How to Make Waffles {Crispy & Homemade!}

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Learn how to make fresh, crispy waffles at home with this easy-to-follow recipe tutorial. In just a few short minutes, you can be serving up hot, fresh waffles for your family and friends. Add your favorite toppings like whipped cream or berries, and enjoy!

2 square waffles on a white plate with fork and knife, topped with sliced strawberries and butter.

Making waffle mix from scratch is not as hard as it may seem. In fact, it’s a lot easier than you might think! All you need is some simple ingredients and a waffle iron. In this recipe post, I will teach you how to make crispy waffles at home that are sure to please your taste buds. So what are you waiting for? Let’s get started!

WHY learn to make your own waffle mix

Yummier than store-bought waffles. Homemade waffles are not only tastier and more satisfying, but you can also control the ingredients that go into them. This means that you can make them healthier by using whole wheat flour or adding in some extra protein powder. Plus, they’re a lot cheaper than buying premade mix from the store.
100x Better Than Frozen Waffles. If you’ve ever had a frozen waffle, then you know that they can be pretty disappointing. They’re often soggy, bland, and just plain unappetizing. But when you make your own waffles from scratch, you can be sure that they’ll be light, fluffy, and full of flavor.
Your kids and spouse will be so impressed. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so why not start it off with a bang? By making waffles from scratch, you’ll definitely impress your loved ones. They’ll be so amazed at your culinary skills that they’ll be begging for more!
Waffle makers are relatively inexpensive. If you don’t already have a waffle iron, they’re actually quite affordable. You can find them for as low as $20 at most stores. And once you have one, you’ll be able to make waffles whenever the mood strikes!

Ingredients to Make Waffles

All-purpose flour. Substitute ½ of the flour for whole wheat flour.
Granulated Sugar. Just a small amount of sugar is used to lightly sweeten the waffles. You can use brown sugar for a richer sweetness.
Baking powder. This leavens the pancake batter and creates bubbles making it lighter.
Salt. Accentuates the flavors.
Eggs. This adds texture and richness making your waffles extra fluffy. Use a small mashed banana or ¼ cup applesauce as a replacement.
Milk. Use whatever you have, from skim to full-fat. Non-dairy milk works, too.
Butter. Butter adds richness and moisture for the best flavor, but using an equal amount of vegetable oil or olive oil is acceptable, too.
Vanilla. A must-have aromatic for sweet waffles. If making a savory waffle, leave this and sugar out.

Ingredients for recipe in individual dishes: flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, 2 eggs, milk, vanilla, and part of a stick of butter.

HOW TO MAKE waffles

While you can use a pre-made waffle mix, nothing beats a waffle made from scratch. The great thing about this recipe is that it only requires a few simple ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen.

Mix Batter

In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
In another, larger bowl, whisk the eggs together until blended. Whisk in the milk, melted butter, and vanilla until combined.
Then slowly start adding the dry ingredient mixture.
Fold the wet and dry ingredients together until just combined. Don’t overmix; the batter may be slightly lumpy.

4 image collage making recipe in one bowl by whisking together wet and dry ingredients.

Cook Waffles

Grease the preheated waffle iron with nonstick cooking spray. Ladle in enough waffle batter to fill the waffle iron almost to the edges, and close the iron.
Cook until the waffles are golden brown and crisp.

Before and after collage of waffle batter in a square waffle maker and after being cooked.

TIPS FOR making Crispy waffles at home

Don’t over-mix your waffle batter. Stir the ingredients together until you don’t see any more streaks of flour, but no more than that. That’s because over-mixing waffle batter can cause the gluten in the flour to develop and get tougher. This may result in chewy waffles.
Grease the waffle iron. Not all waffle irons need this since most are non-stick. However, greasing the waffle iron before adding the batter helps them crisp up more and get a beautiful golden color.
Make a large batch of the dry ingredients at once. If you make waffles often, mix up a big batch of the dry ingredients and store them in an airtight container. That way, all you have to do is add the wet ingredients when you’re ready to make waffles.
Use club soda or seltzer water for extra crispy waffles. When making the batter, substitute some of the milk with club soda or seltzer water. The carbonation helps create a crispy exterior.

popular substitutions & additions

Choose your sweetness level. This waffle batter has just a tablespoon of sugar in it, so it’s not super sweet. If you like a sweeter waffle, feel free to add a second tablespoon of sugar—or, on the other hand, if you want something more savory, leave the sugar out altogether.
Switch out the flavor. This recipe is great as written, but feel free to make it your own by adding in a tablespoon of lemon or orange zest or a teaspoon of cinnamon.
Throw some add-in’s into the batter. Some great ideas include small or cut-up berries, miniature chocolate chips, and toasted nuts or coconut.
Use wheat flour instead of white. For a more nutritious waffle, substitute half of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour.

what to serve with your waffles

2-Ingredient Strawberry Sauce
Homemade Whipped Cream
Homemade Nutella
Chocolate Granola
Fresh fruit like strawberries, bananas, blueberries or anything you like.

Plate of homemade waffles with slices of strawberries and maple syrup being poured on top in a glass carafe.

HOW TO REHEAT & STORE Homemade waffles

Waffles are best eaten fresh but will keep in an airtight container.

To reheat, pop them in the toaster until warmed through. You can also reheat it in the oven until crisp again.

HOW LONG WILL waffles LAST IN THE FRIDGE?

Cooked waffles will keep in the fridge for up to a week.

CAN I FREEZE homemade waffles?

Yes! Waffles freeze really well. Place them in a freezer-safe bag or container, and they’ll last for up to three months. When you’re ready to eat, just pop them in the toaster or oven until warmed through.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do I have to use a waffle iron?

No, you don’t have to use a waffle iron to make this recipe. You can use a pancake griddle or even a regular frying pan. Just cook the batter like you would pancakes. The waffle batter is denser than a pancake mix, so the pancakes will be a little thicker.

What can I use instead of milk?

If you’re looking for a non-dairy option, you can use almond milk or any other type of plant-based milk. You can also use water in a pinch, but the waffles may not be as flavorful.

What’s the best way to keep waffles warm?

The best way to keep waffles warm is to place them on a wire rack set over a baking sheet and keep them in a 200°F oven until you’re ready to serve.

Overhead shot of a plate of square waffles with strawberry slices, melted butter, and syrup and another plate sitting off frame next to a carafe of maple syrup.

There you have it! Now you know how to make crispy waffles at home from scratch with homemade waffle mix and a waffle iron. So go ahead and impress your loved ones with your culinary skills! They’ll be so amazed that they’ll be begging for more. Enjoy!

How to Make Waffles

WHY learn to make your own waffle mix

Ingredients to Make Waffles