Scratch Waffles (The Best!)

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Last Updated on June 9, 2025 by Toya

See how to make the best golden, crispy Belgian-style scratch waffles in just a few minutes! These waffles are made with simple ingredients and are perfect for breakfast or if you want to enjoy something special on the weekend!

There really isn’t anything better than a fresh, crispy waffle to start your day! And my easy waffle recipe from scratch is made with the most basic ingredients like flour, eggs, and butter and a waffle maker that makes them perfectly crispy on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside.

With these yummy waffles made from scratch that are so easy to make, you’ll never need to make do with store-bought waffle mixes again!

Why You’ll Love These Scratch Waffles

• They’re Crispy & Fluffy: These scratch waffles have a crispy exterior and a light, fluffy interior and every bit is perfection!
• They’re Fresh & Homemade: They’re also made with simple, pantry staples and taste better than most store-bought options that likely have stuff you don’t want in them!
• They’re Very Customizable: You can add any mix-ins you like such as chocolate chips, fruit, or cinnamon to get the perfect waffle flavor that you actually like!
• They’re Simple & Easy: You only need a few basic ingredients, a waffle maker and a few minutes and you’ll have the easiest breakfast in a few minutes!
• They’re Crisp & Never Soggy: I know you’ve tried some waffles that came out soggy in the past. But this recipe has none of that.. You’ll get the perfect waffle texture with my easy to follow recipe!

Ingredients Needed

• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 2 large eggs
• ¼ cup unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
• Cooking spray or extra butter for the pan

Tools I Recommend For the Best Waffles

Waffle Maker: I’m using a Belgian-style waffle maker by Black and Decker that I got from amazon years ago. It’s been my go to waffle maker for years. But, you can use any waffle maker you have on hand, just keep in mind that you may need to adjust the amount of batter based on the type of waffle iron you have. You can check my tips below for some guidance.

Mixing Bowls: You need some mixing bowls to store your ingredients and to mix your batter.

Measuring Cups & Spoons: Accurate measurements are key to getting the right batter consistency for your scratch waffles. If you need a good set, this is the one I always use.

Whisk or Electric Mixer: You can use a whisk and it’ll work just fine for mixing by hand, but an electric mixer speeds things up.

How to Make Scratch Waffles

First, measure out all your ingredients for the best waffles.

Then, take a large mixing bowl and whisk together your dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. This step is crucial to ensure everything is evenly distributed throughout the batter. A quick tip here: sifting your dry ingredients is optional but can help prevent lumps and make the waffles even fluffier.

Next, in a separate bowl, lightly beat your eggs. Then add the buttermilk and melted butter to the mix. Stir gently until the mixture is smooth and well combined.

Now, combine the wet and dry ingredients. Pour the buttermilk mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients and gently stir it until it’s just combined. Don’t overmix—a few lumps are totally fine and overmixing can make the waffles tough and chewy.

Let the batter rest for about 10 minutes. This gives the flour time to relax and allows the baking powder and baking soda to do their leavening magic. You’ll notice the batter starting to bubble a bit, which means your waffles are going to come out perfectly!

While the batter is resting, prepare your waffle iron. Make sure it’s preheated and ready to go. If you’re using a waffle maker with adjustable heat, set it to medium-high, then lightly grease the waffle plates with cooking spray or a bit of butter to keep your waffles from sticking.

Once the batter is ready and your waffle maker is hot, use a ladle or a measuring cup to pour the batter onto the waffle iron. Be sure not to overfill it, because the batter will expand while cooking.

Close the waffle maker and cook until the waffles are golden and crispy—this usually takes about 3 to 5 minutes, depending on your waffle iron. If your waffle maker has an indicator light, wait for that to go off or for steam to slow down.

Once the waffles are done, carefully remove them from the waffle iron. Transfer them to a serving platter or a and repeat the process with the remaining batter.

Enjoy your fresh, crispy waffles with your favorite toppings!

Healthier Waffle Alternatives

Want some healthir alternatives for your waffles? Here are a few great ideas:

• Whole Wheat Flour: Substitute half of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour for some added fiber.
• Reduce Sugar: Cut the sugar down by half or replace it with a natural sweetener like honey or maple syrup. If you don’t want to use these, you can even use some keto friendly sweeteners here.
• Add Fiber: If you want to add some more fiber to the waffles, toss some ground flaxseeds into the mix.

Important Tips & Tricks

1. Make Sure to grease the Waffle Iron

You need to grease the waffle plates before pouring in the batter to prevent the waffles from sticking and also to help make cleanup easier. You can either use some cooking spray or some melted butter to do so. And note, that even non-stick waffle makers can benefit from a light coating of butter or some oil so that your waffles slide out easily.

Also, if you’re making multiple waffles, you may find that you need to re-grease the plates every few waffles so they don’t stick.

2. Make Sure to Preheat the Waffle Maker

It’s important to remember to preheat your waffle maker if you want crisp, golden waffles. Most waffle makers have an indicator light to show when they are ready. If your waffle iron doesn’t have this feature, test it by dropping a small amount of batter on it—it should sizzle immediately when it’s ready. Or, turn it on for 3-4 minutes before you pour in any of your batter.

3. Tailor the Batter Amount for Your Waffle Maker Type

Note: I’m using the Black and Decker Traditional Belgian-Style Waffle Maker(linked here) for this recipe. It’s my go-to for crispy, fluffy waffles. But, If you have a different waffle maker, don’t worry. You just need to adjust the batter and cooking time as needed based on your waffle maker’s size and style.

1. Belgian Waffle Maker (Thick, Deep Grid) – Use 1/2 to 3/4 cup of batter per waffle to fill the deep pockets and cook for 3-5 minutes.
2. Traditional Waffle Maker (Thin, Shallow Grid) – Use about 1/4 cup of batter per waffle and cook for 2-4 minutes.
3. Mini Waffle Maker (Small, Individual Waffles) – Use about 2 tablespoons of batter per waffle and cook for 1-2 minutes.
4. Rectangular or Square Waffle Maker – Use 1/4 to 1/2 cup of batter per waffle depending on the size of the grid and cook for 3-4 minutes.

4. Don’t Overfill the Waffle Iron

It’s important that you don’t overfill the waffle maker with batter. Too much batter can spill over, creating a mess you don’t want to clean up!