar to help the surface of the waffle caramelize—cooked sugar helps the waffle get crispy and stay crispy. You don't have to use standard white granulated sugar, though.

Why are my waffles not light and fluffy? ›

Making pancake and waffle batter ahead of time is a huge no-no and will lead to flat, dense results every time. Even letting your batter hang out for just a few minutes after you've mixed it before you start ladling it onto the griddle will lead to less fluffy results.

How do you keep waffles crisp while making more? ›

Here are some other ways to keep the sogginess at bay:
  1. Place your waffles on a cooling rack in a low-heat oven (don't stack the waffles on top of each other).
  2. Throw your waffles in a toaster to refresh their crispiness.
  3. Make sure your waffle iron is very hot.
Mar 17, 2023

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