These homemade buttermilk waffles are perfect every time! Each is delightfully crisp on the outside and light-as-air on the inside. Follow this recipe and my 3 best tips for waffle success.
What Makes These the Best Buttermilk Waffles?
These homemade waffles are a comforting breakfast treat on the weekends or any morning when you need a special pick-me-up. Admittedly, I only make waffles a couple times per year, but maybe when my children are older, they’ll become a weekend tradition. Because each time I take that first bite, I wonder why I don’t break out the waffle maker more often! These waffles come straight from my family’s kitchen and if you’re looking for an all-star buttermilk waffle recipe, this is the one. Here’s why:
- No overpowering flavors
- Delightfully crisp edges
- Soft and tender centers
- Light and fluffy texture
- Butter and vanilla in every bite
- 100% from scratch
- Ready in minutes
These from-scratch waffles taste infinitely better than a packaged mix. If you are reading this during the fall season, you’ll also love my pumpkin spice waffles. And if the holiday season is coming up, you’ll enjoy my gingerbread waffles variation!
How to Make Buttermilk Waffles
Homemade buttermilk waffles are easier than you think. They’re an impressive and delicious homemade breakfast treat that will wow anyone lucky enough to pull up a chair and dive in. Between you and me? No one will know how quickly they come together! I’m positive these homemade waffles will be your new Sunday morning tradition.
- Preheat your waffle maker. Here’s the waffle maker I own. And if you’re looking for heart waffles, this waffle maker is outstanding.
- Combine the dry ingredients. I like to use a large mixing bowl with a pour spout. Makes pouring the batter into the waffle maker much easier. I use it every time I make my whole wheat pancakes, too.
- Whisk the wet ingredients together.
- Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Combine but do not over-mix!
- Whisk the egg whites. You want stiff peaks to form; I typically use a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment to whisk the egg whites. Gently fold the egg whites into the batter.
- Pour batter into waffle maker. Close the lid and cook the waffles until golden brown and crisp, 5โ6 minutes. Repeat with remaining batter.
Keep waffles warm as you cook the rest: If serving all of the waffles at once, transfer the cooked waffles to a wire rack on a baking sheet and place in a preheated 200ยฐF (93ยฐC) oven. You’ll want to keep them warm until the whole batch is ready.
Homemade Waffles Success Tips
For the lightest, fluffiest, and most flavorful waffles, follow these 3 success tips:
- Use real buttermilk. This is a buttermilk waffles recipe and is developed for the inclusion of buttermilk. No alternatives for this particular recipe. Grab some buttermilk from the store; you won’t be sorry! (P.S. Use extra buttermilk in any of these recipes, including whole wheat waffles.)
- Separate the eggs. My secret to their fluffy centers? The same trick I use for my red velvet cake. Separate the eggs, add the yolks to the wet ingredients, whip the egg whites, and fold the whites into the batter. If a light and fluffy waffle is what you are after (of course it is!), then separating the eggs is key.
- Avoid over-mixing. Over-mixing results in tough, dense-textured baked goods from cookies to cakes to muffins to breads. And waffles are no different. The solution is gentle patience. And this is coming from a girl who has the patience of a hungry 2-year-old. Using a whisk with a gentle hand, whisk the wet and dry ingredients together until just combined. Then, using a rubber spatula, carefully fold in the egg whites.
Waffle Toppings
Let’s talk toppings! I’m a waffle puristโI want that fantastic buttery waffle flavor to truly shine. A pat of butter and drizzle of maple syrup are my preferred waffle toppings, but you can go wild with any (or all!) of the following:
- Whipped cream
- Honey butter
- Fresh fruit
- Chocolate ganache
- Strawberry sauce
- Raspberry sauce or blueberry sauce
- Confectioners’ sugar
- Apple butter
- Lemon curd
More Homemade Breakfast Recipes
- Homemade Monkey Bread
- Whole Wheat Waffles
- Pumpkin Pancakes
- Raspberry Twist Bread
- Cinnamon Rolls
- Blueberry Muffin Bread
- Frittata Recipe
My Favorite Buttermilk Waffles
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes (includes batches)
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 10โ12 4-inch waffles
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Homemade buttermilk waffles are delightfully crisp on the outside and light as air inside. This is my favorite recipe for fluffy homemade waffles with hints of butter and vanilla in each bite!
Ingredients
- 1 and 3/4 cups (219g) all-purpose flourย (spooned & leveled)
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 large eggs, separated
- 1/2 cup (8 Tbsp; 113g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 1/3 cup (67g) granulated sugar
- 1 and 3/4 cups (420ml) buttermilk*
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- toppings: butter and maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat waffle maker on medium-high heat. Preheat oven to 200ยฐF (93ยฐC). Place a wire rack on a baking sheet; set aside.
- In a large bowl preferably with a pour spout, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together. Set aside.
- In another large bowl, whisk the egg yolks, melted butter, and sugar together. Whisk in the buttermilk and vanilla until combined. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and then whisk gently until combined. Do not over-mix. Some small lumps are OK.
- With a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip the egg whites on high speed until fluffy soft peaks form, about 3 minutes. With a spatula, gently fold the egg whites into the batter.
- Grease the preheated waffle maker (I use nonstick spray). Pour about 1/3 cup of the batter into each well of the waffle maker (or less if your waffle maker is smaller) and close the lid. Cook the waffles until crisp, about 4โ5 minutes. (Follow the cooking instructions for your waffle maker.) Transfer the cooked waffles to the wire rack and keep warm in the preheated oven as you cook the rest. Repeat to cook the remaining batter.
- Serve the waffles immediately with butter and maple syrup, or your choice of toppings.
Notes
- Make Ahead & Freezing Instructions: Waffles are best enjoyed freshly made. I recommend freezing any leftover cooled waffles. Waffles can be frozen for up to 3 months, then warmed in the toaster.
- Special Tools (affiliate links):ย Mixing Bowls with Pour Spout | Whisk |ย Waffle Maker |ย Electric Mixer (Handheld or Stand Mixer)
- Buttermilk: Though I typically suggest a DIY buttermilk option using regular milk and vinegar/lemon, I highly recommend real buttermilk. I used low-fat buttermilk, but full-fat works too. I do not suggest any substitutions. You can use any extra buttermilk in any of these recipes.
- Waffle Maker: You can use this recipe in either a Belgian or traditional waffle maker or iron. The suggested cooking time is just a suggestion. Follow the cooking instructions for your specific waffle maker.
- Can I make these as pancakes? Yes! No changes to the batter recipe. Heat a griddle or skillet over medium heat. Coat generously with nonstick cooking spray or butter. Once hot, drop about 1/4 cup of batter on the griddle. Cook until the edges look dry and bubbles begin to form on the surface. Flip and cook on the other side until cooked through, about 2 more minutes. Coat griddle/skillet again with cooking spray or butter for each pancake or batch of pancakes.
Reader Comments and Reviews
These are absolutely delicious. I froze the extras and they reheated wonderfully. Thanks for this great recipe!