Belgian Waffles Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What makes a Belgian waffle different? ›

Belgian waffles are usually thicker than their American counterparts. These Belgian beauties are made with a recipe that includes yeasted batter and crunchy pearl sugar. Belgian waffles have extra-deep pockets—the better for filling with butter, jam, maple syrup, or whipped cream.

Texture – In Belgian waffles, the eggs are separated. The yolks are whisked together with the other wet ingredients, while the whites are whipped to stiff peaks and then folded into the batter at the end. This creates a texture that is crisp on the outside and light and tender on the inside.

However, there are a few key differences between these tasty breakfast foods. For one, waffle batter has a little bit more sugar, butter, and eggs than pancake batter. This helps make the waffles richer because they'll have a higher fat content. Alternatively, the pancake mix is thinner and easy to pour.

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.

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.

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.

Grease the Waffle Iron With Cooking Spray

Cooking spray won't burn as rapidly as butter, and will help achieve that satisfyingly crisp outside you crave. The best part? It's a lot quicker and easier to just give your iron a good spray than attempting to brush butter evenly over all those grooves and edges.

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.

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.

Should waffle batter be thicker than pancake batter? ›

Consistency: Waffle batter is thicker than pancake batter. This thick consistency lets you pour the waffle batter into a waffle maker without running out the sides. Pancake batter is looser, which means it is easily pourable into a round shape.

In Belgium, popular waffle toppings include whipped cream, chocolate, strawberries, and powdered sugar.

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.

Through the decades, Belgium's waffle styles diversified, resulting in two distinct groups – the crunchier, bread-like Liege waffle and a softer, lighter Brussels variety made with a yeast-leavened batter. Today, the Liege waffle incorporates crystals of pearl sugar for more crunch and caramelization on the outside.

These traditional waffles often feature buttermilk in their recipe, imparting a richer flavour compared to the airy Belgian variety. The traditional American waffle iron typically produces smaller waffles with shallower pockets, resulting in faster cooking times due to their thinner size.

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.

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.

Initially calling his product “Brussels” waffle, he soon changed it to “Bel-Gem” waffle, realizing most Americans associated Brussels with sprouts and didn't know it was a Belgian city (not to mention, his homeland's capital). Over time, the name morphed into “Belgian” waffles.