The Best Homemade Belgian Waffle

Light and crispy Belgian Waffle recipe is the real deal. Fluffy and buttery inside, this light as air Belgian Waffle is easier to make than you think with just a few simple pantry ingredients.

We usually go out for breakfast on the weekends but, lately, we’ve been recreating our favorite diner breakfasts at home with piles of buttery pancakes and slabs of bacon. And this Authentic Belgian Waffle recipe has been making a weekly appearance because it’s simple and spectacular.

Belgian waffles are, by far, my favorite waffles because they’re crispy outside with a fluffy center. Much more tender than a regular waffle, they’re fantastic just as they are or with your favorite toppings and a drizzle of maple syrup.

Ingredients

This Belgian waffle batter is easy to make in minutes with ingredients you already have in your kitchen and creates light, fluffy waffles.

• Flour – All purpose flour makes this waffle recipe easy as ever without having to hunt down a specialty flour.
• Sugar – White sugar blends perfectly without a grainy texture in the waffle batter.
• Eggs – Room temperature large eggs are used for this basic recipe.
• Half and Half – We like the richness of half and half but you can substitute with milk or even heavy cream.
• Butter – A lot of waffles are made with oil but melted butter adds flavor and richness.
• Vanilla – Pure vanilla extract gives a hint of vanilla to the batter

For the full ingredient list and instructions, see the recipe card below.

How To Make Belgian Waffles

Homemade Belgian Waffles are really easy to make and since you’re not using yeast or a leavening agent for this recipe you don’t have to wait for the batter to rest at all.

1. Whisk together the dry ingredients in a large bowl and set aside.
2. In a separate bowl, separate the egg whites from the egg yolks. Whisk together the egg yolks, half and half, vanilla and butter.
3. Mix the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients and stir until combined.
4. Beat the egg whites with an electric hand mixer or a whisk until stiff peaks form.
5. Carefully, fold the egg whites into the batter mixture until no white streaks are visible.
6. Heat the Belgian waffle iron to medium high heat and coat with cooking spray.
7. Add the batter to the waffle iron as directed. Cook for 5 minutes or until crispy and golden brown.
8. Repeat with the remaining batter.

Tips and Substitutions for Perfect Waffles

If you want to replace the half and half with milk, you can certainly do that with great results. I just like the richness the half and half adds to these easy Belgian waffles making them more filling and decadent.

You can also use oil in place of the melted butter but we really love butter in everything…..everything.

If you want to make Belgian Waffles a little easier with pancake mix, just add an extra 2 tablespoons of melted butter to the batter. Pancake mix can always double for homemade Waffle mix in a pinch. They won’t be true Belgian Waffles but they’re still super tasty!

A Little History of Belgian Waffles

My son is a big fan of epic Belgian Waffles and is very predictable when he orders breakfast. A big ‘ole waffle topped with fresh whipped cream and a side of bacon with a large orange juice is his go-to order.

And who can blame him? Originating in Belgium, there are many types of waffles from the Lieges waffles to the Brussels Waffle. And most often, they’re leavened with yeast. 

Now, since Belgian Waffles have been Americanized, they’re leavened with baking powder instead which makes them come together much more quickly. 

Belgian Waffles are also lighter than American waffles because they, most often, have whipped egg whites folded into the batter. They also have much deeper pockets perfect for capturing melted butter and syrup.

Do I need a Belgian waffle maker?

You don’t need a Belgian Waffle Maker to enjoy these easy Belgian-style waffles, a standard waffle will work well. The Belgian Waffle maker just makes bigger fluffier crispy waffles with deeper ridges than a standard waffle iron.

I love a waffle maker that flips because it spreads the batter evenly through the ridges for a perfectly cooked waffle every time.

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How To Avoid Soggy Waffles

To make sure you don’t end up with soggy waffles, be sure to heat your waffle iron for about 5 minutes before cooking. This will ensure Crispy Belgian Waffles every time.

Moisture in the batter turns to steam quickly and evaporates through the sides of the iron. If the iron isn’t hot enough, this process won’t happen and the waffles will end up soft and soggy. 

How To Keep Waffles Crispy

The best way to keep your waffles crispy while finishing up a batch or to cook them for a larger brunch crowd, place a cooling rack on top of a baking sheet and arrange the waffles in a single layer on the rack. Place the baking sheet in a warm oven until ready to serve. 

How to Store Leftovers

Leftover Belgian Waffles can be transfer to an airtight container and refrigerated until ready to serve. They will lose their crispness but it’s easily recoverable by warming in a toaster oven or in the oven on a wire rack until crispy.

How To Freeze Waffles

If you have leftover waffles, you can easily freeze them by wrapping tightly in plastic wrap and placing in a zip top freezer bag. To reheat your frozen waffles, you can bake in a 350˚F oven until thawed and crispy.

BUT we love to use our leftover waffles to make this easy Belgian Waffle Cake!  It’s such a fun brunch dessert for a celebration like a birthday or Mother’s Day.

These classic Belgian Waffles are so versatile, you can mix them up just about anyway you like.

Waffle Variations

• Add 2 tablespoons cocoa powder for a chocolate waffle twist.
• Fold in 1/4 cup peanut butter into the waffle batter.
• Stir in a tablespoons of cinnamon for Cinnamon Belgian Waffles
• Fold in a handful of blueberries for Blueberry waffles.
• Or toss in some chocolate chips for a dessert-y Chocolate Chip Waffles.

If you love these waffles, you should also try these easy Freezer Waffles. They’re made for the toaster to help you get out the door on busy mornings. 

Serving Suggestions

Serve your waffles topped with fresh fruit and a dollop of whipped cream or Strawberry Puree, a few slices of breakfast sausage and a side of fruit salad. Or make it part of a larger brunch spread with this amazing breakfast casserole!

More Easy Breakfast Recipes

• Pumpkin Pancakes
• French Toast Sticks
• The Very Best French Toast Recipe
• Homemade Egg McMuffin (Breakfast Sandwich)
• The Best Buttermilk Pancakes
• The Best Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

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