Waffles are a great-great option for a satisfying breakfast. They’re also endlessly customizable in their batter, but also in their toppings. So why not learn how to make waffles and start the day off right? It is all pretty simple, and it starts with a basic recipe you can embellish to your tastes!
My adventure with waffles started with one of my favorite shows, Parks and Recreation, and the protagonist Leslie Knope’s (played to perfection by Amy Poehler) obsession for waffles at her local diner. When I watch something, I watch it by completely immersing in the culture of the show and seeing the episodes with a massive plate of waffles in my lap became my very own tradition for the seven years the show aired. I bought myself a waffle maker for Christmas lots of years ago, and so my journey began. I found that learning how to make waffles was simple and fun and soon enough I was embellishing the recipe and making it my own.
There aren’t many things you can’t put on waffles. I’ve tried making them with crispy bacon, for instance, grated cheese in the batter. I have eaten them with yogurt or sour cream, maple syrup and fruity jam. I’ve had them salty and excessively sweet, with whipped cream and cherries on top. And now I am here to share with you what I’ve learned about how to make waffles!
How to make waffles in 13 easy steps
1. Gather your ingredients
Here is the basic shopping list for a basic waffle batter to get you started: flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, eggs, milk and maybe some vanilla extract for some extra flavor. Of course, you’ll need a waffle iron and a large bowl to mix everything in. And a ladle, because it will help you measure the quantity of batter you need for one waffle and also pour it all in one go in the hot iron.
2. Mix the dry ingredients
Add the flour, brown sugar, salt, and baking powder in a large mixing bowl. Then mix everything.
3. Mix eggs with wet ingredients
Whisk the eggs with wet ingredients: milk and vanilla extract.
4. Mix wet ingredients with dry ingredients
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Make sure that they blend, but it doesn’t have to perfect and lump-free.
5. Prepare the waffle iron
Plug in the waffle iron and wait for it to get hot and the ‘go’ light to turn on. Do this according to the waffle iron’s manufacturer instructions.
6. Use cooking spray
Coat the waffle iron with cooking spray.
7. Pour batter into the iron
Use the ladle to pour some of the batter into the waffle iron. Start in the center and continue outward until the mold is filled properly. Try not to overfill the iron, or the batter might overflow out of the appliance. The first time I made waffles I also made a mess because I poured too much batter.
8. Wait
Wait for about 10 seconds for the batter to bubble a little before bringing the lid down. This helps the batter spread evenly.
9. Cook the waffle
Give the waffle a few minutes to cook in the iron, according to the instructions of your specific model.
10. Remove the waffle
It should have a golden-brown color when removed from the waffle iron. And there should also be a light signal when the waffle is ready. Use a pair of tongs or a fork to remove the cooked waffle.
11. Repeat
Cook as many waffles as you want. And stack them on a plate. Cover them with another plate to keep them warm.
12. Add toppings
This is where your imagination shines and your tastes manifest. Go nuts!
13. Store batter
If you don’t want to cook all of the batter, you can keep it in the covered bowl, in the fridge, up to two days. So that means there are about three breakfasts worth of waffles in there! That’s what I call efficiency in the kitchen.