Classic Waffle Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to making good waffles? ›

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.

For one, waffle batter has a little bit more sugar, butter, and eggs than pancake batter. This helps make the waffles richer because they'll have a higher fat content. Alternatively, the pancake mix is thinner and easy to pour. The texture is another part of the equation.

Not waiting until the iron heats up properly means your waffles will cook, but never achieve that satisfyingly crisp exterior. Overworking the batter will leave your waffles dense and chewy instead of light and airy. And stacking even the most perfect waffles will cause them to become soggy and limp in minutes.

Belgian waffles taste more soft and crispy, while waffles in the Netherlands are made from a heavier batter with a chewy and sticky texture. Another prominent difference lies in the shapes used by Belgian and Dutch styles. The former is in the shape of rectangle and the latter is round.

If you don't have a Belgian waffle maker, you can use a regular waffle maker. It likely won't create the larger, thicker, deeper grooves, but you may still end up with fluffier waffles. Keep in mind that the time it takes to make Belgian waffles may vary depending on serving size.

If you just put pancake batter into a waffle maker, chances are it will spill over the edges of the iron, burn, and create a mess. Also, they'll come out a bit flat and too crunchy, as opposed to having that fluffy soft center that you usually look for in a waffle.

About Golden Malted

Since 1937, Golden Malted has been the largest distributor of waffle irons and waffle and pancake mix in America. Their products are served in top hotels, restaurants, universities and theme parks around the world.

Should waffle batter be thicker than pancake batter? ›

A waffle mixture has a thicker consistency for better results. It's preferable to use a thin and runny mixture for pancakes because the pan can hold it. Add more sugar and more fat, and ensure thick batter consistency for a perfect waffle.

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.

A classic way to make boxed waffles taste better is to add some vanilla extract to the batter. The addition of vanilla will bring depth of flavor and touch of sweetness to the waffles, without adding any extra sugar.

It creates waffles that are crisp on the outside, tender inside. Using vegetable oil instead of melted butter – once my go-to for homemade waffle batter – makes your waffles light and airy, not dense. Folding whipped egg whites into the batter also keeps the waffles light and fluffy.

I thought I'd try the same thing with this waffle recipe. The thinking is that resting a batter allows the strands of gluten to relax, resulting in a more soft and tender texture. It also allows the starch in the flour to absorb more of the moisture in the mix, thickening the dough or batter.

Making pancake and waffle batter ahead of time is a huge no-no and will lead to flat, dense results every time. Even letting your batter hang out for just a few minutes after you've mixed it before you start ladling it onto the griddle will lead to less fluffy results.

Secret #1: Whip the egg whites

Yes, this sounds like a pain—but trust us, the end result is worth it. Whipped egg whites add extra air to the batter, guaranteeing waffles that'll rise to their fluffiest potential. Use a handheld or stand mixer to make the job easy.