I’m sharing my top 6 tips for how to make the best Crispy Waffles for breakfast or brunch. These homemade waffles have wonderful flavor, and the batter is simple to mix together. Serve them piping hot while crisp, topped with butter, maple syrup, or your favorite toppings.

Crispy Waffle - On a Plate with a mound of Butter and Dusted with Powdered Sugar

Did you ever eat those frozen pre-packaged waffles growing up? I did. And I almost can’t believe I did. They’re quite a far cry from the crisp, thick, flavorful waffles I now make at home for brunch.

Even though my waffle standards started out with the soggy, spongy frozen variety, I’ve gotten very demanding about how a waffle should be.

The best waffles are crisp on the edges but a little fluffy in the middle, with good flavor, and doused in real maple syrup (though admittedly that last part has nothing to do with technique).

There is only one exception to this: Chef Capon’s Savory Bacon Cheddar Waffles, which are neither crisp nor should you put maple syrup on them, but are insanely delicious.

After a decade experimenting with various waffle ingredient combinations and several tiers of waffle makers, I’ve discovered there are 6 major secrets to perfect waffles.

Tip #1: Add stiff egg whites

For the most crispy waffles, we will be separating the egg yolks from the egg whites, and mixing them separately.

When you beat egg whites to stiff peaks, they hold in a TON of air (think about what’s going on with a soufflé). Incorporating stiff egg whites into your batter makes the waffles incredibly light instead of heavy and dense.

I mix the small amount of granulated sugar needed in this recipe directly into the egg whites, both to make the beaten egg whites more stable, but also to dissolve the sugar thoroughly.

Stiff Peak Egg Whites Shown on Beater with Bowl

It takes an extra minute, but this step is important for a more crisp exterior.

Tip #2: Add cornstarch

I first read about adding cornstarch to waffles after someone sent me Pam Anderson’s recipe, and the thought of adding cornstarch really surprised me.

I went in skeptical but after testing it out I was convinced. It makes a big difference! The addition of cornstarch protects the waffle from getting soggy from cooking steam.

What’s interesting is that over the years, I have noticed more and more people incorporating cornstarch into their baking as a secret ingredient. When added to baked goods like cakes, cookies, and so on, it helps the texture quite a bit.

Tip #3: Swap Amaretto for vanilla

Vanilla extract is classic in sweet applications, and you may certainly use it here if that’s what you have. But I love adding a little amaretto liqueur to the batter instead. It makes the waffles flavorful and aromatic, in a way that’s different from the norm.

If you don’t have amaretto, make sure you at least use some vanilla or almond extract, so you get that nice flavor and aroma that’s necessary for a great waffle.

Tip #4. Use real buttermilk

Real buttermilk is important for the same reason as #3…flavor. We all love substitutes, but be sure to use actual whole milk buttermilk from the store here, not vinegar curdled regular milk! A vinegar milk mixture might work out chemically, but it does not compare to the real thing.

If you have leftover buttermilk, you can freeze it, or use the leftovers for Lemon Buttermilk Pie, Buttermilk Pancakes, this amazing Cornbread Recipe, or this legendary Fried Chicken Recipe. 

For the wet ingredients, mix the buttermilk with egg yolks, melted butter or vegetable oil, and your amaretto or vanilla.

Add it to the dry ingredients of all purpose flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt, in a separate bowl:

Combining Waffle Ingredients with Dry and Wet in Mixing Bowl

Once the buttermilk amaretto liquid is added to the dry ingredients, it’s time to fold in those stiff egg whites I mentioned earlier:

Adding Egg White to Batter for the most Crispy Waffle Recipe

Fold gently in a large bowl with plenty of room to turn, so as not to deflate the whites. This ensures crispier waffles.

Tip #5: Use a flip waffle maker

As good as your crispy waffle recipe may be, if you have a crummy waffle maker, you’re going to get crummy waffles. I know this because I had one. One side would get completely burned, while the other side was underdone.

It pained me to do so, but I threw it away and bought this flip waffle maker instead. Flipping the iron after pouring in the batter allows all the liquid to spread out evenly, so the waffle cooks evenly on both sides.

Also take care not to overfill the waffle maker, as it will just spill over the sides and make a mess.

Dishing Waffle Batter into a Hot Iron with Cookie Scoop

With a good quality preheated waffle iron, each waffle should come out crisp, golden brown, and ready to eat. If this doesn’t happen, the following tip will save you.

Tip #6: Crisp five minutes extra in the oven if needed

If the waffles aren’t fully crisped when they come out of the waffle iron, put them in a 250 degrees F oven for 5 minutes, directly on the metal racks of the oven (not on a baking sheet).

This will crisp the waffles even further and putting it on the wire oven rack will allow the steam to escape and prevent sogginess. This is also good for maintaining the waffles’ crispy exterior while you’re cooking the remaining batter.

Crispy Whole Waffle on Plate with Butter, Maple Syrup, and Powdered Sugar

How to Serve

My favorite toppings for these crispy waffles are simply some good quality butter and a drizzle of pure maple syrup. Classic waffles always please! But you could also dust with a little confectioner’s sugar, add Homemade Orange Honey Butter, Blueberry Sauce, or fresh fruit.

You may also want to balance these delicious waffles out with some healthier savory options. I love Poached Eggs with Hash Browns, Sausage Breakfast Casserole, and this Potato Frittata.

Also try Cinnamon Roll Pancakes, Bananas Foster French Toast, Carrot Cake Pancakes for some fun and indulgent brunch recipes. If you want to go a little healthier, these 100% Whole Wheat Pancakes are shockingly delicious too. Enjoy!

Recipe Tips and FAQ

How do you store leftover crispy waffles?

Keep leftover waffles in an airtight container or sealable plastic bag in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Can you freeze crispy waffles?

Yes, keep in an airtight container or sealable plastic freezer bag for up to 3 months.

How do you reheat crispy waffles?

Reheat in a 350F oven (or toaster oven) for 5-10 minutes, until warmed through. If reheating straight from frozen, you will need to add an extra 5 minutes. It is also possible you can pop them into the toaster, depending on how thick your waffles are.

Does this recipe double for pancake batter?

No, I do not recommend using this recipe for pancakes. Try Buttermilk Pancakes or Whole Wheat Pancakes instead.

Can you add chocolate chips?

Yes. Sprinkle up to 1/4 cup of chocolate chips per waffle immediately upon adding the batter to the hot waffle iron.

Did you enjoy the recipe? Please leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. Or, follow me on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest!

Whole Crispy Waffle on Plate with Butter and Maple Syrup

Crispy Waffle Recipe

Servings: 6 waffles
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
These crispy waffles are golden and flavorful. While crisp on the outside, they are fluffy on the inside. They’re perfect for weekend brunch or breakfast, and can be topped with butter, maple syrup, fruit compote, and more!
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Ingredients

  • 2 eggs separated
  • 2 cups whole buttermilk
  • 1/3 cup melted butter or oil of your choice*
  • 1 tbsp amaretto (can substitute 1 tsp vanilla extract)
  • 7.5 oz all-purpose flour, by weight (1.5 cups, if measuring)
  • 2.5 oz cornstarch, by weight (1/2 cup, if measuring)
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3 tbsp sugar

Instructions 

  • Separate the egg yolks and whites, and beat together the egg yolks, buttermilk, melted butter or oil, and amaretto to combine.
  • Whisk to combine the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  • Combine the leftover egg whites with the sugar, and whip to stiff peaks (if you lift the beaters straight out of the egg whites, then invert the beaters, the egg white should stand up on its own as a stiff peak).
  • Stir the buttermilk liquid into the flour mixture (make sure the batter is still a little lumpy), then fold in the egg whites, being careful not to deflate them.
  • Pour the batter into a preheated waffle maker and cook for about 3-4 minutes. Enjoy!
  • Note: If the waffles don’t get crispy enough in your waffle iron, place them on a rack set on a baking sheet (or it can be the rack in the oven if it’s clean) and bake in a 250F oven for another 5-10 minutes, until crisp.

Notes

*I originally used vegetable oil for this recipe, but no longer cook with it. You may use any oil you enjoy. If you’re using something solid at room temperature, like coconut oil, melt it first. You may also use melted butter.
Storing leftovers: Keep in an airtight container or sealable plastic bag in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Freezing: Keep in an airtight container or sealable plastic freezer bag for up to 3 months.
Reheating: Reheat in a 350F oven for 5-10 minutes, until warmed through. If reheating straight from frozen, you will need to add an extra 5 minutes.
Update: With the Presto wafflemaker, you flip the waffle right after pouring in the batter, and leave it like that for the 3-4 minute duration. See your waffle maker’s instructions for specific instructions.

Nutrition

Calories: 369kcal, Carbohydrates: 46g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 17g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 62mg, Sodium: 376mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 12g

Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.

Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Author: Joanne Ozug