The Best American Waffle Recipe (Easy Homemade!) {+ 25 other flavored waffle recipes!}
Need an above-average waffle recipe? I’ve got the BEST classic American waffle recipe for you here, plus 25 extras that are “special-flavor” (you’re not going to believe some of these!) for when you want to take things up a notch. š
Waffles are a favorite around my house – I’ve got boys that get SO excited when they hear that I’m whipping up our waffle recipe for breakfast (or dinner – we love breakfast for dinner!). These are the BEST waffles!
This waffle recipe is just PERFECT. Crispy on the outside, light and extra-fluffy on the inside!
If you’re hosting a weekend brunch with family or friends, this great recipe would be the perfect addition to your menu!
For breakfasts or brunches that I’m hosting, I like to make waffles, something savory (like an egg casserole – my favorite is this crustless quiche – or our spinach and sausage egg cups that are single serve.)
Bacon or sausage, fruit cups or fruit salad, and possibly something else sweet if you are hosting a lot of people (donuts, muffins, pastries, etc.) are all yummy options! Most of those items can at least be partially made ahead, making my morning with guests not *quite* as crazy busy as it could be. You can have your dry ingredients for the waffles mixed up in a bowl and covered with plastic wrap so that it’s one less thing for you to do and less mess to make and clean up when you’re prepping the meal. I always get as much as possible ready ahead of time. Even the smallest of things that is ready to go will make my morning go smoother.
I’ve tried several American-style waffle recipes over the years, and what I came up with for time and convenience was this classic waffle recipe that has you separate the egg whites and yolks so you can whip the egg whites to make extra fluffy American waffles. I’ve done yeast waffles that are great (but take too much time if I don’t plan the day before), and I’ve done recipes that mix it all up in one bowl without separating the eggs, but taking an extra 2 minutes to separate the eggs and beat the whites is well worth the time spent. This is the secret to this waffle recipe and how amazingly fluffy they are!
These waffles are Belgian style (not cake-like, instead they’re lighter and fluffier), and if you use a Belgian waffle maker to get those deeper pockets, you’ll enjoy an amazing breakfast!
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What you need to make these American-style waffles:
- all-purpose flour
- baking powder
- salt
- white sugar
- cinnamon
- large eggs
- vegetable oil
- whole milk
- vanilla extract (optional)
With these simple ingredients, you’ll have fluffy waffles in no time, and the best part is that you know all the ingredients that you and your kids are eating.
How to Make Homemade Waffles
- Whisk together the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
- Make a well in the center of the dry mixture and add egg yolks, oil, and milk….mix just until moistened.
- Beat the egg whites in a separate bowl until they are stiff.
- Fold the egg whites into the batter.
- Preheat your waffle iron.
- Cook waffle batter in waffle iron until golden brown.
- Add your favorite toppings and enjoy! I like to add melted butter and fresh berries….and a few tablespoons of maple syrup and sometimes some whipped cream or chocolate chips! This is the perfect waffle!
Want to make ahead? This is a good waffle recipe to make and fill the freezer for quick mornings! Or store your leftover waffles in the freezer if you’re not going to eat them right away! TIP: Don’t seal the freezer bag until the waffles have cooled. You could also store these in an airtight container, putting parchment paper between the waffles.
I like to pull these out of the freezer in the morning and put them on a baking sheet in the oven (spray with cooking spray) – then we top our crispy waffles with fresh fruit and whipped cream or maple syrup.
ā¬ļø THE BEST CLASSIC WAFFLE RECIPE ā¬ļø
(25 flavored waffle recipes are after the classic waffle recipe!) š
The BEST Classic Waffles
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 egg whites
- 3 egg yolks
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and cinnamon.
- Make a well in the center of the dry mixture and add egg yolks, oil, and milk. Mix just until all the ingredients are moistened.
- Beat the egg whites until stiff (this takes about 3-4 minutes), then fold into the batter.
- Cook batter in waffle iron.
Notes
If adding vanilla extra, add that with the other wet ingredients. Maple or almond extract could also be substituted.
If your flour has "settled," the amount you measure out may actually be more than 2 cups just because it's condensed. My trick for this is shaking up my canister of flour before I use it to "loosen" it all up again. If your batter does end up too thick because of this, just add a dash more of milk to be able to pour it.
To keep waffles crispy until you're ready to serve them, pop them into a warm oven single layer!
**Adapted from allrecipes.com**
Most of the time, I enjoy a good classic waffle. Now and then, though, I love to change things up and go big and bold with a specially-flavored waffle. If you’re in the mood for something decadent, try some of these fun waffles – Fudge Waffles, Cheesecake Stuffed Waffles with Berry Syrup, Banana Bread Waffles, Lemon Ricotta Waffles, Cinnamon Roll Waffles with Cream Cheese Drizzle – there are so many amazing waffle recipes that would make brunch extra-special!
25 Amazing Waffle Recipes
Are pancake mix and waffle mix the same?
The ingredients in pancake and waffle mixes are the same, if you’re going by an ingredient list. However, waffles have more sugar and more fat in them in order to make a richer batter for that crispy exterior. The Thriving Home blog says you can just add the extra fat to your normal pancake mix to turn them into waffles! Yay!
What is the difference between a Belgian waffle and a regular waffle?
Regular waffles are more cakey than Belgian waffles. Belgian waffles originally were made from a thin yeast-batter, but now baking powder is used as the leavening agent in “Belgian” waffles as well. Belgian waffles also have deeper grooves, but in the US it’s common to purchase a Belgian waffle-maker. With this classic waffle recipe (recipe above in the card) and a Belgian waffle-maker, you’ll be making Belgian-style.
What is the best flour for making waffles?
All you need is all-purpose flour! If you experiment with whole wheat or almond flour, you’ll need to add extra liquid (milk and oil) as those flours will absorb a lot of the liquid and your waffles will be dry.
Can I use pancake batter in a waffle maker?
If you want to use the pancake batter that you already have, just add a little bit of extra sugar (that will caramelize nicely when it cooks) and extra oil.
Why aren’t my waffles crispy?
You need plenty of oil or butter in your recipe to get a crispy waffle. If the waffles come out crispy and get soft afterwards, make sure you are not stacking them and allowing the steam to make them soft. Spread them single layer on cooling racks, not stacked, and if you’d like to keep them warm you can put them into a “just-warm” oven.
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If you love brunch foods, try these!
Espresso Chocolate Chunk Muffins
Maple Pecan Coffee Cake
Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins
Easy Breakfast Casserole
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