Waffle House waffles have a distinct appeal. The edges are crisp and lacy, the center stays tender, and they are not overly sweet. This easy copycat recipe brings the diner experience home, but it starts the night before, so the batter can fully hydrate and develop a better texture. One bite makes it clear the wait is worth it.
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What makes these so good?
Bring the Waffle House restaurant experience home with this copycat Waffle House Waffles recipe. You know you already love the incredible waffles from Waffle House, with their extra-crispy edges and tender, fluffy centers. These waffles are delicious enough to enjoy with nothing more than sliced fruit, but aren’t too sweet to enjoy drenched in butter and real maple syrup.
Serve them for a celebration-worthy breakfast or as breakfast-for-dinner comfort food. One bite, and it’s clear that needing to start the recipe the night before is more than worth it.
Waffle House Waffles ingredients and their roles in this recipe
For copycat Waffle House Waffles, you’ll need:
- All-purpose flour – provides the structural gluten for these waffles.
- Cornstarch – lightens the waffle batter and weakens the gluten, resulting in a fluffier center.
- White granulated sugar– sweetens the waffle batter and helps the waffles develop a golden color when cooked.
- Baking soda – reacts with the buttermilk, giving the waffles a fluffy, tender texture.
- Baking powder – provides more rise than baking soda and buttermilk alone.
- Salt – enhances the taste of the other ingredients in the recipe.
- Egg – adds richness and contributes to the waffles’ soft, fluffy interior. Helps to bind the batter.
- Half-and-half – boosts the fat content of the waffles for that melt-in-your-mouth characteristic of Waffle House Waffles.
- Buttermilk – gives the waffles a tang and, when combined with other ingredients, helps them stay fluffy.
- Vanilla extract deepens the waffle’s flavor profile.
- Unsalted butter – adds richness to the waffles and helps prevent sticking to the waffle iron.
How to make Waffle House Waffles
To prepare the batter for these copycat Waffle House Waffles:
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix well and break up any clumps.
- In a separate medium mixing bowl, whisk together the egg, half-and-half, buttermilk, and vanilla extract.
- Melt the unsalted butter and slowly add it to the wet ingredients while mixing constantly.
- Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients.
- Use a rubber spatula to gently combine everything. Small lumps in the batter are okay, but dry patches are not. Be careful not to overmix at this point.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
To make the waffles:
- Take out the batter and place it on the counter. It will be thicker than the night before because the flour will be fully hydrated. If it is way too thick, you can stir in a tablespoon of half-and-half, but don’t make it too thin.
- Heat the waffle iron until hot. Remember, you will also need to fully reheat the waffle iron between waffles for the best results.
- Scoop the recommended amount of batter onto your waffle iron (typically between 1/2 and 2/3 cup) and close the machine.
- Cook until the waffle stops steaming, and the exterior is golden brown.
- Reheat the waffle iron and repeat with the remaining dough.
What to serve with Copycat Waffle House Waffles
You can enjoy any of your favorite breakfast sides with these waffles. If you want to try something now, below are three exceptional recipes you can try.
Easy Copycat Dunkin’s Snackin’ Bacon – These thick-cut, smoky bacon strips are coated in brown sugar and fresh-ground black pepper before baking for the perfect balance of sweet and savory. Easy to make, and almost impossible to resist, Dunkin’ Snackin’ Bacon may be the ultimate breakfast side.
McDonald’s Fruit and Yogurt Parfait – Tangy, fruity, crunchy, and sweet, the Fruit and Yogurt Parfait from McDonald’s has everything you want from a light breakfast treat. The layers of vanilla yogurt, mixed berries, and granola make this parfait utterly irresistible alongside a golden waffle.
Authentic Vietnamese Coffee – Coffee is an important part of breakfast, and if you want the boldest coffee that doesn’t require an expensive machine, Vietnamese coffee is the answer. Vietnamese coffee delivers a robust brew with a cheap cup-top brewer. Add condensed milk for a hit of sweetness and the full Vietnamese coffee experience.
Storing and reheating leftovers
Refrigerator Storage: Cool cooked waffles completely, then stack with parchment between them in a food-safe bag for up to 3 days.
Reheating Method: Reheat directly on the oven rack in a 350-degree Fahrenheit oven or toaster oven until hot and crisp. You can also toast from chilled or frozen.
Freezing: Freeze waffles in a single layer, then stack with parchment and store in a freezer bag for up to 1 month.
Love Waffle House? Try these copycat recipes!
More copycat breakfast favorites
Check out more of my easy recipes for breakfast and the best restaurant copycat recipes right here on CopyKat!
Waffle House Waffles
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg lightly beaten
- 1 cup half-and-half
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
Instructions
- Place the flour, cornstarch, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl and whisk to combine. Make sure the cornstarch is evenly distributed with no clumps.
- In a separate bowl, combine the egg, half-and-half, buttermilk, and vanilla and whisk until smooth. Slowly drizzle in the melted butter while whisking constantly to prevent it from solidifying when it hits the cold dairy.
- Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients. Stir gently with a rubber spatula just until combined. Do not overmix. It is perfectly fine (and preferred) if small lumps remain in the batter.
- Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator overnight.
- The next morning, preheat your waffle iron. To achieve a golden-brown crust, lightly brush the waffle iron plates with melted butter or spray with cooking spray before adding the batter.
- Scoop approximately 1/2 to 2/3 cup of batter (depending on your iron size) onto the preheated waffle iron plate. Close the iron and cook until the steam stops rising, about 4 to 6 minutes. The waffles should be golden and crispy on the outside but tender on the inside.
Notes
- Pecans – sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of pecans over the waffle when you pour it into the waffle maker for their famous pecan waffles.Â
- Chocolate Chips – sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of chocolate chips over the waffle after you have poured the batter into the waffle maker for the chocolate chips version.
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