Homemade Belgian Waffle Recipe - The Salty Marshmallow (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between a Belgian waffle and an old fashioned waffle? ›

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.

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.

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.

A Belgian waffle in the United States is called a Brussels waffle in Belgium. This waffle is lighter and crisper than the Liège waffle (see below), has deep pockets, and is typically served for dessert. Brussels waffles are rectangular or square and much larger than American waffles.

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.

Let me walk you through what you will need so you can say goodbye to flavorless, floppy waffles and hello to waffles that are light and crispy on the outside and tender in the middle. All-purpose flour is my go-to flour for this recipe. It keeps the waffles light on their feet.

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.

Mix the batter gently

Some lumps are fine and will cook out. If your recipe calls for whipped egg whites, carefully fold them into the batter in three or four batches. Don't overmix. Overmixing your waffle batter can leave you with tough, chewy or hard waffles instead of crisp waffles with tender insides.

Why do Belgian waffles taste different? ›

Traditional waffles are often made with buttermilk, which gives them a richer flavor than the light-as-air Belgian variety. American waffles are usually made with a smaller waffle iron that doesn't make pockets as deep as the Belgian waffle maker. Because of the waffles' thinner size, they cook faster.

The yeast, along with malt, gives the waffle a deeper flavor but also a lighter texture. Crispy on the outside, but custard-like in the center, the Belgian Waffle is light and airy. Traditional waffles tend to be quite heavy, often made with traditional pancake batter thrown into a waffle iron.

Just like the French don't call their bread a French baguette, the Belgium people don't say Belgium waffles — just waffles, or more specifically the Liège and the Brussels waffles.

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.

To use your pancake mix to make waffles, you'll need to add a little extra oil to use it as a waffle recipe. Here's the formula: For every cup of dry pancake mix, just add 2 extra tablespoons of oil.