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This is the best waffle recipe ever! Soft and fluffy inside, with a slightly crisp exterior. My homemade waffles are easy to make & perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert!

Homemade waffles with a pat of butter on top

Original publish date: July 24, 2018.

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Waffles! My family loves ’em. How could they not? There’s something so wonderful about a stack of piping hot, golden brown waffles, fresh off the waffle maker.

We mostly eat them for breakfast, but they’re REALLY good for dessert too. Waffles and ice cream is a total classic!

I’m big on make-ahead breakfasts for my kids. These chocolate chip muffins are a staple, and I’m a huge fan of scones too (check out these lemon blueberry scones, and these petite vanilla bean scones!). And I always try to keep a batch of these homemade waffles in our freezer too.

In my opinion, this is the best waffle recipe ever! It’s easy to make and the waffles bake up perfectly every time. The flavors are perfectly balanced (not too sweet!) and the texture is on point. Soft and fluffy in the middle, with a slightly crispy exterior.

Here’s Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • With crispy edges and soft centers, these are just the right balance of texture from buttermilk and butter.
  • Fast and easy! No resting time needed; ready in minutes.
  • This recipe is super customizable and goes great with sweet or savory toppings.
  • Make a big batch and reheat during the week! This recipe is freezer-friendly.
  • Consistent performance in any waffle maker for reliable, trustworthy results.

Ingredients You’ll Need

The complete list of ingredients with the amounts you’ll need to make the recipe is located in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

  • All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and a neutral base that crisps up beautifully in the waffle iron.
  • Granulated Sugar: Adds a touch of sweetness and helps with browning.
  • Baking Powder: Gives the waffles their rise and airy texture.
  • Kosher Salt: Enhances the flavors and balances sweetness.
  • Buttermilk: Adds tanginess and moisture, while reacting with the leavening for fluffier waffles. Read this if you don’t normally keep buttermilk on hand: How to Make Homemade Buttermilk.
  • Unsalted Butter: Melted butter adds flavor and ensures crisp edges.
  • Large Eggs: Bind the batter and contribute to a tender crumb.
  • Vanilla Extract: Adds warmth and a subtle sweet flavor that enhances the batter.

In Photos: How To Make Homemade Waffles

Waffles fall into the “quick bread” category of baking, which means they’re leavened with baking powder, and the method is super fast and super easy. With any kind of quick bread, you start by blending the dry ingredients, then the liquid ingredients, and then you stir everything together and bake it up.

Dry ingredients for making waffles.

Step 1: Whisk together the dry ingredients in a large bowl.

Adding liquids to dry ingredients.

Step 2: Make a well in the center and add the buttermilk, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla. If you don’t have buttermilk, you can create a reasonable facsimile by adding a little lemon juice or white vinegar to regular milk. Let it stand for about 5 minutes, and it will start to curdle and become thicker.

Scooping homemade waffle batter.

Step 3: Stir the liquid mixture into the dry. Don’t overdo it, or your waffles could come out tough. It’s perfectly ok (and even preferable!) if the batter is a bit lumpy.

Uncooked waffle batter on a waffle iron.

Step 4: Scoop the batter into your preheated waffle maker, and let it do its thing!

Baking Belgian waffles on a waffle maker.

Step 5: You’ll know your waffles are done when they’re golden brown and a little crisp on the outside.

Helpful Tips & Tricks

The recipe can be made gluten-free or dairy-free!

This waffle recipe calls for all-purpose flour, but you could also use self-rising flour. If you do, just omit the baking powder and salt.

You can also make a gluten-free version! Just substitute the flour for a gluten-free flour blend. Look for one that subs 1:1 for regular flour. Here are a few good options:

For a dairy-free option, use any plant-based milk, along with your favorite vegan butter substitute.

Old Fashioned Buttermilk Waffles

How To Serve Homemade Waffles

Waffles are so versatile! They can be topped in any number of different ways.

My family loves to eat them with butter and maple syrup. I think that is probably the most traditional way to enjoy waffles.

But they’re also great with fresh fruit or berries, and a dusting of powdered sugar!

We also like to top them with peanut butter, almond butter, or Nutella.

And they’re really good with fried chicken! It’s a thing, trust me. A very delicious thing.

For dessert, homemade waffles are the perfect vehicle for ice cream. There is nothing quite like a freshly baked, warm waffle with cold, creamy ice cream! Here are some of my favorite ice cream recipes:

Drizzle with chocolate syrup, hot fudge, or caramel sauce for the waffle sundae of your dreams!

Can Homemade Waffles Be Frozen?

Make a big batch of these homemade waffles, and keep them in your freezer! They freeze beautifully and make busy mornings so much easier. It’s so great to be able to serve a homemade breakfast to your family, with minimal effort!

As the waffles come out of the waffle maker, cool them on a wire rack. Freeze them (in a single layer) until hard, then slip them into a plastic bag and stash them for several weeks in the freezer.

When you’re ready to serve, just reheat them gently in the toaster.

Fluffy Buttermilk Waffles from Scratch

I hope you’ll give this homemade waffle recipe a try! I bet your family will love it just as much as mine does!

More Incredible Breakfast Recipes

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Homemade waffle recipe, prepared and served on white ceramic plates.
3.58 stars (14 ratings)

Homemade Waffle Recipe

Servings: 6 8-inch diameter waffles
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
The best waffle recipe ever! Soft and fluffy inside, with a slightly crisp exterior. Easy to make & perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert!
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Ingredients

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the waffle maker.
  • Place the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl, and whisk to combine.
  • Make a well in the center and add the buttermilk, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla.
  • Fold together until mostly blended but still a little lumpy.
  • Place about 1 cup of waffle batter into the hot waffle maker and cook until golden brown (about 2 to 3 minutes).
  • Serve warm.

Notes

*If you don’t have buttermilk, you can substitute by stirring 3 tablespoons of lemon juice or white vinegar into 3 cups of regular milk. Allow the mixture to stand for 5 minutes, or until thickened and slightly curdled.
More great recipes for breakfast or brunch:
Serving: 1waffle, Calories: 558kcal, Carbohydrates: 59g, Protein: 13g, Fat: 29g, Saturated Fat: 17g, Cholesterol: 156mg, Sodium: 455mg, Potassium: 569mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 1025IU, Calcium: 296mg, Iron: 3.6mg
Cuisine: American
Course: Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert, Main Course, Snack
Tried this recipe?Mention @bakingamoment on Instagram or tag #bakingamoment.

Author

  • Allie is the creator and owner of Baking a Moment. She has been developing, photographing, videographing, and writing and sharing recipes here since 2012.

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