The Best Belgian Waffles

Making Belgian waffles is easy and makes delicious, authentic Belgian waffles! These waffles are perfectly crisp and golden on the outside while being light and fluffy on the inside!

Belgian waffles, often heralded as a breakfast classic, have captivated the palates of food enthusiasts around the world with their irresistible combination of crispiness and fluffiness. These delectable waffles, believed to have originated in Belgium, are renowned for their larger, lighter, and airier texture compared to their American counterparts. A quintessential Belgian waffle is characterized by its deep grids, which are perfect for trapping pools of maple syrup, whipped cream, fresh fruit, or other delectable toppings. Whether enjoyed as a simple morning delight or transformed into a gourmet dessert, Belgian waffles are a culinary treasure celebrated for their versatility, exquisite taste, and rich history.

What sets Belgian waffles apart is not just their unique texture but also the craftsmanship involved in creating them. The batter is typically yeast-based, allowing it to rise and achieve that unmistakable lightness. This results in a waffle that strikes a delicate balance between a crispy, golden exterior and a soft, airy interior. It’s no wonder that Belgian waffles have become a global favorite, served in a myriad of variations from street vendors to upscale brunch establishments. With their roots in Belgian culinary tradition and their ability to adapt to an array of toppings and flavors, Belgian waffles have undoubtedly earned their place in the hearts of food enthusiasts as a timeless, mouthwatering delight.

Reasons to love this recipe

• Irresistible Texture: Belgian waffles are celebrated for their perfect combination of a crispy, golden-brown exterior, and a light, airy interior.
• Versatility: One of the most lovable aspects of Belgian waffles is their versatility. You can customize your waffle experience by adding toppings such as fresh berries, whipped cream, chocolate chips, or savory options like fried chicken. The possibilities are endless, allowing you to create waffles that suit your mood and taste.
• Easy to Make: Belgian waffles are surprisingly simple to prepare. With just a few basic ingredients like flour, eggs, sugar, and a waffle iron, you can whip up a batch quickly. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a beginner in the kitchen
• Breakfast or Dessert: Belgian waffles aren’t confined to just breakfast; they’re equally delightful as a dessert. Whether you enjoy them with a scoop of ice cream, drizzled in warm chocolate sauce, or paired with fresh fruit, these waffles can satisfy your sweet cravings any time of day.

Ingredients to make Belgian Waffles

This is a simple waffle recipe that only requires a few ingredients. To make the best waffles, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• flour: All-purpose flour works well in this recipe. For added fluffiness, sift the flour.
• Baking soda: Any name brand of baking soda will work in this Belgian waffle recipe.
• Salt: just a pinch of salt will do.
• Sugar: In this recipe, white granulated sugar works well.
• Eggs: I use 3 large eggs in this recipe. If you have eggs that are smaller, you might want to use 4. I use an extra egg in this recipe because we like the taste of eggs in the waffle. You can use 2 and it will be just as good.
• Butter: The butter helps the waffle to stay moist. You won’t want to skip this. If you want, you can use vegetable oil or melted coconut oil.
• Milk: Any milk you have is great, but I usually use 2%.
• Vanilla: I use my homemade vanilla, but you can use imitation and it will be fine if that’s what you have.

How to Make Belgian Waffles from Scratch

1. Preheat your waffle iron to medium-high heat, then whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and sugar in a medium bowl and set aside.
2. Next, separate the eggs by putting the yolks into a large bowl and the whites into a separate, smaller bowl.
3. In a large bowl, mix together the milk, egg yolks, oil, and vanilla.
4. Now, add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until just combined.
5. Whip the egg whites for 2-3 minutes, or until stiff peaks form (I use a kitchen aid electric mixer, but you can use a hand mixer or whip them by hand), then gently fold them into the waffle batter. You don’t want to overmix. You want to keep as much air from the egg white as possible.
6. Spray your waffle iron generously with non-stick spray and pour the batter into the hot iron (the amount of batter will vary depending on the size of your waffle iron).
7. Cook according to your waffle iron’s instructions. For mine, I pour the batter into a flipped iron and let it cook for 5 minutes before turning it over). You will know it is done when your waffle is a nice golden color but not too crispy.
8. Serve it hot with your favorite toppings!

Belgian Waffle Toppings

There are a variety of toppings you can use on these golden, fluffy waffles; my mind immediately goes to whipped cream and fruit, but my husband’s favorite is peanut butter and pancake syrup, so let’s look at some great options:

• Berries (any kind)
• Chocolate Chips (the kids love this in the pancake as well)
• Flavored whip cream
• Peanut Butter or any nut butter
• Pancake syrup or Maple Syrup
• Ice-cream
• Nutella
• Brown sugar and lemon juice (I used to love this one as a kid)

How to Reheat your Belgian Waffles

If you have any leftover waffles (I occasionally make a larger batch and freeze them for a faster breakfast), reheat them as follows:

To keep them crispy, you’ll want to reheat them in the oven rather than the microwave. I recommend baking them for around 10 minutes on the middle oven rack at 250 degrees.

Tips and Suggestions

• Preheat Your Waffle Iron: Before you start, make sure to preheat your waffle iron properly. This ensures even cooking and helps prevent sticking.
• Don’t Overfill the Iron: Pour just enough batter to cover the waffle grid. Overfilling can lead to batter spilling over and unevenly cooked waffles
• Non-Stick Spray or Grease: Even if your waffle iron is non-stick, it’s a good idea to lightly grease it with cooking spray or a small amount of melted butter before pouring the batter.
• Keep Waffles Warm: If you’re making multiple waffles, you can keep them warm by placing them on a wire rack in a preheated oven at a low temperature (around 200°F or 95°C).
• Experiment: Don’t be afraid to experiment with your waffle recipe. You can add spices, extracts (like vanilla or almond), or grated citrus zest to the batter for unique flavors.

Variations

• Chocolate Chip Belgian Waffles: Simply fold chocolate chips into the waffle batter for a delightful chocolatey twist. Top with whipped cream and a drizzle of chocolate sauce.
• Blueberry Belgian Waffles: Add fresh or frozen blueberries to the batter for a burst of fruity flavor. Top with a dollop of yogurt or a sprinkle of powdered sugar.
• Pumpkin Spice Belgian Waffles: In the fall, incorporate canned pumpkin puree and a dash of pumpkin spice into your batter. These waffles are a seasonal treat, perfect with a dollop of whipped cream.
• Apple Cinnamon Belgian Waffles: Fold in small pieces of diced apples and ground cinnamon into the batter. Top with warm apple compote and a drizzle of caramel sauce.
• Coconut Almond Belgian Waffles: Add shredded coconut and chopped almonds to the batter for a tropical twist. Serve with a sprinkle of toasted coconut and a drizzle of honey.
• Red Velvet Belgian Waffles: Create a red velvet waffle by adding cocoa powder and red food coloring to the batter. Top with cream cheese frosting and a few chocolate shavings.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to make Belgian Waffle Recipe

This Homemade Belgian Waffle Recipe is easy and makes delicious, authentic, Belgian waffles!  These waffles are perfectly crisp and golden on the outside while being light and fluffy on the inside!

5 from 2 votes

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Breakfast

Cuisine international

Servings 4 Waffles

Calories 412 kcal

Equipment

• 1 waffle maker
• 1 electric mixer optional

Ingredients

  

• 3 egg whites
• 2 egg yolks beaten
• 1 tsp Vanilla
• 2 cups milk
• ⅓ cup butter melted
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt

Instructions

 

• Beat 3 egg whites until they are stiff peaks
• Mix dry ingredients
• mix together egg yolk, milk and melted butter
• Create well in the middle of dry ingredients and add wet ingredients. combine together in a few strokes the batter will look a little lumpy.
• Fold in egg whites, until just combined.
• Add a enough to put into your waffle maker and wait until golden brown.

Notes

I like to add an additional egg white to this recipe. That’s why there are 3 egg whites and 2 egg yoks. If you don’t like the taste of eggs, omit one of the egg whites.

Keyword breakfast, waffle recipe, waffles