How to Make Crispy Waffles (2025)

Crisp and crunchy on the outside, airy and soft on the inside, crispy waffles are an all-time favorite breakfast for a reason. We guarantee that the smell of sizzling batter in the morning will have your friends and family jumping out of bed faster than any alarm clock! The only thing that could damper this breakfast is if your crispy waffles aren’t, well, crispy.

Achieving the perfectly crispy waffle (that doesn’t go limp minutes after you take it out of the iron) can be a frustratingly difficult endeavor, especially if you’ve just rolled out of bed. But no need to go searching through dozens of recipes while your stomach is growling— we’ve put together a list of the best tips on how to make crispy waffles with minimal effort.

Why Won't My Waffles Get Crispy?

Maybe it’s the recipe. Maybe it’s the ingredient ratio. Maybe it’s the fact that it’s 7 a.m., and you’re two seconds away from just grabbing the nearest cereal box and calling it a meal. One thing is for sure— no one gets the perfectly crispy waffle on the first try, especially if it’s your first time wielding a waffle iron. Be prepared to throw out the first waffle in your batch.

There are also a few common (but easy to avoid) slip-ups that are sure to make your next batch a flop. Not waiting until the iron heats up properly means your waffles will cook, but never achieve that satisfyingly crisp exterior. Overworking the batter will leave your waffles dense and chewy instead of light and airy. And stacking even the most perfect waffles will cause them to become soggy and limp in minutes.

Then there are the mornings when you realize you’re missing a key ingredient, and still go for the recipe anyway (we’ve all been there). Preparing beforehand will make your mornings a whole lot smoother (and crispier!).

Not digging the idea of whipping up batter in the AM at all? We have a tip for that, too! Just heat up your Belgian Boys waffles and voilà, breakfast is served!

Are Belgian Waffles Supposed to Be Crispy?

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Is the sky blue? Is butter creamy? Does breakfast make the best dinner?

If your Belgian waffles aren’t crispy, they aren’t really Belgian waffles at all. That being said, there are a few key differences between a Belgian waffle vs a regular one. Thicker, with deeper pockets and a recipe that includes yeasted batter, pearl sugar, and egg whites, Belgian waffles have a signature golden exterior and airy inside that earn them their mouthwatering reputation.

The pearl sugar is key to their slight crunch, while the yeast and egg whites contribute to their wonderfully fluffy texture (noticeably less dense than their American counterparts).

The term “Belgian waffle” also encompasses several different varieties of this European treat. There are several unique waffle recipes across Brussels and Liege, as well as outside of Belgium, in Germany and France. Slight differences in the recipes can make a big impact on both flavor and texture.

7 Life Saving Tips to Make Crispy Waffles

Stop waffling around! These tips will cut down on both time and effort in the morning, and leave you with the crispy-on-the-outside, airy-on-the-inside waffles of your dreams.

Bring the Eggs to Room Temperature

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Want to avoid a lumpy, dense texture? Room temperature eggs will mix more evenly with the rest of your ingredients, creating a smooth batter that will rise easily. Don’t worry, we’re not going to ask you to get out of bed an hour early just to take your eggs out of the fridge!

There are several different methods to bring your eggs to room temperature quickly, but the easiest is to simply run warm water over your eggs for 2-5 minutes until no longer cool to the touch. So go ahead, hit snooze.

Grease the Waffle Iron With Cooking Spray

Butter isn’t always better! If you use butter to grease your waffle iron, it will burn before the batter is fully cooked, leaving you with an acrid, bitter tasting waffle (not exactly the way we want to kick off our day!).

If you’re looking for how to make crispy waffles in a waffle maker, try using cooking spray instead. Cooking spray won’t burn as rapidly as butter, and will help achieve that satisfyingly crisp outside you crave. The best part? It’s a lot quicker and easier to just give your iron a good spray than attempting to brush butter evenly over all those grooves and edges.

Melt the Butter

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Butter in your batter, on the other hand, is a total necessity for rich, savory-sweet waffles. And while we talk a lot about crispiness, we can’t forget about the importance of a soft and airy inside. To achieve that delightfully spongy interior, melt your butter before mixing it in with the rest of your ingredients. Melted butter emulsifies better with the milk and eggs, and its lower water content creates a soft and moist texture.

But melting butter can also be a hot, greasy mess. The stovetop method requires extra pots and can burn easily, while the microwave causes splatters that throw off your measurements. The easiest way to melt butter is to place your butter in a microwave-safe container and cover it with a paper butter wrapper. Microwave on low until the butter is fully melted, then toss the wrapper for easy clean up!

Add a Tint of Liquor to Your Baking

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Liquor at 8 a.m. in the morning? Sign us up! This secret ingredient won’t affect your waffles' crispiness (or your sobriety, unfortunately…) but it will make a big difference in flavor. While it’s traditional to add a splash of vanilla extract to your waffle batter, we suggest swapping in some amaretto liqueur instead. This syrupy, almond-flavored liqueur is sweet, nutty, and aromatic, adding an unexpected complexity and depth to this classic breakfast.

If someone in your household has nut allergies, opt for a variety of nut-free amaretto made from apricot pits instead of almonds.

Use Buttermilk

The creamy, rich, and slightly tangy flavor of buttermilk is sure to elevate your waffles from mmm to m-m-mmm! The acidity in buttermilk also helps to create a light, fluffy texture when mixed with a base like baking soda. This reaction creates tiny bubbles of carbon dioxide gas that give your waffles an airy structure.

We suggest popping your buttermilk in the microwave for a few seconds before mixing it with your melted butter. This will prevent the butter from resolidifying, ensuring a smooth, even batter.

Ran Out of Buttermilk? Try an Alternative

We know you won’t always have buttermilk stocked in your fridge every time the waffle cravings hit. Don’t stress about running out to the store last minute! Regular whole milk works great as a substitute, and may also create a lighter, crispier waffle due to its thinner consistency.

Or, create your own buttermilk by adding one tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice to a cup of milk, and letting it sit for five minutes. Don’t want to wait? Mix 1/4 cup of milk with 3/4 cup of plain yogurt for a thick, creamy alternative.

Bake Them in the Oven for That Crisp Finish

You probably already know the trick to keep your waffles warm by placing them in a 200°F oven until you’re ready to eat. But if you set your oven a little higher, to 300°F, this trick will crisp waffles even further in addition to keeping them nice and warm. Just remember to place them directly on the oven rack so the steam can escape.

If you use a sheet pan, the steam will stay trapped and your airy and crisp waffle will go limp and soggy. A true tragedy when you’re so close to breakfast!

When the Crispy Waffle Recipe Doesn’t Turn Out Well

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Of course, there are also those mornings when you wake up with your stomach growling and don’t feel like getting out a single pot or pan. On those mornings, the last thing you want is to read an article on tips and tricks to cook up the perfectly crispy waffle.

And then there’s the worst-case scenario— you get out the pots and pans anyway, read through all the recipes, but no matter how many tips and tricks you follow on how to make waffles crispy, your waffles still turn out floppy and bland.

Oh well, no need to cry over a wonky waffle. Just heat up a Belgian Boys liege waffle, pour on some syrup and butter, and call it a job well done.

With Belgian Boys original Belgian waffles cutting your cook time down to minutes, you can get creative with your presentations. Delight your family and friends with a DIY yummy waffle bar featuring all your favorite toppings.

How to Make Crispy Waffles (2025)

FAQs

How do I get my waffles crispy? ›

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 make waffles that don't get soggy? ›

Make Sure Your Waffle Iron Is Hot

You should actually hear the batter sizzle on contact. The outer crust will immediately begin to set and crisp. Moisture in the batter quickly turns to steam and evaporates out the sides of the pan. If the iron isn't hot, none of this happens and the waffles will be soggy and squishy.

What is the secret to making good waffles? ›

Here are some tips:
  • Strike while the iron's hot. If your waffles come out pale and soft, it could be because the appliance isn't hot enough. ...
  • Whip your whites. ...
  • Opt for oil instead of butter. ...
  • Try a yeasted-waffle recipe. ...
  • Add cornstarch. ...
  • Finish them in the oven.
Apr 9, 2022

How do you're crisp waffles? ›

A: The best way to reheat waffles and keep them crispy is by using an air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to 350°F. Place the waffles in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Air fry frozen waffles for 7-9 minutes, flipping halfway.

How to make Eggo waffles crispy? ›

Place frozen waffles flat on baking sheet and heat in the oven for about 3 minutes. Flip waffles and heat for an additional 3 minutes or until crispy and hot.

How to make store bought waffles crispy? ›

Heat them up quickly to avoid soggy waffles.

"The goal is to heat them up quickly so they get crispy, not soggy." This means that whatever cooking method you choose, your waffles should go straight from the freezer to the heat source. Allowing them to thaw or cooking them slowly may result in a soft, floppy waffle.

How do you keep waffles crisp while making more? ›

Here are some other ways to keep the sogginess at bay:
  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

Why do my waffles turn out like pancakes? ›

Keeping the fat content low and using water instead of oil to thin the mixture can help your waffle mix behave and taste more like pancake batter. The fat helps waffles produce a crispy crust, which is perfect for waffles but not so much pancakes.

Should you let waffle batter rest? ›

Let the batter rest for about 30 minutes.

The resting time allows the batter to thicken and the gluten to relax so you get that really tender and fluffy waffle interior rather than chewy waffles. (Here's a good article on what's happening while batter is resting, if you're curious).

How important are eggs in waffles? ›

In cakes, muffins, cookies, pancakes, waffles, doughs and many other baked goods, whole eggs are used as a binder. Eggs are natural binders, helping hold all other baking ingredients together and increasing the viscosity of batters and doughs.

Are waffles meant to be crispy? ›

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).

How can I improve my waffles? ›

  1. Bacon! ...
  2. A handful of blueberries or other small or sliced berries.
  3. Miniature chocolate chips. ...
  4. Miniature cinnamon chips. ...
  5. Peanut butter (about 1/4 cup peanut butter for every cup of flour). ...
  6. 1/2 cup cocoa with 1/3 cup sugar.
  7. 1 cup crushed pineapples (drained well); top finished waffles with whipped cream and coconut flakes.
Aug 20, 2014

What is waffle crisp? ›

Waffle Crisp is a breakfast cereal made by Post Consumer Brands, which contains maple syrup–flavored corn cereal bits in a waffle shape. It was first launched in 1996.

How to stop waffles from going soggy? ›

If you are feeding a large group and wish to keep waffles warm and not allow them to get soggy, place them on a cooling rack atop a baking pan in a warm to hot oven ( or right on the oven rack if it's clean and you don't mind crumbs.) It allows the air to circulate keeping them crisp while also keeping them hot.

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

Set your oven to warm or 200 degrees. place a cooking rack on a cookie sheet and place in the oven before you begin to make the batter. Then as you make each batch, place on the rack in the oven. This allows warm air to circulate around the waffles and will keep them warm and crisp until you are ready to eat.

How do you keep waffles crispy for catering? ›

As you are cooking, simply transfer each finished waffle from your waffle maker to the wire rack. That's it! 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.

Why are my waffles flat? ›

If your waffles come out flat, it could be either insufficient heat, dry batter, insufficient batter in the iron, or batter that has been allowed to sit too long prior to cooking.

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