Best Belgian Waffles Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What makes a Belgian waffle different? ›

Belgian waffles are usually thicker than their American counterparts. These Belgian beauties are made with a recipe that includes yeasted batter and crunchy pearl sugar. Belgian waffles have extra-deep pockets—the better for filling with butter, jam, maple syrup, or whipped cream.

The Brussels waffle is often served sprinkled with powdered sugar and can be accompanied by various toppings, such as fresh fruits, whipped cream, chocolate, jam, or even ice cream.

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.

We have two types of waffles in Belgium: the Liege waffle and the Brussels waffle. And you should know that the difference is very important for all true waffle lovers. They are both yeast waffles, but that is really where the similarities end.

The secret ingredient in Belgian waffles is the pearl sugar, which gives the waffles a unique texture and slight, satisfying crunch. Belgian waffles are also fantastically light, which adds to their perfection. Fun bonus fact: traditional Belgian waffles are usually eaten with your hands, not a fork and knife.

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Most Belgians order their waffles decorated with a generous dusting of powdered sugar and nothing else. Liège waffles are already sweet from the extra sugar, and need nothing else. On occasion, a bit of whipped cream or melted chocolate may be added to either (key words: “a bit”).

Belgian waffles start with a yeasted batter, require a leavening agent and tend to include more butter, milk and sugar. If you try to make the Liege style, larger sugar granules are added for more crunch. Traditional or American waffles often substitute yeast with baking powder and do not sit overnight.

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.

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.

What type of flour is best for waffles? ›

On the flip side, waffles aren't as flaky-delicate as baked goods, making pastry flour too fine for the job. Good old AP, or all-purpose, flour is where it's at. If you want to sprinkle in a tablespoon or two of buckwheat or rye flour for added nutty heft, go for it.

Butter has a relatively high water content, and vegetable oil or rapeseed oil actually give your waffles a better crisp crust due to their lower water contents, allowing the batter to brown more easily and evenly. Additionally, butter is more prone to burning, since it has a lower smoke point and contains milk solids.

Some waffle makers flip to ensure that the batter spreads evenly throughout the waffle maker. This also allows the waffles to cook much faster and contributes to a nice crisp, golden-brown exterior and fluffy-soft center.

These traditional waffles often feature buttermilk in their recipe, imparting a richer flavour compared to the airy Belgian variety. The traditional American waffle iron typically produces smaller waffles with shallower pockets, resulting in faster cooking times due to their thinner size.

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.

Initially calling his product “Brussels” waffle, he soon changed it to “Bel-Gem” waffle, realizing most Americans associated Brussels with sprouts and didn't know it was a Belgian city (not to mention, his homeland's capital). Over time, the name morphed into “Belgian” waffles.