15 Homemade Pancake and Waffle Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to making good waffles? ›

Add cornstarch.

If you're making waffles with baking powder and baking soda, adding cornstarch to the mix will get you waffles that are crisp on the outside and soft and flaky on the inside. Because waffle recipes vary, start with ¼ cup and work in as much as ½ cup to get the desired effect.

Pancake batter and waffle batter contain the same essential ingredients, but there are critical differences between these breakfast foods: Ratios: Waffle batter contains more sugar, butter, and eggs than pancake batter, making it a richer batter with higher fat content.

Our top pick is the Krusteaz Belgian Waffle Mix. The batter is smooth, and the waffles aren't too sweet. Plus, making them couldn't be easier—just add water.

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.

Turning Your Pancake Mix Into a Waffle Mix

You must double the amount of fat you use for the pancake mix. For example, you use 1 tablespoon of butter per cup of dry pancake mixture. Instead, add 2 tablespoons of butter to ensure the crispiness of the waffle. However, we recommend using oil over butter.

Waffle batters contain a higher proportion of fat than pancake or crêpe batters, as the extra fat helps to keep the waffles soft. Nigella's recipe uses 125ml (1/2 cup) of vegetable oil. Generally you can switch oil for melted butter in a waffle recipe.

Most of the time, pancake mix does not contain fat and will have significantly less sugar than waffle mix. On the other hand, waffle mix usually has oil or melted butter in it. If you just put pancake batter into a waffle maker, chances are it will spill over the edges of the iron, burn, and create a mess.

Pancake recipes also include leavening agents. However, certain pancakes will be flatter and resemble crepes. Consistency has to do with how thick the batter is. Waffle batter is thick, and pancake batter is thin.

What does adding an egg to waffle mix do? ›

Eggs are a crucial ingredient. They provide the cakes with the structure to hold light bubbles. Eggs also give the batter additional, richer flavor from the yolk fat. If you add too many eggs, you'll have “pancakes” that look more like custard or crepes.

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 milk in your waffles acts as a binding agent and adds a level of richness that you just can't obtain with water alone. That's not to say that you can't substitute water for milk in waffle recipes and you likely have at some point — you'll still end up with waffles.

Can you use milk instead of water for pancakes? You sure can! Instead of water, you can use any kind of milk, including almond milk and coconut milk, to mix up the pancake batter.

We use the two together for the fluffiest, best tasting waffles. The baking powder really does most of the lifting and makes the waffles fluffy, and the baking soda reacts with the buttermilk for tender waffles with a tasty tang (and helps contribute to giving them a little lift, too).

Of course, you can substitute whole grain flours like whole wheat or spelt flour, but expect them to be a little denser. Cornstarch is our secret ingredient for making the crispiest waffles. Cornstarch guarantees that the waffles will be perfectly crisp and tender.

Instead of water, you can use whole milk to make your waffles extra rich. Typically, for one batch of waffles, you'll need 1 cup of water for every 1 cup of classic pancake mix. A couple of large brown eggs will also help your waffles have the perfect fluffy interior.

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.

Why are my waffles not fluffy? Classic waffle batter is leavened both chemically (using baking powder or soda) and mechanically (with beaten egg whites folded in). To make fluffy waffles, be sure the egg whites are beaten to perfectly stiff peaks.