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:

This post contains affiliate links. As a member of Amazon and other affiliate programs I earn from qualifying purchases.

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.

Best Belgian Waffle Recipe (2)

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!

Best Belgian Waffle Recipe (3)

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.

Best Belgian Waffle Recipe (4)

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.

Best Belgian Waffle Recipe (5)

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? ›

Add cornstarch.

If you're making waffles with baking powder and baking soda, adding cornstarch to the mix will get you waffles that are crisp on the outside and soft and flaky on the inside. Because waffle recipes vary, start with ¼ cup and work in as much as ½ cup to get the desired effect.

What makes Belgian waffles so good? ›

The secret ingredient in Belgian waffles is the pearl sugar, which gives the waffles a unique texture and slight, satisfying crunch. Belgian waffles are also fantastically light, which adds to their perfection. Fun bonus fact: traditional Belgian waffles are usually eaten with your hands, not a fork and knife.

What are the most famous Belgian waffles? ›

Actually, Belgium knows a large variety of waffles of which the most famous ones are the Brussels Waffle and the Liégeois/Luikse Waffle, the former being more of a restaurant type of dessert, the latter more a street vendor winter snack (when warm).

What is the secret to crispy waffles? ›

Grease the Waffle Iron With Cooking Spray

If you're looking for how to make crispy waffles in a waffle maker, try using cooking spray instead. Cooking spray won't burn as rapidly as butter, and will help achieve that satisfyingly crisp outside you crave.

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? ›

To keep Belgian waffles crispy, they 1st have to be crispy! Make sure waffle iron is very hot before adding batter & cook until crispy. Then place on cooling rack (like you would cookies) to allow air to touch both sides. I do not cover as that can make them soggy.

Why do restaurant waffles taste better? ›

If you are asking about the waffle itself, my answer will be that most restaurants make their batter from scratch. Home waffles are usually made from a boxed mix like Bisquick. When the batter is made from scratch it can be formulated to taste however the chef likes. You can't really do much with Bisquick.

Why are my Belgian waffles not crispy? ›

It is a matter of trial and error. As a general rule, thinner batter and increased cooking time and temperature result in crispier waffles. My own method is to make the waffles a day in advance, and use the toaster oven to heat them right before I serve them.

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 do Belgians put on their waffles? ›

Most Belgians order their waffles decorated with a generous dusting of powdered sugar and nothing else. Liège waffles are already sweet from the extra sugar, and need nothing else. On occasion, a bit of whipped cream or melted chocolate may be added to either (key words: “a bit”).

What are some fun facts about Belgian waffles? ›

Belgian Waffles

Invented around 1839, these yeast-leavened batter waffles didn't make it to the states until the 1964 World's Fair, when they were introduced as Bel-Gem Waffles!

Why do you flip Belgian waffles? ›

Their process of operation works as follows: When you pour the batter onto the waffle maker, it starts to spread and cook on the bottom plates. Then you have to flip the machine over allowing direct contact so that the batter pours onto the top plates. This ensures both sides of the waffle brown evenly and cook faster.

Can you make waffles the day before? ›

Serve the waffles hot with sliced bananas, toasted coconut, maple syrup and creme fraiche and let everyone help themselves. Prepare the batter the night before. Cook the waffles up to 1 hour ahead and let sit on sheet pans at room temperature. Reheat for 10 minutes in a 350 degrees F oven, turning once.

Why are Belgian waffles so thick? ›

These days, a Belgian waffle you get at a restaurant is probably also leavened with baking powder, not yeast, making the difference more about form than substance. The two waffles also look very different. Belgian waffles are baked in larger irons with bigger hinges, creating deeper holes and a thicker, airier shape.

Why are my waffles not light and fluffy? ›

Why are my waffles not fluffy? Classic waffle batter is leavened both chemically (using baking powder or soda) and mechanically (with beaten egg whites folded in). To make fluffy waffles, be sure the egg whites are beaten to perfectly stiff peaks.

How important is baking soda in waffles? ›

Baking soda is a leavening agent, meaning it helps dough or batter rise when baked. To activate baking soda, it needs to be combined with an acid and moisture. This begins a chemical reaction that creates gas bubbles that give your baked goods a light and airy texture.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Stevie Stamm

Last Updated:

Views: 5699

Rating: 5 / 5 (60 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Stevie Stamm

Birthday: 1996-06-22

Address: Apt. 419 4200 Sipes Estate, East Delmerview, WY 05617

Phone: +342332224300

Job: Future Advertising Analyst

Hobby: Leather crafting, Puzzles, Leather crafting, scrapbook, Urban exploration, Cabaret, Skateboarding

Introduction: My name is Stevie Stamm, I am a colorful, sparkling, splendid, vast, open, hilarious, tender person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.