The short answer: This waffle recipe makes crispy, fluffy homemade waffles with pantry basics: flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, eggs, milk and melted butter. Whisk the batter in about 5 minutes, cook it in a hot greased waffle iron until the steam slows, and you get 8 to 10 golden waffles that are crisp outside and tender inside. Extras freeze well for fast weekday breakfasts.
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I love cooking, and waffles are one of the simplest ways to make an ordinary morning feel like a treat.
Waffle recipe ingredients
| Ingredient | Amount | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| All-purpose flour | 2 cups | Structure |
| Granulated sugar | 2 tablespoons | Light sweetness and browning |
| Baking powder | 1 tablespoon | Lift and fluffy center |
| Salt | ½ teaspoon | Balances the flavor |
| Large eggs | 2 | Richness and structure |
| Milk | 1¾ cups | Smooth, pourable batter |
| Unsalted butter, melted, or oil | ½ cup | Crisp outside |
| Vanilla extract | 1 teaspoon | Warm flavor |
This makes about 8 Belgian waffles or 10 standard 7-inch waffles.
How to make waffles
- Preheat the iron. Turn on the waffle iron and let it heat fully, until the ready light comes on.
- Mix the dry ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
- Mix the wet ingredients. In a second bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, melted butter and vanilla.
- Combine gently. Pour the wet mix into the dry and stir until just combined. A few lumps are fine; overmixing makes waffles tough.
- Grease and fill. Brush the plates with a little oil, then add about ½ cup batter for a standard iron or ¾ to 1 cup for a Belgian iron.
- Cook until crisp. Close the lid and cook 3 to 5 minutes, until the steam slows almost to a stop and the waffle is deep golden.
- Hold on a rack. Set waffles in a single layer on a wire rack in a 200°F oven while you cook the rest.
Skip tasting the raw batter. The FDA explains that raw flour and eggs can carry harmful bacteria until they are cooked.
Waffles vs. pancakes
| Waffles | Pancakes | |
|---|---|---|
| Fat in batter | Higher, about ½ cup | Lower, 2 to 3 tablespoons |
| Texture | Crisp outside, airy pockets | Soft and tender |
| Equipment | Waffle iron | Skillet or griddle |
| Freezer friendly | Excellent, reheat in toaster | Good, best in microwave or oven |
Want the softer stack? Try our pancake recipe or a French toast recipe.
10 easy waffle flavor ideas
- Buttermilk waffles: swap the milk for buttermilk and add ½ teaspoon baking soda.
- Blueberry waffles: scatter fresh blueberries over the batter in the iron.
- Chocolate chip waffles: fold in ¾ cup mini chocolate chips.
- Cinnamon sugar waffles: add 1 teaspoon cinnamon and brush cooked waffles with butter and cinnamon sugar.
- Pumpkin spice waffles: whisk in ½ cup pumpkin puree and 1½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice.
- Gingerbread waffles: add 2 tablespoons molasses, 1 teaspoon ginger and ½ teaspoon cinnamon.
- Banana waffles: mash 1 ripe banana into the wet ingredients.
- Whole wheat waffles: replace half the flour with whole wheat flour.
- Savory cheddar waffles: cut the sugar to 1 teaspoon and add 1 cup shredded cheddar and chopped chives.
- Chicken and waffles: serve plain waffles with crispy chicken, hot honey or maple syrup.
Tips for crispy, fluffy waffles
- Fully preheat. A hot iron sets the outside fast, which is the secret to crisp edges.
- Do not overmix. Stir just until the flour disappears.
- Let it steam out. Opening the lid early tears the waffle and leaves it pale.
- Use a rack, not a plate. Stacked waffles trap steam and soften.
- Adjust after the first one. Every iron is different, so tweak batter amount and time after waffle number one.
Holiday brunch waffle bar
Waffles are an easy centerpiece for a Christmas morning or holiday weekend brunch. Cook and freeze a batch a few days early, then reheat them on sheet pans and set out a topping bar. Add a pan of coffee cake baked the day before for guests who want something sweet while the waffles warm.
| Topping station | Ideas |
|---|---|
| Sweet | Maple syrup, powdered sugar, chocolate sauce |
| Fruit | Berries, sliced bananas, warm apple compote |
| Creamy | Whipped cream, yogurt, peanut butter |
| Savory | Bacon, sausage, fried eggs, cheddar |
For more menu ideas, see our Christmas breakfast ideas, overnight cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate recipe.
Make-ahead, storage and freezing
- Batter overnight: cover and refrigerate. The USDA FSIS refrigeration guide recommends keeping your fridge at 40°F or below.
- Leftover cooked waffles: cool, then refrigerate in a sealed bag for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: freeze cooled waffles in a single layer, then bag them for 1 to 2 months. The USDA FSIS freezing guide notes food kept at 0°F stays safe, though quality fades over time.
- Reheat: toast straight from frozen, or bake at 375°F for 5 to 8 minutes.
For more grab-and-go ideas, see quick breakfast ideas and freezer meals.
Plan your breakfasts and save the recipe
The Meal Planner & Grocery List ($3.99) helps you schedule a waffle morning, plan freezer breakfasts for the week and write one shopping list. Keep your favorite batter and flavor notes in the Family Recipe Binder ($6.99). Hosting a holiday brunch? The Holiday Season Bundle ($15.99, $25.94) keeps your holiday meal plan, budget and gift list together, and our free Holiday Budget Starter Kit (3 US Letter pages, emailed after you join the list) helps you set a food budget. Browse all our printables.
Hosting brunch? Set up a crepe bar with our homemade crepes, made the day before and warmed in foil. Need savory plates too? See the full breakfast ideas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest waffle recipe? The easiest waffle recipe uses flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, eggs, milk and melted butter. You whisk the dry and wet ingredients in two bowls, stir them together until just combined and cook the batter in a hot, greased waffle iron.
How do you make waffles crispy? Crispy waffles come from enough fat in the batter, a fully preheated iron and patience. Let each waffle cook until the steam slows almost to a stop, and set finished waffles on a wire rack instead of a plate so they do not steam and go soft.
What is the difference between waffle batter and pancake batter? Waffle batter has more fat and often a little more sugar than pancake batter. The extra butter or oil is what gives waffles their crisp outside, while pancake batter is leaner so pancakes stay soft and tender.
Can I use pancake mix to make waffles? Yes, you can make waffles from pancake mix by adding about 1 to 2 tablespoons of melted butter or oil per cup of mix. The extra fat helps the waffles crisp up and release from the iron.
Why are my waffles soggy? Waffles turn soggy when the iron is not hot enough, when they are pulled out too early or when they are stacked on a plate. Preheat fully, cook until the steam slows and keep finished waffles in a single layer on a rack.
Why do my waffles stick to the iron? Waffles stick when the iron is not hot enough or not greased. Brush the plates lightly with oil or melted butter before the first waffle, wait for the ready light and do not open the lid too early.
How much batter do I put in a waffle maker? Use about ½ cup of batter for a standard 7-inch round waffle and about ¾ to 1 cup for a deep Belgian waffle iron. Spread it almost to the edges, and adjust after the first waffle since every iron is different.
Can I make waffle batter the night before? Yes, you can make waffle batter the night before and keep it covered in the refrigerator. Whisk it gently in the morning, and expect slightly less rise since the baking powder works more slowly after resting.
Can you freeze homemade waffles? Yes, homemade waffles freeze very well for 1 to 2 months. Cool them on a rack, freeze them in a single layer on a sheet pan, then move them to a freezer bag so they do not stick together.
How do you reheat frozen waffles? Reheat frozen waffles in a toaster or a 375°F oven for 5 to 8 minutes, straight from the freezer. Both methods bring back the crisp edges, while the microwave makes waffles soft.
Can I make waffles without eggs? Yes, you can make eggless waffles by replacing the 2 eggs with ½ cup of unsweetened applesauce or 2 flax eggs. The waffles will be a little less fluffy but still crisp and tasty.
Can I make waffles without a waffle iron? Not true waffles, since the iron is what creates the grid pattern and crisp pockets. Without one, cook the same batter as thick pancakes in a skillet, or bake it in a greased sheet pan as a sheet-pan breakfast.
What are good toppings for waffles? Classic waffle toppings are butter and maple syrup, fresh berries, whipped cream, powdered sugar, peanut butter and banana, and fried chicken for a savory plate. Set out a few for a holiday brunch topping bar.
How do I plan waffles into a busy week? Use the Meal Planner & Grocery List ($3.99) from HomeBase Paper Co. to schedule a weekend waffle batch, add the ingredients to your shopping list and plan freezer waffles as quick weekday breakfasts.
Sources
- FDA: Handling flour safely, what you need to know fda.gov
- USDA FSIS: Refrigeration and food safety fsis.usda.gov
- USDA FSIS: Freezing and food safety fsis.usda.gov