Best-Ever Waffles

Best-Ever Waffles are a frequent weekend treat in my house, but I often make them ahead of time and freeze them in single servings for an easy breakfast on busy weekdays.

How are best-ever waffles "flipped-out food"?

Waffles? WAFFLES from SCRATCH? How do waffles figure into the Flipped-Out Food M.O.? Simple: it's a more complicated cooking project that you do on the weekend, so that you can have an easy-but-indulgent breakfast during the busy workweek. I do have to make a confession, though: these waffles are such a hit in my family that I rarely have any left to freeze! So for us, the do-it-yourself waffle bar is more of a once-in-while weekend treat.

The waffles also fit into the work-ahead strategy of the F-OF Playbook: I like to measure out the dry ingredients for a few batches of these waffles and store them in zip-top bags in my pantry. I also make the optional berry sauce the night before.

Best-Ever Waffles make a great special-occasion brunch

These best-ever waffles are also fantastic for special occasions like Easter Sunday, Mother's Day, or Christmas Morning. For a brunch with guests, I usually have another dish—for example, a breakfast casserole—so everyone gets a bit of both worlds. Quartering the waffles (as pictured here) minimizes the waste if a guest bites off more than they can chew.

The inspiration for my best-ever waffles recipe comes from Fine Cooking (Light, Crispy Waffles). For my variation, I amp up the decadence a bit by cutting the oil significantly and using butter instead. Waffles are a decadent treat anyway (besides: good as it was, I could taste the oil in this recipe's former incarnation). I won't lie to you: this recipe is work. But it's worth it, and you'll never want to shell out for I-Hop waffles again.

"These waffles are heaven pillows"

The light, airy quality of these best-ever waffles results from clouds of meringue that are folded into the waffle batter just before it hits the iron. The crispiness comes about after a rest in a 200°F oven before serving. The first time he tasted them, Phil raved that these waffles were heaven pillows.

Preparing Best-Ever Waffles

I've tried to make this recipe as low-chaos as possible by organizing the ingredients into their respective bowls. I set out 3 bowls: one medium-big for the dry ingredients, a smaller one for the wet ingredients, and a medium-sized mixing bowl for the meringue. A couple of small ramekins come in handy to measure out sugar and vanilla in advance so I don't have to futz with it after I get started.

In the spirit of containing my mess, my set-up includes a garbage bowl for easy disposal of eggshells and wet paper towels for wiping up excess flour. I put together my mixer and set it next to my "meringue bowl." After mixing the dry ingredients, I separate my eggs: the yolks go into the "wet ingredients bowl" and the whites go into the "meringue bowl." I set the oven to 200°F and plug in my waffle iron. I also set out a paper plate and a fork (more on this later).

I mix up my wet ingredients: the butter needs to be melted and cooled slightly beforehand. A note on the butter: it will clump up slightly when you add it to the cold buttermilk and milk. That's fine, because little clumps of butter turn into sheer deliciousness when they're cooked in the waffles.

Then I get to work on making the meringue. It doesn't take long with a hand mixer before I start getting soft, white peaks. Then I add the sugar and beat some more until I've made firm, lustrous clouds. I add the vanilla and beat just until mixed in, and then I set the meringue aside. My wet ingredients get added to my dry ingredients, getting a stir until just incorporated. Then, working in large dollops, I fold the meringue into the batter with a rubber spatula.

Now it's waffle-iron time! This recipe contains enough butter and oil to ensure that the waffle won't stick to the iron: no cooking spray needed. For my waffle iron, 1 heaping cup of batter makes one complete waffle with no holes (kids HATE holes, as I've come to find out!).

Usually, manufacturers' instructions will tell you that the waffle is done when the indicator light goes off. (Definitely DO NOT lift the lid until that happens, or you will have a mess on your hands.) But I like to let the waffle continue to cook about 30-45 seconds after the indicator light goes off: I like them golden-brown and crispy! Of course, your waffle iron is different from mine, so you will need to tinker a bit to find its sweet spot.

Crisping the best-ever waffles

When each waffle is done, I use a fork to loosen them and transfer to a paper plate. I quickly add another cup of batter to the iron, close 'er up, set my timer, and put the cooked waffle into the preheated oven to crisp. This repeats until all the batter is gone!

If I'm planning to freeze the best-ever waffles, I let them cool completely before putting them into plastic wrap to avoid condensation. More often than not, though, we call the kids out and serve the waffles when the last one comes out of the iron. I start with the oldest waffles: this gives the newest ones a chance to sit in the oven and finish crisping.

My family will reliably snarf down 5 best-ever waffles. This past weekend, I made waffles for the family before running off to a baby shower/brunch up the street. I didn't have time to eat one myself. When I got home, I found one quarter of a waffle left. Thanks, guys!

The recipe below makes 5 best-ever waffles on my round Belgian waffle iron. Someday, I'll make waffles when everyone is gone so that I actually have some to freeze!

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		Breakfast Casserole: This make-ahead breakfast casserole features sausage, peppers, onions, potatoes, and cheese. It's great for serving a small crowd. I've served it alongside a DIY waffle bar for Easter and Mother's Day brunch. I've also carted the assembled casserole to a cabin in Northern Wisconsin, then baked it off there for a fantastic vacation breakfast!
		Confessions of a Former Skipper: I used to skip breakfast on a regular basis because I felt like I just didn't have the time to deal with it on busy mornings. These are the strategies I've learned over the years to deliver breakfast at even the busiest of times. Plus: brunch ideas and making breakfast for a small crowd.