Looking for the best waffle recipe? My Classic Crispy Waffles turn out perfectly crisp on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside every time!

Classic Crispy Waffles by The BakerMama

Classic Waffle Recipe, Classic for a Reason

We’re a waffle-loving family and we all get so excited when the waffle maker gets brought out. Whether it’s a lazy Sunday morning or a busy weeknight (Waffle Wednesday is our fave!), this easy waffle recipe makes everyone happy! And making waffles from scratch is so much better than the store-bought frozen waffles you pop in the toaster. Sooo much better.

Classic Crispy Waffles by The BakerMama

Watch Me Make Classic Waffles

Step into my kitchen and learn how to make perfectly crispy waffles!

What Makes a Great Waffle?

When it comes to great waffles, they must have a crispy exteriors and be light and fluffy on the inside. That’s what makes a waffle a waffle, right? Otherwise, we may as well just make some really great pancakes.

Classic Crispy Waffles by The BakerMama

No Floppy Waffles Here!

I get such a kick (and a lot of pride!) out of how particular our boys are about their waffles since we make these perfect waffles here at home all the time. We’ll be out to breakfast and my 7 year old will place his order saying “I’d like an order of the CRISPY waffles, please!” following immediately with “You make ’em crispy, right?!”

I get the biggest grin on my face and feel so happy knowing that he knows what a great waffle should taste like. And feel like! And these are the crispiest waffles! No floppy waffles for us. Haha!

Classic Crispy Waffles by The BakerMama

Secrets to the Perfect Waffle

If you’re going to go to the effort of making waffles, make them great! It makes all the difference. A perfectly crisp waffle holds the butter and syrup so nicely as you cut in. It doesn’t soak up too much of the moisture allowing each bite to still be crisp yet buttery sweet. Drooling yet?! Here are some key steps to getting perfectly crisp and fluffy waffles every time you make them:

  • Sugar: just 2 tablespoons of sugar is the secret ingredient in the batter gives the waffles that boost they need to create an extra crispy and caramelized exterior as they cook. The key is stirring the sugar into the batter at the very end so it doesn’t get lost in the batter as it would if you add it in the beginning with the dry ingredients.
  • Fat: a good amount of butter and whole milk in the batter does two things for the waffles. It helps keep them from sticking to the waffle maker and it adds to the crispness because when the fat hits the high heat, it has a fry-like affect creating that crisp exterior and protecting the inside so it stays light and fluffy. Don’t use buttermilk, though. I’ve found that buttermilk is too thick and creates a very dense waffle.
  • Well-Beaten Eggs: beating the eggs until light and frothy before folding them into the batter adds air to the batter without risking over beating the batter. The air pockets in the batter help contribute to the fluffiness of the waffles as they bake.
  • Let the Batter Rest: letting the batter rest in the fridge for about 10 minutes, while the waffle maker preheats, allows the gluten to relax and expand a bit which results in a more tender texture as the waffles cook. And the cooler batter, helps keep the insides from overcooking while the exteriors get nice and crisp.
  • Hot Waffle Iron: preheat your waffle iron for at least 10 minutes. Cooking waffles in a preheated waffle iron is similar to frying, the hotter the heat, the crispier the outcome. And the quicker they cook, the lighter the insides.
  • Keep them Warm: you want to keep the already cooked waffles warm while you make the remaining waffles so everyone’s waffles are warm and still crisp when you sit down to eat them together. Heat your oven to 200°F and store the cooked waffles in a single layer on a baking rack or directly on the oven racks. The oven actually reinforces the crispiness and prevents sogginess.
Classic Crispy Waffles by The BakerMama

What Do I Need to Make Classic Crispy Waffles?

  • All-purpose flour
  • Baking powder
  • Baking soda
  • Kosher salt
  • Whole milk
  • Butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • Vanilla
  • Eggs
  • Sugar
  • Waffle iron
Classic Crispy Waffles by The BakerMama

How to Make Classic Crispy Waffles

  • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda & salt.
  • Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the milk, whisking until just combined.
  • Whisk in the melted unsalted butter and vanilla extract until well combined.
Classic Crispy Waffles by The BakerMama
  • In a separate bowl, beat eggs until light and frothy and then fold the eggs into the batter a few times. The batter should be streaked with the beaten egg.
  • Sprinkle the batter with 2 tbsp sugar and gently fold it in until very few streaks of egg are showing. The batter should still be slightly lumpy. Do not over stir!
Classic Crispy Waffles by The BakerMama
  • Let the batter set in the refrigerator for at least 10 minutes while you preheat the waffle maker to medium-high heat. Generously spray top and bottom of the waffle maker with non-stick cooking spray and cook waffles according to your waffle maker’s instructions.
  • For my waffle maker, I fill it about three-quarters of the way full, spreading it to fill in any gaps. Close the lid gently and cook until the waffles are golden brown and crisp, about 5 minutes. I try not to peek for at least 4 minutes.
Classic Crispy Waffles by The BakerMama
  • Keep the cooked waffles in a 200°F warm oven while you make the remaining waffles.
Classic Crispy Waffles by The BakerMama

How to Serve Waffles

We keep it pretty classic when we eat waffles by serving them with creamy butter, good quality pure maple syrup and some fresh fruit. You can whip cream for the top, or top them with fruit preserves (I like strawberry). I’ll occasionally put out some peanut butter and Nutella to mix it up a bit because, seriously, we eat these classic crispy waffles at least once a week!

Classic Crispy Waffles by The BakerMama

How to Store Leftover Waffles

If you happen to have leftovers, you can store leftover waffles in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.

To freeze, make sure they’re completely cool (I let mine sit on a cooling rack) before freezing in a freezer safe bag or container. When you’re ready to reheat them, I highly recommend you toast them in a toaster just like you would toast. It crisps them right back up.

To reheat: If you’re reheating several leftover waffles at a time, you can lay them in a single layer on a baking rack or directly on the oven racks in a 300°F heated oven for about 5-10 minutes depending on if they were frozen or just refrigerated.

Just whatever you do, don’t microwave leftover waffles! They’ll be so soggy and that’s just sad. 😉

I hope you and your loved ones enjoy this recipe as much as we do! If you make these Classic Crispy Waffles, be sure to snap a picture and share it with me or tag me on Instagram @thebakermama so I can see. ???? I love seeing how inspired and creative y’all get with the recipes I share. Enjoy!

xoxo,

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Classic Crispy Waffles by The BakerMama

Classic Crispy Waffles

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.5 from 19 reviews
  • Author: Maegan – The BakerMama
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 5 mins
  • Total Time: 20 mins
  • Yield: 10-12 large waffles
  • Category: Breakfast

Description

How to make Classic Crispy Waffles that turn out perfectly crisp on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside every time!


Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted & slightly cooled
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tablespoons sugar

Instructions

  1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda & salt. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the milk, whisking until just combined. Whisk in the melted butter and vanilla until well combined.
  2. In a separate bowl, beat eggs until light and frothy and then fold the eggs into the batter a few times. The batter should be streaked with the beaten egg. Sprinkle the batter with 2 tablespoons sugar and gently fold it in until very few streaks of egg are showing. The batter should still be slightly lumpy.
  3. Let the batter set in the refrigerator for at least 10 minutes while you preheat the waffle maker to medium-high heat. Generously spray top and bottom of the waffle maker with non-stick cooking spray and cook waffles according to your waffle maker’s instructions.
  4. For my waffle maker, I fill it about three-quarters of the way full, spreading it to fill in any gaps. Close the lid gently and cook until the waffles are golden brown and crisp, about 5 minutes. I try not to peek for at least 4 minutes. Keep the cooked waffles in a 200°F warm oven while you make the remaining waffles.

About The BakerMama

Maegan is the author of her best-selling Beautiful Boards, Spectacular Spreads and Brilliant Bites cookbooks. She started blogging in 2012 and features hundreds of original recipes on The BakerMama. She truly enjoys sharing her easy, family-friendly recipes, creative meal ideas, food board creations, and entertaining spreads to encourage others to get in the kitchen and make something memorable for their loved ones to enjoy together. Learn More

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Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

Comments

  1. I was really hopeful for this recipe but they’re not at all crispy despite looking like they should be and the flavour is lacking, they mostly taste like egg






    1. Hi! What kind of waffle iron are you using and do you have it heated high enough? That is very important. Also, are you sure you measured all of the ingredients correctly and followed all of the instructions exactly?

  2. These were so thin, hence the 4 stars. So, I added about 1/2 c more flour with 1/2 tsp baking powder after the first waffle. Very tasty, rich egg taste and crispy but light waffles. Will be making these again!






    1. Hi Claudia! Are you saying that your batter was too thin or your waffles baked up too thin? Did you use a thin or thick waffle maker? Did you let the batter rest in the refrigerator for at least 10 minutes? That is key to the texture of the batter and the way the waffles cook up. The batter should be thin enough to pour into the waffle maker so it spreads out in the waffle maker and cooks up light and crisp. I’m glad you were able to make it work though!

  3. Delicious in taste however they were way too fried. They looked and tasted like donuts but without all the sugar. I carefully followed all the instructions and tried the recipe twice.






    1. Hi, Amelia! I wonder if maybe this is for a different recipe? These are basic classic waffles – there’s no frying? If they were over crisp, maybe adjust your waffle maker settings?

  4. This recipe is so versatile. My son likes waffles, my daughter likes pancakes…this recipe works for both without any tweaks.






  5. Hi baker mama, glad to hear so many good reviews! Before I try the recipe, just wondering if u have whipped meringue instead of frothy eggs as some comments are to use meringue to boost the fluffiness.

    1. Hi Dino! I haven’t tried the recipe with whipped meringue as we love the recipe just as it’s written. It’s certainly worth a try though. Enjoy!

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