Updated on October 7, 2022
Have you ever tried to make crispy, fluffy waffles at home and ended with limp, soggy waffles that resemble a microwaved frozen waffle? We’ve all been there! The good news is, homemade waffles don’t have to be complicated.
It’s super easy to get restaurant-quality waffles at home without having to spend a ton on an expensive waffle iron. What’s the trick? Well, there are a few things you can do to get the type of waffles that are light and fluffy inside while being golden and crispy on the outside.
These tips and tricks will help to avoid dense soggy waffles, leaving you with the crispiest waffles you’ve ever made!
Crispy Buttermilk Waffles at Home
When you think of a waffle, what comes to mind? I don’t know about you, but I want a nice thick buttermilk waffle that’s fluffy on the inside and crisp on the outside. Waffles are a staple of the breakfast food world. If you can make a good waffle, you can make anything.
But how do you achieve that ideal taste and texture at home? There are a few key factors, including the ingredients, your waffle iron, and the temperature at which you cook your waffles. The best waffle making process will turn you into a breakfast pro in no time!
Your Waffle Iron
The key thing in getting that crisp waffle you desire is making sure your crispy waffle iron is truly ready to tackle the job.
Don’t feel like you need to buy a fancy waffle iron that costs upwards of $200 to be able to make a delicious breakfast at home; you can make tasty waffles with pretty much any iron. The $10 mini irons work just as well as the expensive ones as long as you know what you’re doing.
Whether you like the flip-style Belgian waffle irons or square-shaped ones, any of them will make tasty waffles. So how do you prepare your iron to take on the task? It’s simple: get it hot. Like, really hot.
Let it heat up for 5 minutes then flick a drop of water on it. What does it do? If the water just sits there, your iron isn’t ready. If it sizzles and steams, you’re ready to start cooking.
Brush your waffle iron with butter and add your batter. Making sure your waffle iron is sizzling hot ensures that the outside of your waffle starts cooking right away, developing that crispy crust want it to have.
Fluff It Up
Now that you know how to get the outside perfect, how do you get that fluffy interior that you want? It’s simple: stiff egg whites. If you’ve ever made a souffle, you know what I’m talking about. Those egg whites can make a huge difference.
If you separate your eggs and beat the whites to stiff peaks, then fold them in, this will aerate your batter, giving you the cloud-like fluffiness you want rather than a heavy and dense puck.
Buttermilk?
Buttermilk is thick and rich and adds fantastic flavor to your waffles, but it can lead to heavier waffles. What you can do to make sure your waffles are fluffy and crisp without missing out on that rich buttermilk flavor is swap half of the buttermilk for regular milk.
This ensures that your pancakes are light and crispy but doesn’t sacrifice any of the flavors you’re seeking from the buttermilk. Whole milk or 2% is best but if you prefer soy milk, almond milk, or any other kinds of milk, they will work well, too.
Bake Your Waffles
Once you remove your waffles from the iron, that’s when they often start to soften up and get soggy. But how do you fix this issue? There is an easy way to combat the post iron sogginess!
Before you start cooking, preheat your oven to 250°. When you take your waffles out of the iron, place them either directly on the rack of your oven or a baking rack placed on a baking sheet.
The baking rack allows the air to circulate, preventing the steam from making them soggier. This low temperature allows the outside of your waffles to crisp up while keeping the inside nice and moist without drying them out. Bake them for 5-10 minutes so they crisp without getting dried out.
Buttermilk Waffle Recipe
Now that you know four great tips and tricks for making deliciously crispy waffles, I’d like to share with you a great recipe for tasty waffles you can make at home!
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract (you can swap this for almond extract or amaretto, if desired)
Directions:
- Preheat waffle iron
- Preheat oven to 250°
- Separate your eggs
- Beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form
- Mix the wet ingredients
- Combine dry ingredients
- Mix wet into dry and stir until just combined; do no over mix
- Fold in egg whites
- Brush your hot waffle iron with melted butter
- Add batter and cook until no steam is coming out
- Place finished waffles in the oven for 5 minutes
You can top your waffles with butter, powdered sugar, syrup, fruit, or any other topping that sounds tasty to you! What do you like on your waffles?
