The Best Vegan Belgian Waffle Recipe: Crispy, Fluffy, Delicious | Foodal (2024)

by Raquel Smith

My husband and I have always been homemade waffle people. Starting with one of the first batches that I ever made, a sourdough-style recipe from King Arthur Flour, we fell in love.

The Best Vegan Belgian Waffle Recipe: Crispy, Fluffy, Delicious | Foodal (1)

Unfortunately my sourdough starter has fallen by the wayside lately, so I’ve had to come up with other recipes to satisfy us. That’s okay, because these are much easier to make, don’t require a starter, and only take 10 minutes to throw together!

The Best Vegan Belgian Waffle Recipe: Crispy, Fluffy, Delicious | Foodal (2)

My mother recently gave us a Belgian waffle maker, the kind that flips over to cook. I was pretty nervous to try it, I must admit. We had always made the thinner kind before, and I was a bit worried that the batter wouldn’t rise up to fill the upper nooks and crannies.

But it worked! We soon discovered that’s actually what the flippy feature is for!

The Best Vegan Belgian Waffle Recipe: Crispy, Fluffy, Delicious | Foodal (3)

These waffles have really good flavor. The first time we made them, I think I ate my fill just nibbling at the cooked ones in the kitchen before we even sat down to eat. They’re so good on their own, you don’t really need much syrup to make them tasty.

The Best Vegan Belgian Waffle Recipe: Crispy, Fluffy, Delicious | Foodal (4)

But, when you do top them with a bit of butter or vegan margarine, drown them in real maple syrupto fill in all of those little squares, and sprinkle the top with powdered sugar, they become downright irresistible.

They’re also delicious with fresh berries sprinkled on top, a scoop of homemade vegan ice cream, or maybe a dollop of coconut whipped cream.

The Best Vegan Belgian Waffle Recipe: Crispy, Fluffy, Delicious | Foodal (5)

And these aren’t just for vegans; I guarantee your friends and family who do consume dairy and eggs will find nothing to complain about with the taste or texture. They’re light and fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside, made with almond milk and with a slight nutty taste thanks to the ground flax seed.

Plus, this awesome vegan egg replacement adds healthy omega-3s that you wouldn’t find in regular waffles. Just make sure you use seed that is ground rather than the whole version to make your flax egg. Since seeds can spoil quickly, I like to buy a big bag and store it in the freezer, scooping out a tablespoon or two at a time when I ned to add it to a recipe.

You’ll also notice that there’s a little bit of apple cider vinegar in this recipe. Mixed with the almond milk and allowed to sit for about 5 minutes, this serves as a buttermilk replacement. Adding an acid like apple cider vinegar to your batter will react with the baking powder, creating a fluffier finished product.

The Best Vegan Belgian Waffle Recipe: Crispy, Fluffy, Delicious | Foodal (6)

According to our calculations, one batch makes about 5 Belgian waffles and feeds 2-3 people. If you don’t eat as much as we do, then you could get away with feeding one batch to 4 people.

The Best Vegan Belgian Waffle Recipe: Crispy, Fluffy, Delicious | Foodal (7)

Or just make two batches, throw the extras in the freezer, and have tasty pre-made breakfasts ready for the next week! Heat them up in the toaster before serving, and they’ll be delicious. This is what I usually do – there can never be too many waffles around here.

Ever.

Print

The Best Vegan Belgian Waffle Recipe: Crispy, Fluffy, Delicious | Foodal (8)

Crispy Vegan Belgian Waffles

★★★★★4.8 from 44 reviews
  • Author: Raquel Smith
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 5 waffles 1x

Description

This vegan Belgian waffle recipe is full of healthy and tasty ground flax seeds and whole grain flour! So good right off the iron, and even better topped with maple syrup and powdered sugar.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 2 Tbsp ground flax seed
  • 5 Tbsp water
  • 1 1/2 cups almond milk
  • 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
  • 1 Tbsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3 Tbsp vegan granulated sugar or coconut sugar
  • 5 Tbsp vegan margarine (I used Earth Balance)
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat your waffle iron.
  2. Combine the flax seed and water in a small bowl to make a flax egg. Set aside.
  3. Combine the almond milk and apple cider vinegar in a measuring cup, and set aside.
  4. Add the flours, baking powder, salt, and sugar to a medium bowl and mix well.
  5. Melt the margarine in the microwave in a heatproof medium-sized bowl. Slowly add the almond milk mixture to the butter, whisking vigorously while you pour it in. Add the flax mixture and the vanilla, and mix well. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix well, until few lumps remain (but don’t go too crazy).
  6. Cook the waffles according to your waffle maker’s instructions.*
  7. Eat right away, or let cool on a wire rack and freeze in an airtight zip-top bag for future enjoyment!

Notes

My waffle maker uses a heaping 1/2 cup of batter per waffle. I try to spread the batter all over the iron to get the best shape.

My iron will often indicate that the waffles are done well before they are actually ready. These take about 4 1/2 minutes each to cook with my iron on medium-high. I suggest figuring out how long your iron takes and set a timer so you will know when to check it.

  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 20 mins
  • Category: Breakfast

For even more vegan egg replacement options, check out our informative post on egg-free baking. And if you’re interested in trying your hand at growing your own flax at home, our friends at Gardener’s Path can help you to get started.

What about you? How do you like your waffles? Be sure to let us know in comments below and please rate this recipe!

Don’t forget to Pin It!

The Best Vegan Belgian Waffle Recipe: Crispy, Fluffy, Delicious | Foodal (9)

Photos by Raquel Smith, © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. Originally published by Raquel Smith on May 30th, 2014. Last updated: May 5, 2020 at 13:40 pm.

Nutritional information derived from a database of known generic and branded foods and ingredients and was not compiled by a registered dietitian or submitted for lab testing. It should be viewed as an approximation.

The Best Vegan Belgian Waffle Recipe: Crispy, Fluffy, Delicious | Foodal (10)

About Raquel Smith

Raquel is a whole foods enthusiast, an avid mountain biker, and a dog lover. She works by day at Food Blogger Pro and formerly maintained her food blog "My California Roots" (now merged into Foodal).

  • More Posts(168)

The Best Vegan Belgian Waffle Recipe: Crispy, Fluffy, Delicious | Foodal (2024)

FAQs

How to make waffles crispier in waffle maker? ›

7 Life Saving Tips to Make Crispy Waffles
  1. Bring the Eggs to Room Temperature.
  2. Grease the Waffle Iron With Cooking Spray.
  3. Melt the Butter.
  4. Add a Tint of Liquor to Your Baking.
  5. Use Buttermilk.
  6. Ran Out of Buttermilk? Try an Alternative.
  7. Bake Them in the Oven for That Crisp Finish.

How do you keep Belgian waffles crispy? ›

Other Ways to Keep Waffles from Getting Soggy
  1. Place your waffles on a cooling rack in a low-heat oven (don't stack the waffles on top of each other).
  2. Throw your waffles in a toaster to refresh their crispiness.
  3. Make sure your waffle iron is very hot.
Mar 17, 2023

What makes Belgian waffles so good? ›

Belgian waffles are beloved for their extra-deep pockets—the better for filling with butter, jam, or maple syrup. They are often thicker than their American counterparts, and made with a yeasted batter and crunchy pearl sugar.

Why are my waffles not fluffy? ›

Making pancake and waffle batter ahead of time is a huge no-no and will lead to flat, dense results every time. Even letting your batter hang out for just a few minutes after you've mixed it before you start ladling it onto the griddle will lead to less fluffy results.

Why are Belgian waffles crunchy? ›

Texture – In Belgian waffles, the eggs are separated. The yolks are whisked together with the other wet ingredients, while the whites are whipped to stiff peaks and then folded into the batter at the end. This creates a texture that is crisp on the outside and light and tender on the inside.

Does oil or butter make waffles crispy? ›

When you compare the two, one of the best ways to get the waffles to crisp up perfectly with a golden crust is to use oil instead of butter. Though butter tastes better, and you can always smear some on top to add flavor, oil will give you the best texture.

Should you let waffle batter rest? ›

Recommended overnight or 2 hr resting – for the tastiest waffles, rest the batter overnight in the fridge or for at least 2 hours. This makes the flour grains absorb the liquid so it makes the inside of the waffles softer.

Why add cornstarch to waffles? ›

Cornstarch is the key ingredient for the perfect ratio of fluffy interior and crispy exterior whether you are making Belgian waffles or the thinner kind that are more common in the U.S. It will also work with buttermilk waffles. And it's even the secret weapon for vegans who skip the eggs and dairy altogether.

Why do Belgian waffles taste different? ›

Belgian waffles start with a yeasted batter, require a leavening agent and tend to include more butter, milk and sugar. If you try to make the Liege style, larger sugar granules are added for more crunch. Traditional or American waffles often substitute yeast with baking powder and do not sit overnight.

Do you need to grease a Belgian waffle maker? ›

Season the waffle grids by spraying with cooking spray or brushing with a flavorless oil. For initial use, it is important that the waffle maker is preheated before seasoning with cooking spray or oil.

Why do restaurant waffles taste better? ›

While the griddles themselves likely vary from one diner chain to the next, diners are pretty much all working with a waffle iron or griddle that's already hot. IHOP, for instance, requires its pans to be heated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and uses Crisco instead of butter to grease it, says Grimm.

What is the difference between a Brussels waffle and a Belgian waffle? ›

A Belgian waffle in the United States is called a Brussels waffle in Belgium. This waffle is lighter and crisper than the Liège waffle (see below), has deep pockets, and is typically served for dessert. Brussels waffles are rectangular or square and much larger than American waffles.

What's the difference between a Belgian waffle and an old fashioned waffle? ›

The ingredients for both regular waffles and Belgian waffles are similar and include flour, milk, eggs, and butter or oil. However, Belgian waffles use egg whites to give a fluffier texture. Additionally, Belgian waffles have yeast in their recipe while regular waffles use baking powder.

What should you do to ensure that waffles are crisp and do not stick? ›

You need fat to make the batter "fry" in the iron. You can add butter or oil to the batter but you'll have better results if you grease the iron as well, including non-stick. Crispy waffles are popular in the Nordic countries.

How do I keep my waffles crispy for a crowd? ›

The low temperature of the oven will keep the waffles warm and crispy without burning them and the the elevation of the rack in the baking sheet helps keep away sogginess. The result? Hot, still-crispy waffles that taste as fresh as they did the moment you took them off of the waffle iron.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Dan Stracke

Last Updated:

Views: 5919

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (43 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Dan Stracke

Birthday: 1992-08-25

Address: 2253 Brown Springs, East Alla, OH 38634-0309

Phone: +398735162064

Job: Investor Government Associate

Hobby: Shopping, LARPing, Scrapbooking, Surfing, Slacklining, Dance, Glassblowing

Introduction: My name is Dan Stracke, I am a homely, gleaming, glamorous, inquisitive, homely, gorgeous, light person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.