These Fluffy Belgian Waffles Will Make Your Sunday Mornings So Much Better
When I was young, I thought of Belgian waffles as a special food exclusive to diners and restaurants. This is because, despite my mother being an excellent cook and baker, the only waffles we had at home were store-bought, pop-in-the-toaster frozen waffles. As I got older, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that classic waffles (and, specifically, extra-thick, fluffy Belgian waffles) are not hard to make and, besides needing a waffle maker, don’t even require specialty ingredients.
There are two camps of Belgian waffles. Overnight yeasted waffles are chewier, with a toasty bread flavor and aroma. This recipe falls into the other category and skirts around all that advance planning, relying on baking powder and whipped egg whites for lift and structure. I know there can be dread around separating and beating eggs, so know that I never include it in a recipe unless it’s absolutely necessary. Here, the extra step guarantees a stack of very thick, fluffy, and crisp homemade Belgian waffles. Besides enjoying them for breakfast, load them up with ice cream, hot fudge, or caramel sauce for dessert, or make a fried chicken sandwich for lunch or dinner using waffles instead of a bun.
Why You’ll Love It
You don’t need special ingredients. This recipe relies on pantry-friendly ingredients (you won’t see any buttermilk here), so no need for a special shopping trip before whipping up a batch.
The batter is forgiving. The batter can be set aside before cooking for about a half-hour on the counter or even longer in the fridge so you can whip it up and then cook when it’s almost time to eat.
Powdered sugar makes them extra crispy. With cornstarch, it’s the key to the crispy exterior. (The inside is still tender and fluffy!)
Key Ingredients in Belgian Waffles
Whole milk: Has just enough richness to keep the waffles tender without making them heavy or greasy.
Butter: Melted unsalted butter gives the exterior of the waffles a nutty, slightly caramelized flavor. You can swap in salted butter; just reduce the salt by half to keep the batter balanced.
Powdered sugar: This powdery blend of sugar and cornstarch performs double-duty here as a sweetener as well as an ingredient that promotes a crisp exterior.
Eggs: Separating the eggs keeps the waffles light and crispy. Hot tip: It’s easier to separate eggs when they are cold, ensuring no broken yolk in the whites that can hinder proper whipping.
Vanilla extract: There is just enough vanilla to enhance the moderate sweetness of the batter, but if you happen to be out of vanilla, it’s not a deal-breaker if you leave it out.
How to Make Belgian Waffles
Heat the milk and butter. To prevent the melted butter from firming up when blended with cold milk, warm the two together just until the butter melts so the batter combines easily.
Combine the dry ingredients. Biting into a clump of baking powder tastes like bitter aluminum foil, so don’t just casually stir the dry ingredients once or twice, but take a minute to really whisk it all together to eliminate lumps. You can also sift all the dry ingredients into a large bowl.
Mix the wet and dry ingredients. Adding the milk, butter, and egg yolks to the well lets you quickly whisk them and then gradually pull in the flour mixture so you don’t overwork the batter.
Whip and fold in the egg whites. It’s easiest when folding beaten egg whites to start with about one-third of the whites and work them into the batter to lighten it before adding the remaining whites to more seamlessly combine the two different textures and densities.
Helpful Swaps
After testing both ways, I determined that butter made a superior-tasting waffle with a more tender interior. If you prefer oil, choose a neutral oil, like vegetable or avocado, and reduce the amount to 1/3 cup, as oil lacks the water that’s in butter.
To add whole grains, you can replace some of the all-purpose flour with whole-wheat. Start by swapping out 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour for whole-wheat so the waffles stay light and tender.
Although the waffles won’t be as crispy, you can use granulated or superfine sugar instead of powdered sugar. Because the grain sizes are so different, you will need less — about 3 to 4 tablespoons of granulated instead.
Use a different extract in place of vanilla like almond, coffee, coconut, or maple. Start with 1/2 teaspoon, as these extracts have a stronger, more distinct taste.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
Waffles are an ideal make-ahead recipe. Store extras in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheat waffles in the oven or toaster oven (no need to thaw first, if frozen) until hot through and crispy, or heat thawed waffles in a skillet over medium heat, turning occasionally until crisp.
What to Serve with Belgian Waffles
Fruit Jam (along with a smear of butter or a dollop of Greek yogurt or cottage cheese)
Homemade Peanut Butter and a drizzle of honey or maple syrup
Whipped Cream and sprinkles
Belgian Waffles Recipe
Serve up a stack of these thick, fluffy, and crisp homemade waffles in just 30 minutes.
Prep time 10 minutes to 20 minutes
Cook time 25 minutes
Makes about 5 waffles
Serves 4 to 5
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups whole milk
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into 8 pieces
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3 large egg yolks
3 large egg whites
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 tablespoon melted unsalted butter, or cooking spray
Instructions
Place 1 1/4 cups whole milk and 1 stick cut-up unsalted butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl or large measuring cup. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until the butter is just melted and the mixture is warm but not hot, 1 to 2 minutes total. (Alternatively, heat in a small saucepan over medium-low heat.)
Whisk 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt together in a large bowl. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture. Pour the butter mixture into the well, then add 3 large egg yolks and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract. Whisk the wet ingredients together in the center of the bowl until smooth. Then, working from the inside out, gradually whisk in the dry ingredients until thick and mostly smooth. A few small lumps are fine, but avoid large pockets of dry ingredients.
Beat 3 large egg whites in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed or by hand until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 2 minutes with the mixer. Fold about one-third of the egg whites into the batter with a flexible spatula to lighten it. Fold in the remaining whites until no streaks remain.
Heat the oven to 250°F. Fit a wire rack onto a rimmed baking sheet. Heat a Belgian waffle maker according to the manufacturer's instructions. A drop of water should sizzle and evaporate when it’s hot enough.
Lightly brush the top and bottom of the iron with melted butter, or coat lightly with cooking spray. Add about 3/4 to 1 cup of the batter (depending on your machine) to the waffle iron. Gently spread until the surface is almost totally covered. Close the lid and cook until well-browned and crisp, 5 to 7 minutes or according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Serve immediately, or transfer the waffle to the wire rack and keep warm in the oven. Repeat making more waffles with the remaining batter, greasing the waffle iron before each waffle.
Recipe Notes
General Tips: It’s easy to over-whip egg whites, especially when working with a small amount. To achieve perfect peaks and avoid dry, clumpy whites that won’t evenly fold into the batter, stop the machine once the egg whites begin to thicken to check the consistency. Beat just a few seconds more and check again. You can even finish whipping them by hand once they are close to stiff because sometimes it only takes a final turn or two with a whisk to reach stable, shiny peaks.
Ingredient/Equipment Variations:
You can use the same batter in a regular waffle maker as well, using less batter per waffle.
Vanilla extract subtly perfumes the batter, but for a more assertive taste, use the same amount of vanilla bean paste instead.
Storage: Once cooled, pack the waffles in a resealable bag or container and seal well. Refrigerate for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat waffles in the 350ºF oven or toaster oven (no need to thaw first, if frozen) until warmed through and crispy, or heat thawed waffles in a skillet over medium heat, turning occasionally, until crisp.
Further Reading
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Tuscan Chicken Is the "Most Delicious" Dinner of All Time, Says Everyone Who's Tried It
