This is the Only Guide You Need for Perfect Waffles Every Single Time: Ideal for Birthday Treat Ideas!

Waffles are a global favourite, and can be made in a variety of different ways. All you need is basic ingredients for a batter and a waffle maker. They can be made with flour, oats, protein powder, cocoa powder, or any other base you can think of. This guide walks you through making buttermilk waffles. The trick with waffles is ensuring that they are crispy on the outside, offering a nice crunch with each bite, and light and airy on the inside, ready to melt easily on the tongue. With this guide, you will learn how to achieve that balance.

Also, waffles can be topped with a variety of options, and you're only really limited by your imagination. There’s the classic honey or maple syrup. Then there's chocolate sauce or peanut butter spread, almond butter or normal butter. Or you can jams or fruit compotes like strawberry, orange, or mixed fruit. You can also add sliced fresh fruits like apples or bananas or blueberries. Waffles can also be topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or some other flavour, or with a dollop of whipped cream. You can also add chopped nuts like almonds or pistachios. Basically, let your imagination run free and come up with toppings and combinations that you think will suit your taste buds best.

Ingredients:

• 219 gm all-purpose flour (spooned and levelled)
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 large eggs, separated
• 113 gm unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
• 67 gm granulated sugar
• 420 ml buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• toppings: butter and maple syrup, optional

Directions:

Grease and preheat the waffle maker on medium. Preheat the oven to 200F or 93C.

In a large bowl, add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix well or whisk until fully combined. Set aside.

In another large bowl, add the egg yolks, butter and sugar. Whisk thoroughly. Add the buttermilk and vanilla and mix until fully combined.

Now pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, a little at a time, and whisk continuously as you do. Get all the lumps cleared out but do not overmix. Set aside.

In a bowl with a handheld mixture or in a stand mixture, whip the egg whites on high speed. Keep whipping till soft peaks form.

Then fold the egg whites into the batter.

Now pour the batter into the waffle maker and close the lid. Cook until the waffles are crips. Then transfer the cooked waffles to the wire rack. Repeat until all the batter is cooked.

Top with butter and maple syrup, or any other toppings of your choice, and serve immediately.

Notes, tips and tricks:

Waffles are best enjoyed when freshly made. However, they can be stored in the fridge for 2 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw them at room temperature and then heat in the toaster.

When whisking the batter together, do not overmix. When mixing the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, mix well until just combined. Then, use a rubber spatula to gently fold the egg whites into the batter.

How long you cook your waffles will depend on the specific waffle maker you have. This can't be the same for everyone, so we can't offer times. But the standard should be between 10-15 minutes.

The really exciting part of the recipe is that you can use this exact batter to make pancakes too. Simply grease a pan with butter, then put a ladle-full of batter onto the pan. Spread using the back of the ladle. Let it cook on one side, then gently flip it over and let it cook on the other side too. Once browned and holes start to appear in the pancakes, they are cooked. Stack them on top of each other, add toppings, and serve warm.

You can also add a variety of flavours to the batter. There’s chocolate waffles, strawberry waffles, pumpkin spice waffles, ginger waffles, cinnamon sugar waffles, vanilla waffles, Belgian waffles, banana bread waffles, red velvet waffles, or any other flavour of your choice. There’s also variations like eggless waffles and other recipes suited to different dietary types.