Top 5 Tips for Making Crispy and Golden Waffles
There is nothing better than the taste of freshly baked waffles on a Sunday morning or any morning if we’re honest. Whichever way you like to enjoy your waffles, whether it be with maple syrup, fresh fruit, or ice cream, achieving that perfect crisp and golden brown waffle is a significant business.
Many waffles can lose that all-important crispiness within minutes of coming out of the waffle maker. The best waffle maker recipes can taste great, but failing that much-anticipated crisp can lead to disappointment.
Here are our top 5 tips for making crispy and golden waffles every time.
5. Preparing the Waffle Batter
Use these essential tips when preparing the waffle batter to help create a crispier and golden brown waffle.
Add in Some Stiff Egg Whites
- Whip up some egg whites in a bowl until they hold soft peaks. Then, fold into the batter gently to hold onto as much air as possible.
- Adding white egg whites to the batter will give the exterior of the waffle a crisp texture, and the air beaten in from whipping will create a fluffy inside.
Add an Extra Dash of Sugar
- Waffle recipes are slightly sweeter than pancake recipes. Although waffle batter already contains sugar, adding a little extra can make a difference.
- Yes, extra sugar will add to the flavor, but it will also create a caramelized exterior. Added sugar will aid in the browning of the waffle and make it crispier.
Add in Some Cornstarch
- You may be surprised at the thought of adding cornstarch to your waffle batter mix. Adding cornstarch will protect the waffle from getting soggy from the cooking steam, resulting in a crisper and golden waffle.
Add in a Little Amaretto Liqueur
- This little tip is more about adding flavor to the waffle than making it golden brown and crispy.
- Yes, you could add some vanilla; it is a classic. However, replacing the vanilla with a little amaretto liqueur (almond liqueur) will make your waffles flavorful and aromatic.
Use Buttermilk for Flavor
- Substituting milk with buttermilk will add flavor to the waffles. However, milk will become thinner in the batter, making it more liquid.
- Swap half of the buttermilk for regular milk. This change will give this lighter texture without sacrificing the rich flavors of the buttermilk. The waffles will taste so much better.
4. Mixing the Batter
Now that you’ve prepared the batter using all the above tips, it’s time to mix.
Mix the Waffle Batter Gently
- The batter mix will have lumps in it. That’s normal. Mix all the ingredients until everything is combined.
- When mixing the batter, do it gently to add some extra air to the mix, resulting in crispier waffles.
3. Leave the Batter to Rest
This next tip will aid in achieving golden brown and crispy waffles.
Let the Waffle Batter Rest
- Once you have mixed all the ingredients, you should let the batter rest for best results.
- Allow the batter to rest for five minutes. This resting period will let the ingredients settle.
- This step will produce light, fluffy waffles instead of dense waffles made with a runny batter.
2. Baking the Waffle
Now, it’s time to get to business and start cooking the waffles. These tips will increase your chances of producing the perfect crispy and beautifully golden brown waffles we strive to achieve.
Make Sure the Waffle Maker is Hot
- Ensuring the waffle maker is hot before cooking is essential to achieve crispy waffles. A hot waffle maker means that the waffles will start to cook the instant they hit the iron.
- A hot appliance means the waffle’s exterior will immediately begin to set and crisp. Any moisture in the batter will turn to steam and evaporate out the sides of the waffle maker. If the iron isn’t hot enough, this process won’t occur, and you’ll have soggy waffles.
- Drip a small amount of water onto the iron to check that the waffle iron is hot enough. You can hear the sizzle, which will evaporate instantly if the waffle iron is ready.
Use a Flip Waffle Maker
- Suppose one side of your waffles is burnt while the other is overdone. Then maybe it’s time to invest in a new waffle maker.
- The best type of waffle maker to use to ensure that your waffles are golden brown and crispy is a flip waffle maker.
- Flipping the iron after pouring in the batter will allow the mixture to spread evenly. As a result, the waffles will be cooked evenly on both sides with that much-desired crispiness and golden coloring.
See the Best Waffle Makers
Crisp the Waffles in the Oven
- If the waffles are not fully crisped when they come out of the waffle maker, put them into the oven for an extra five minutes. It is a surefire way to give them some extra crisp.
- If your waffle maker falls short of removing all the moisture during the cooking process, you won’t get crisp waffles. The oven will help the water evaporate, making them golden and crispy. Most importantly, the waffles won’t get burnt. Please do not add them to a baking sheet, as this will make the bottoms go soft.
- Before you start cooking the waffles, preheat the oven to 250F. When transferring the waffles to the range, place them directly onto the metal rack. The rack allows the steam to escape and fix any sogginess.
Top Tip: Keep the waffles in the oven and warm until ready to serve.
1. Eat Right Away
Waffles are at their optimum crispiness as soon as they are ready. If you want to enjoy them at their crispiest, eat them immediately.
Add Toppings and Enjoy
Now that you have prepared and cooked the perfect crispy waffles, it’s time to customize with your choice of toppings. Maybe you’ll opt for chopped nuts, fresh fruit, or a dollop of freshly made homemade ice cream made in your home ice cream maker. The possibilities of delicious combinations are endless.
Have you tried any of these tips for making golden crispy waffles? If not, give them a try the next time you make breakfast.