Belgian waffles

Belgian waffles

30 min
While many countries have their own traditional waffle recipes, the most well-known waffle type is probably the Belgian waffle. The famous Belgian waffles are decorative and golden and taste buttery, fluffy, and crispy. It is not difficult to understand why these waffles have become a favourite with many. With our Belgian waffle recipe, you can serve the sweet, classic snack next time you want to make breakfast or brunch a little more special.
https://www.arlafoods.co.uk/recipes/belgian-waffles/

Instructions

  • Beat eggs and sugar light and fluffy.
  • Mix flour, vanilla sugar, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
  • Fold the dry ingredients into the egg mixture alternating with buttermilk.
  • Fold in the melted butter and mix until the batter’s texture is even.
  • Warm the waffle maker well.
  • Pour about ¾ dl of the batter into the waffle maker and bake the waffle for about 6 minutes – until it is golden and crispy.
  • Bake the rest of the waffles.
Enjoy!
Tips

The best Belgian waffles are both fluffy and crispy. But to ensure their crispiness, your waffle iron must be very hot. Let it warm for at least 5 minutes before cooking your waffles. When contact is made between batter and waffle maker, it should sizzle. Test the temperature of your waffle maker using a bit of water first. This should also make a noticeable sizzling noise as the water hits the hot surface. You can add some butter to the waffle maker before baking to help them crisp up.

Tip

If you are not entirely satisfied with the crispiness of your homemade Belgian waffles after they have cooked, you can crisp them up in the oven. Preheat it to 120°C (regular oven) and place a cooling rack on top of a baking sheet. As you finish baking your waffles, transfer them to the cooling rack. Place them in a single layer to ensure that hot air can circulate all around them for 5-10 minutes. As a bonus, using your oven in this manner ensures that all the crispy waffles are warm when you serve them.

Questions about Belgian waffles

With our recipe for Belgian waffles, you can make a delicious breakfast, brunch, or dessert snack in no time. Below, you can learn more about Belgian waffles, including how to make, serve, store, and reheat them, by reading our answers to some of the most frequently asked question about them.

What is a Belgian waffle?
A waffle is a dish made by cooking a simple buttermilk batter in a waffle maker to give it the characteristic surface pattern and grooves for which it is known. Many different types of waffles are found around the globe. A Belgian waffle is thick and has deep pockets, perfect for filling, as well as smooth, crispy edges. 
How to make Belgian waffles?
Delicious and easy Belgian waffles are quick to make. Make sure that your waffle maker is properly heated before cooking the batter to ensure waffles that are fluffy on the inside but golden and crispy on the outside. Serve the Belgian waffles warm with your choice of topping like icing sugar, butter and syrup, fresh fruit, or ice cream.
What is the difference between Belgian waffles and regular waffles?
Waffles are made in most countries around the world. A Belgian waffle is typically thicker than other types of European waffles as well as American ones. They are lighter in texture and has a crispier exterior. A Belgian waffle also has deeper pockets. The best Belgian waffle maker, as such, is one that produces large grooves.
How to make Belgian waffles crispy?
The best way to ensure that your homemade Belgian waffles are fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside is to make sure that your waffle maker is hot enough. Make sure that it has warmed well before pouring in your batter. Allow it to heat up for a minimum of 5 minutes and test its temperature using a bit of water to see if it sizzles. If it does, the waffle maker should be ready to use.
How to reheat Belgian waffles?
Homemade Belgian waffles can be reheated in a couple of different ways. If you have a toaster, use this to warm your waffles – it is both fast and easy. You can, of course, also use an oven. Simply preheat it to 175-200°C (regular oven) and reheat the waffles for 2-4 minutes on a lined baking sheet. If you are reheating frozen ones, you may need to double the time. But always keep an eye on your waffles so they do not burn.
How to store Belgian waffles?
Once your perfect Belgian waffles have cooled, store any leftovers in an airtight container and transfer it to the refrigerator. Since these homemade waffles will keep for up to 4 days, it is possible to prepare them in advance in case you want to also prepare a lot of other dishes for a delicious brunch spread or you would like the option of enjoying them on busier mornings too.
What to put on Belgian waffles?
The buttery taste and deep pockets of this type of waffle makes it perfect for a myriad of different toppings. Dust your fluffy Belgian waffles with icing sugar, slather it with maple syrup and butter, cover it in a chocolate spread, or serve it with ice cream and fresh berries like strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries.
Can you freeze Belgian waffles?
We recommend freezing cooked waffles rather than the Belgian waffle dough itself. Bake the waffles until they are cooked through but not crispy yet. Next, place them on a lined baking sheet and transfer this baking sheet to your freezer. After the waffles have frozen solid, you can store them in an airtight container or freezer bag without them sticking together. When you are ready to enjoy your frozen waffles, pop them into a toaster and cook them until they have been thoroughly warmed and begin to crisp up. Frozen Belgian waffles with buttermilk will keep in the freezer for 3-4 months.

Ingredients

Eggs
3
Sugar
150 g
Flour
350 g
Vanilla sugar
1 tsp
Baking powder
3 tsp
Coarse salt
½ tsp
Buttermilk
5 dl
Melted butter
200 g

Authentic Belgian waffles with buttermilk

Traditional Belgian waffles are delicious as a sweet snack enjoyed in the morning, afternoon, or whenever you are feeling peckish. The waffles taste sweet, buttery, and a little bready. Their outside is golden and crispy, while the inside is light and fluffy. They are delicious to bite into, and while they are often enjoyed on the go in Belgium, they are scrumptious as a sit-down meal topped with all sorts of delicious selections to fill up their characteristic, deep pockets.

Perfectly fluffy and crispy

The best Belgian waffle recipe is one that yields a stack of golden, crispy waffles with deep pockets ripe for filling with an assortment of delicious toppings. Our recipe for Belgian waffles contains staple ingredients that can be found in most well-stocked pantries. The only outlier may be the buttermilk, although an ingredient not to be missed in this recipe. This dairy product, along with the baking powder, ensures the waffles' characteristic fluffy interior and enhances their rich, buttery flavour. As the Belgian waffles bake, the moisture in the batter is steamed to create the beautifully crispy edges.

Make a delicious waffle breakfast or brunch

With our easy Belgian waffle recipe, making waffles for breakfast or brunch is easy and quick. However, you also have the option of preparing these delicious, fluffy Belgian waffles well in advance. You can store them either in your refrigerator or freezer, depending on when you plan to enjoy them. This means you can prepare these golden delights exactly when you have the time and enjoy a quick Belgian waffle in the morning or serve them as part of a larger brunch selection.

Experiment with toppings for Belgian waffles

Traditionally served with a simple dusting of icing sugar, classic Belgian waffles taste delicious with a wide selection of toppings. What to serve with your waffles is entirely up to you. Dig into our suggestions below to get inspired.

A delicious topping option is strawberries. A Belgian waffle with strawberries is mouth-watering, and the combination of ripe, red berries and golden waffles is beautiful. If you happen to be out of fresh berries, a Belgian waffle also tastes amazing with a bright homemade jam like our strawberry jam or blackberry jam.

Serving your Belgian waffles with ice cream or whipped cream in addition to fruits or jams makes for a delightful dessert. Experiment with making your own homemade ice cream to discover your favourite flavour combination. One thing is certain though, a classic vanilla ice cream will always be a hit with sweet, bready waffles. A Belgian waffle also tastes delicious with a chocolate spread like our rich and decadent chocolate sauce.