This is hands-down the best Belgian waffle recipe -- using egg whites to ensure the waffles are crunchy on the outside while soft and fluffy on the inside! Top these waffles with your favorite maple syrup and fruit, and you've got yourself one fine breakfast!
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You know that I love breakfast carbohydrates. There's something so satisfying about a delicious blueberry muffin, or a slice of warm chocolate chunk banana bread. Lazy mornings eating a tender piece of Greek yogurt coffee cake with a red eye cup of coffee is my kind of heaven.
This waffle recipe is one of those recipes our family has been making for YEARS, and I've never gotten around to posting the recipe. It's the only waffle recipe we make in this house, just like our easy fluffy pancake recipe the kids love. We don't deviate. We don't mix it up. We like what we like. And that's lots of carbs.
I don't mean to diss Eggo Waffles, but these waffles are far superior. If you like waffles that are thick, crispy on the outside, and so fluffy on the inside, this your waffle recipe, too. They are restaurant-worthy, and all thanks to a good Belgian waffle iron and a secret ingredient: egg whites.
Why You Need Egg Whites In Your Waffles
- Egg whites allow the waffles to have a crunchy exterior. The egg whites will cause the exterior to crisp up, which just creates the best Belgian waffle texture out there. No one likes soggy waffles. We all know this from third grade geography class.
- Egg whites allow for the waffles to have a fluffy interior. This is mostly due to the technique of folding the stiff egg whites into the rest of the battle, creating plenty of air in the batter.
Jump to:
Ingredients You'll Need
All of the ingredients you likely have in your pantry right now. Here's what you'll need:
- all-purpose flour
- baking powder
- granulated sugar
- salt
- cinnamon
- large eggs
- vegetable oil
- milk
- pure vanilla extract
The recipe card below will have the exact quantities you'll need!
Equipment Necessary
- Medium Mixing Bowl
- Stand mixer or handheld electric mixer
- Silicone spatula
- Waffle iron - this Breville one is expensive, but we've had ours for over a decade and it is a workhorse!
How to Make the Best Homemade Belgian Waffles
Here are the basic steps to making the most delicious Belgian waffles:
Step 1: Prepare your waffle iron.
according to manufacturer's instructions. The Breville waffle iron we use is linked above and it is just absolute perfection.
Step 2: Combine your dry ingredients.
Use a whisk to combine.
Step 3: Beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form.
Set aside.
Step 4: Combine the remainder of the wet ingredients.
Whisk to combine. Stir in the dry ingredients with a spoon.
Step 5: Gently fold in the egg whites using a spatula.
The goal here is to create lots of air in the batter by folding and not crushing the egg whites.
Step 6: Cook the waffles and enjoy!
Follow your waffle iron's instructions for cooking and top with your favorite waffle toppings!
Gently fold in the egg whites using a spatula. Do not overmix the matter. If you still see streaks of egg white, that's okay. It's important you don't overmix here to keep the waffles light and fluffy.
Customize Your Belgian Waffles Like Whoa
Maple syrup runs supreme over in this house. I sometimes want to re-bottle the puddle of maple syrup from my older child's plate because at some point the waffle can't soak up any more syrup. I don't do this -- but I think about it often.
Aside from the traditional butter and maple syrup, there are so many ways you can customize your waffles to suit your taste buds. Here are some waffle toppings and waffle variations:
- Top waffles with a fruit compote or jam Try a homemade and very easy cherry compote or a strawberry jam or peach jam for something extra sweet on top.
- Go with chocolate. Drizzle Nutella on your waffles, top with mini chocolate chips, and powdered sugar.
- Add sprinkles to the batter to make birthday "cake" waffles. Then top with a generous amount of whipping cream and more sprinkles for good measure. This would be the perfect waffles to make for a birthday breakfast for the birthday honoree! See below for more information.
- Add chopped nuts and/or dried fruit to the batter. You get a little extra sweetness from the dried fruit and an extra crunch from nuts like walnuts, pecans, or even pistachios.
- Make the waffles more savory by adding ¼ cup of chopped bacon to the batter or crumbled sausage. You could also add some chopped herbs or shredded cheese to make an omlette-like waffle (I definitely just made up that term but I like it). I would leave out the vanilla extract if I were making the waffles savory though.
Celebration Waffles
Celebrate away! Someone special in your life got a new job? Celebration waffles! Someone just have a tough day and lived to tell the tale? Celebration waffles!
Add ¼ cup of rainbow sprinkles to the batter to make beautiful funfetti waffles. Then add a generous dollop of whipped cream, extra sprinkles, and a candle on top!
Freezing Belgian Waffles
These Belgian waffles freeze wonderfully. I always double the recipe so I can have plenty of waffles for the kids to eat in the morning. They take them out of the freezer, stick them in the toaster, and have an easy breakfast that they can do all by themselves.
To freeze, place completely cooled waffles in freezer-safe bags, laying the waffles on their sides. It may take you a couple of bags. When you're ready, take as many waffles out of the freezer as you need and toast them directly from their frozen state. I set the toaster to just above medium, and it works great.
FAQ
Likely because your waffle iron heat isn't high enough. Crank that bad boy up a bit so you can get a nice crunch on the outside.
No, the egg whites that get folded into the batter would get flat. I recommend making the batter at the time you're going to make the waffles.
Yes, you can make these waffles gluten free. Just use gluten free flour and keep the measurements the same.
Other Breakfast Favorites
Looking for more breakfast inspiration? Try these recipes!
Homemade Belgian Waffles with Egg Whites
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ Cups all-purpose flour
- 1 Tablespoon baking powder
- 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 large eggs, separated
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 cups milk any kind
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat your waffle iron and prepare with cooking spray (if needed - follow manufacturer's directions).
- In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, and cinnamon.
- In a medium bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the egg whites with a hand mixer until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
- In a separate medium bowl mix together the egg yolks, vegetable oil, milk, and pure vanilla extract. Add the egg yolk mixture to the dry ingredients and mix until combined.
- Fold in the egg whites using a spatula. Be careful to not over mix here. You want to keep as much air in the batter as possible.
- Pour the batter into your preheated iron, following manufacturer's directions. Remove the waffles when they are golden brown and crispy. Serve immediately and enjoy!
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