The best homemade waffles are crisp and buttery on the outside, but fluffy and tender on the inside! You can prepare these easy waffles at home with just a handful of basic ingredients and a few helpful tips. Serve them with butter, maple syrup and a side of bacon for the ultimate weekend brunch, or make a batch ahead of time and reheat them later for quick weekday breakfasts. These are your new favorite everyday waffles!
Perfect Every Time Homemade Waffles
Once you've tasted a beautiful, golden brown, crispy waffle recipe at home, you'll never go back to the frozen toaster waffles again! Use this go-to formula for sweet or savory waffles that you can serve for breakfast with butter and syrup, for brunch with sausage gravy, or for dinner with fried chicken. They're versatile, simple, and perfect every time!
Is pancake mix the same as waffle mix?
Pancake mix and waffle mix are not the same thing. For the best homemade waffles, do not use pancake batter. While the two popular breakfast treats are similar and have some ingredients in common, like eggs, milk and flour, their batters are not the same. Waffles usually contain more fat and sometimes more sugar. The additional fat is a key ingredient for crispy waffles with a tender, chewy inside, so don't try to decrease the butter in this recipe -- they just won't be as good!
How to Make Waffles
You probably already have all of the ingredients that you need in your pantry for the best homemade waffle recipe! Don't skip the step of beating the egg whites, because the egg whites create fluffy waffles. It's well worth the extra few minutes of prep!
Ingredients for Crispy and Fluffy Homemade Waffles
- Eggs
- All-purpose flour
- Sugar
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Milk
- Butter
Step 1: Beat Egg Whites
First, separate the eggs and beat the egg whites until stiff.
Step 2: Sift Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
Step 3: Stir Together Batter
Alternately add the flour mixture and milk to the egg yolks, mixing well. Add the melted butter and mix again. Finally, fold in the stiffly-beaten egg whites.
Step 4: Cook in Waffle Iron
Cook waffles in a lightly oiled waffle iron for 3-5 minutes each, or until cooked through and golden brown.
Is is possible to make waffles without a waffle maker?
Yes, you can make waffles without a waffle iron; however, you won't achieve the same crispy edges. Here's a great explanation on how to use a grill pan for homemade waffles. Alternatively, you can make waffles in a sandwich press using these instructions.
Waffle Toppings
The options are endless when it comes to waffle toppings. From sweet to savory, here are some ideas to get you started:
- Butter
- Maple syrup or honey
- Powdered sugar
- Jam or fruit syrup
- Sliced fresh fruit such as strawberries, blueberries or peaches
- Whipped cream
- Drizzle of peanut butter
- Cinnamon and sugar
- Chocolate sauce
- Apple butter
- Sausage gravy
- Fried chicken
- Chopped, toasted pecans or walnuts
What to serve with Homemade Waffles
If you're serving the waffles for breakfast or brunch, pair them with fresh fruit, eggs, bacon, sausage or sausage gravy. For dinner, try pairing the homemade waffles with fried chicken for a classic chicken n' waffles dish!
Storage
Allow the leftover waffles to cool completely, then wrap tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Can homemade waffles be frozen?
Yes! Allow the waffles to cool completely, then wrap individual waffles in plastic wrap and package in a large Ziploc freezer bag. The waffles will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
How to Reheat Homemade Waffles
Just remove as many as you need and place straight into the toaster oven on the medium setting until heated through and crispy again. If reheating straight from the freezer, they may need slightly longer in the toaster.
Tips for Making the Best Homemade Waffles
- Beat the egg whites until stiff, and then be very gentle when folding them into your batter. These light and fluffy egg whites will make your waffles light and fluffy on the inside!
- Don't over-mix the batter. Stir just until the ingredients are combined. You will still have some lumps, which is fine. Over-mixing will result in dense, tough, and dry waffles.
- Use a good waffle iron that will cook your waffles to an even golden-brown color with those beautiful crispy edges. I love my All-Clad waffle iron, but there are many good options on the market.
- Make sure to use a brush to lightly oil the waffle iron before adding each round of batter or spray with cooking spray. This will prevent the waffles from sticking to your waffle maker. Just don't use too much oil, or the waffles can come out greasy.
- Keep the waffles warm while you finish with the rest of your batter by placing the cooked waffles on a baking sheet in a 200 degree F oven.
More breakfast recipes that you might enjoy:
Homemade Waffles
Ingredients
- 2 eggs, separated
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 6 tablespoons salted butter, melted and cooled
Instructions
- Separate the eggs; place the yolks in a large bowl and the whites in a small bowl.
- Beat the egg whites until stiff; set aside.
- In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
- Alternately add the flour mixture and milk to the egg yolks, mixing well. Add the melted butter and mix again. Finally, fold in the stiffly-beaten egg whites.
- Cook waffles in a lightly oiled waffle iron for 3-5 minutes each, or until cooked through and golden brown.
Notes
- Beat the egg whites until stiff, and then be very gentle when folding them into your batter. These light and fluffy egg whites will make your waffles light and fluffy on the inside!
- Don't over-mix the batter. Stir just until the ingredients are combined. You will still have some lumps, which is fine. Over-mixing will result in dense, tough, and dry waffles.
- Use a good waffle iron that will cook your waffles to an even golden-brown color with those beautiful crispy edges. I love my All-Clad waffle iron, but there are many good options on the market.
- Make sure to use a brush to lightly oil the waffle iron before adding each round of batter or spray with cooking spray. This will prevent the waffles from sticking to your waffle maker. Just don't use too much oil, or the waffles can come out greasy.
- Keep the waffles warm while you finish with the rest of your batter by placing the cooked waffles on a baking sheet in a 200 degree F oven.
Nutrition
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Oh goshhh! It looks so yummy. I’m a big fan of waffles and I can’t wait to make this dish tomorrow. I bet it will be the best waffle recipe I’ve ever made! Thanks for your recipe.
Aw, thanks Rosanna! I hope you love them!