This is my family’s favorite waffle recipe! These homemade waffles are quick, easy to make from scratch, light, and crispy. I love them!
These are the best waffles we have ever made at home. Honestly, of all the breakfast recipes we have shared on Inspired Taste, these waffles are high on my list of favorites! I often find homemade waffles too dense and eggy, but not these. These are light on their feet.
Our waffle recipe makes four thin waffles (like in the photos) or 2 to 3 thick, Belgian-style waffles. It is also easy to double the recipe, so if you need to serve more people, you can. For more of my favorite recipes for the morning, see our fluffy pancakes, my favorite French toast, or these incredible homemade biscuits.
Key Ingredients
- Flour: I use all-purpose flour in this recipe. It keeps the waffles light on their feet. You can substitute whole grain flours like whole wheat or spelt flour, but expect the waffles to be more dense.
- Cornstarch: The secret ingredient for making the crispiest waffles. Cornstarch guarantees that the waffles will be perfectly crisp and tender.
- Baking powder and baking soda: Help our waffles rise and brown. I recommend using both for the best waffles.
- Sugar, salt, and vanilla extract: Make them taste amazing. I keep the sugar amount low since I love pouring maple syrup on top, but you can increase the sugar for sweeter waffles.
- Vegetable oil: My favorite fat for these waffles (also true for blueberry muffins). I’ve tried melted butter, and while it does add a buttery flavor, I prefer the texture with oil.
- Milk or buttermilk: These waffles work with either! Buttermilk adds more flavor, but milk works perfectly well in this recipe.
- Egg: Adds tenderness and provides structure. See our tips in the recipe for making even lighter, fluffier waffles by whipping the egg white (totally optional).
How to Make the Best Waffles
Say goodbye to flavorless, floppy waffles and hello to waffles that are light and crispy on the outside and tender in the middle. Start by whisking your dry ingredients together, then whisk the wet ingredients in a separate bowl.
Then, whisk the wet ingredients into the dry until only tiny lumps remain in the batter. There’s no need to thoroughly this batter. Set the batter aside for 10 to 20 minutes (this gives the baking powder a chance to activate and the flour time to absorb some moisture).
When your waffle iron is ready, add enough batter to fill the lower grid, close the lid, and cook until crisp and golden brown.
So that your waffles don’t start to steam and turn floppy while you cook the remaining batter, slide your cooked waffles into a preheated 200°F oven to keep them warm and crisp (this is my best tip for perfectly crispy waffles).
Optional step (great for thick, Belgian waffles)! If you’re up for it, you can separate your egg and whip the egg whites to make your waffles even more fluffy in the middle. Whisk the egg yolk into the wet ingredients, but hold off on the whipped egg white until after combining the wet and dry ingredients. Then, gently fold in the whipped egg whites. The whipped egg whites thicken your batter and make the middles of your waffles more fluffy and tender.
Easy Crispy Waffles
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I love these homemade light and crispy waffles. Cornstarch is the secret to crispy waffles. It guarantees that your waffles will be perfectly crisp and tender. Separating the egg is optional but is recommended (especially for deeper waffle irons).
This recipe makes 4 standard waffles (1/2-inch to 3/4-inch thick). If you want to make thicker Belgian waffles or use a deep waffle iron, you will get closer to three waffles using our recipe below.
Watch Us Make the Recipe
You Will Need
1 cup (130g) all-purpose flour
1/4 cup (30g) cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon sugar
1 cup (235ml) whole milk or buttermilk
1/3 cup (80ml) vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
Butter, syrup and/or berries, for serving
Directions
1Whisk together the flour, cornstarch, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and sugar in a large bowl.
2In a separate bowl, whisk the buttermilk, oil, and vanilla extract.
3For the lightest waffles, separate the egg. Whisk the egg yolk into the milk mixture. If you do not plan on separating the egg, whisk the whole egg into the milk mixture.
4If you separate the egg, add the egg white to another bowl, use a handheld mixer to beat until stiff, and then set aside.
5Whisk the milk mixture into the dry ingredients until only small lumps are left. Switch to a rubber spatula and gently fold in the whipped egg whites.
6Set the batter aside for 10 to 20 minutes while preparing the waffle iron.
7Heat the waffle iron to the highest heat setting.
8Cook waffles until golden and crisp, adding enough batter to the waffle iron to fill the entire lower grid. If the waffles look too dark, turn the heat down slightly.
9Serve the waffles immediately or keep them warm and crispy on a rack in a 200°F (93°C) oven until ready to serve. Stacking them outside the oven will cause them to steam and become floppy.
Adam and Joanne's Tips
- Storing: Homemade waffles last in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Or freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet, transfer them to freezer bags, and then freeze for up to 3 months. The best way to reheat waffles is in a toaster oven or bake in a 350°F oven for a few minutes.
- Buttermilk substitute: Use whole milk or to mimic buttermilk, stir 1 cup of whole milk with 2 tablespoons lemon juice or distilled white vinegar. Set aside for 5 minutes to thicken, and then use in the recipe above.
- Melted butter: Makes these waffles a little heavier but is delicious. Use 1/3 cup melted butter.
- Recipe updated May 2022 to improve results when making thicker waffles. For the original recipe, use 3/4 cup of flour.
- Recipe inspired by Aretha Frankenstein’s recipe
- The nutrition facts provided below are estimates.
I rarely leave reviews but wow! You guys nailed these waffles to be reminiscent of store-bought toaster waffles but 1000x better bc of simple, pure ingredients and expert technique. My bf and I will sometimes finish them off in the air fryer for extra color and crisp but they are decadent as is! Reminds me of a donut or funnel cake with the buttermilk (I used almond milk with vinegar and did not separate the egg) tang, tender crumb, and crisp exterior. Just amazing. Skip buying a breakfast sweet and make these now!!! What a treat. Thank you!