Perfect Every Time Homemade Waffles

Crisp and buttery on the outside, fluffy on the inside, homemade waffles are a breakfast (or a dinner!) for which my entire family cheers.

I like sweet waffles, savory waffles, snack waffles (handheld Ham and Cheese Waffles, I’m looking at you). If you can waffle it, I will probably love it.

Homemade Waffles

Want to know a secret? I almost never order waffles at a restaurant. That’s how picky I am about my waffles.

I know exactly how I like my waffles and restaurant waffles are never as good as the homemade waffles from my own kitchen.

I take my waffle enthusiasm too seriously to waste a meal on waffles that are anything less than spectacular. Rest assured, I’d never share a waffle recipe with you that I didn’t absolutely adore. My standards are just too high.

Considering how deep my love for waffles runs, it’s high time I shared with you my ultimate list of best waffle recipes.

I’ve been making waffles a long time and I’ve discovered that, while everyone has their own preferences for favorite waffle recipes, there area few things that all great waffles have in common.

A superior waffle is crispy on the outside (but never oily or greasy!) with a soft fluffy interior. The best waffle recipe is one that doesn’t fall apart when you try to pry it from the iron but doesn’t get tough and dense as it cools.

These are a few of my all-time favorite best waffle recipes, ranging from savory to sweet and everything in between.

Best Waffle Recipe

Want the best ever classic Homemade Waffles Recipe? Scroll straight to the bottom of this post and print the recipe.

This is our go-to recipe and it’s also the base for countless sweet and savory waffle combinations here on the website. This recipe is from my Weekday Lunches & Breakfasts Cookbook and it’s a huge favorite with everyone who tries it.

A lightly sweet waffle topped with a pat of butter and drizzled with maple syrup makes any morning beautiful. When in doubt, you can’t go wrong with a Whole Wheat Waffle covered in your favorite waffle toppings.

Few things make me smile like a plate of Blueberry Waffles. My blueberry waffle recipe features what I think is the exact right ratio of berries to batter, and never disappoints.

How To Make Waffles

1. Preheat the waffle iron. Combine the flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar in a medium-size mixing bowl.
2. Add the milk and the eggs. Whisk to combine. Pour the melted butter and the vanilla into the batter and whisk until mostly smooth.
3. Pour onto the hot waffle iron and cook according to the manufacturer’s directions. Serve warm or let cool completely.

Homemade Waffle Recipes

A few years ago I started making Pumpkin Spice Waffles inspired by the pumpkin muffins my family’s loved for a while. They’re lightly spiced and sweet and perfect served with a hot cup of coffee, especially on a cool crisp autumn morning (or anytime you need to be transported to fall!).

If you like banana bread as much as the members of my household, then Banana Waffles are for you. We enjoy them on their own or topped with slices of fresh bananas, chopped nuts and maple syrup.

Some mornings you can’t choose between homemade waffles and homemade donuts, and I believe you shouldn’t have to. Enter Maple Glazed Doughnut Waffles. They’re the ideal sweet indulgence for breakfast (or any time of day).

Whole Wheat Zucchini Waffles , Buckwheat Waffles and Gluten Free Buttermilk Waffles are even more homemade waffle recipes I enjoy on the sweeter side.

Savory Waffles

While I love a sweet waffle, I sometimes think savory waffles don’t get nearly the amount of attention they deserve. Whether I’m serving them for breakfast, brunch or dinner, they always disappear almost as fast as I can get them on the table.

Cheddar Bacon Green Chile Waffles are the ultimate cheesy waffle with southwestern flavors. The green chiles add a little spice to the savory, cheesy waffle batter with pieces of bacon providing smokiness and even more flavor.

Speaking of southwestern flavors, Cornbread Waffles topped with chili and cheese are simply divine. We love this meal anytime of day and it’s become one of our favorite ways to enjoy homemade chili!

Cheddar Chive Waffles are yet another “must try” waffle on my list of best waffle recipes. Served with a fried egg and sausage gravy, they’re a hearty and delicious comfort food meal.

Waffle Toppings

One of the joys of making waffles is the many different ways that you can top these waffles! The same waffle recipe may taste entirely different depending on what you choose to top them with and that, for me, is part of the fun.

I’ve been making my grandmother’s Homemade Waffle Sauce for years and it’ll always have a special place in my heart (and in my kitchen). This sauce is delicious on a waffle on its own or alongside fruit and nuts.

Have you tried my Kahlua Cream Sauce yet? I first made it to pour over a Challah Bread Pudding and immediately knew it would also be perfect on waffles.

Buttermilk Syrup, Brown Sugar Butter Syrup , Strawberry Simple Syrup and Vanilla Bean Whipped Cream are more topping ideas that I love on my waffles.

I also love just about any variation on fresh sliced fruit and chopped walnuts or pecans on top of my waffles!

On savory waffles, I love toppings like chili, cheese, sour cream, and even guacamole. A fried egg or a helping of warm savory gravy is a welcome sight served next to a stack of savory waffles.

For a classic sweet side, toss together this almost effortless Rainbow Fruit Salad.

Can’t get enough waffle recipe ideas?

Strawberry Shortcake Waffles with Maple Whipped Cream from Well Plated and these Peanut Butter and Banana Stuffed Almond Crusted Waffles by The Noshery are what breakfast dreams are made of.

Gluten Free Waffles

Light and fluffy waffles that are crisp on the inside and tender inside are a year-round favorite in our house. My family has been making waffles along with my grandma’s waffle sauce since long before I was born. I was happy to discover that both the waffles and the sauce freeze beautifully, making this a dream of a make-ahead breakfast.

The added starches in the gluten-free version of this recipe make them extra crispy on the outside. I might be guilty of loving the gluten-free recipe even more than the original, but truly they are both delicious.

Kitchen Tip: I LOVE my double Belgian waffle iron for making loads of waffles in no time at all!

Perfect Every Time Homemade Waffles

4.53 from 156 votes

Crisp and buttery on the outside, fluffy on the inside, homemade waffles are a breakfast (or a dinner!) for which everyone cheers.

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Servings: 5 full size Belgian waffles

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Ingredients 

• ▢ 2 cups all-purpose flour*
• ▢ 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ▢ 1½ tablespoons baking powder
• ▢ 1 tablespoon sugar
• ▢ 1⅔ cups milk
• ▢ 2 eggs
• ▢ ⅓ cup butter, melted
• ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

*Gluten-Free Alternative

• ▢ 1⅓ cups brown rice flour
• ▢ ⅔ cup tapioca starch
• ▢ ¼ cup potato starch

Instructions

• Preheat the waffle iron. Combine the flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar in a medium-size mixing bowl. Add the milk and the eggs. Whisk to combine. Pour the melted butter and the vanilla into the batter and whisk until mostly smooth.
• Pour onto the hot waffle iron and cook according to manufacturer’s directions. Serve warm or let cool completely.

Notes

FREEZER NOTE: Freeze completely cooled waffles in zipclose bags. Reheat from frozen in the toaster or microwave.

Nutrition

Calories: 380kcal · Carbohydrates: 46g · Protein: 10g · Fat: 17g · Saturated Fat: 10g · Cholesterol: 106mg · Sodium: 637mg · Potassium: 549mg · Fiber: 1g · Sugar: 7g · Vitamin A: 605IU · Calcium: 269mg · Iron: 3mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @barefeetkitchen or tag #barefeetkitchen!

{originally published 8/9/19 – recipe notes and photos updated 7/27/21}