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!

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Crispy Vegan Belgian Waffles

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

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!

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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).

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

FAQs

What is the secret of making crispy waffles? ›

You can substitute whole grain flours like whole wheat or spelt flour, but expect the waffles to be more dense. Cornstarch: The secret ingredient for making the crispiest waffles. Cornstarch guarantees that the waffles will be perfectly crisp and tender.

How do you keep Belgian waffles crispy? ›

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.

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 makes Belgian waffles so good? ›

The Difference Between Belgian Waffles and Regular Waffles

These Belgian beauties are made with a recipe that includes yeasted batter and crunchy pearl sugar. Belgian waffles have extra-deep pockets—the better for filling with butter, jam, maple syrup, or whipped cream.

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 do Belgian waffles need to be flipped? ›

Their process of operation works as follows: When you pour the batter onto the waffle maker, it starts to spread and cook on the bottom plates. Then you have to flip the machine over allowing direct contact so that the batter pours onto the top plates. This ensures both sides of the waffle brown evenly and cook faster.

Is butter or oil better for waffles? ›

While butter is typically the fat of choice for any pan-fried cake, vegetable oil or rapeseed oil gives the waffle a better crisp. This is due to the difference in water content between butter and any neutral oil.

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.

How do you're crisp waffles? ›

Set the temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and heat for 4 minutes**. Remove the waffle onto a plate and allow to cool for 30-60 seconds. This allows re-crisping of the outside of the waffle to occur.

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.

What are the two types of Belgian waffle? ›

Through the decades, Belgium's waffle styles diversified, resulting in two distinct groups – the crunchier, bread-like Liege waffle and a softer, lighter Brussels variety made with a yeast-leavened batter. Today, the Liege waffle incorporates crystals of pearl sugar for more crunch and caramelization on the outside.

What is the difference between Swedish and Belgian waffles? ›

Swedish waffles are flatter than the more well-known Belgian waffle and are normally made in a special waffle maker which makes the waffles heart-shaped. Try our Swedish waffle recipe to make your waffles extra crispy and delicious!

Why do Belgian waffles taste different than regular waffles? ›

While regular old waffles are made from a typical pancake-like batter, Belgian waffles are made from a brioche dough. The secret ingredient in Belgian waffles is the pearl sugar, which gives the waffles a unique texture and slight, satisfying crunch.

Why are Belgian waffles crunchy? ›

While regular old waffles are made from a typical pancake-like batter, Belgian waffles are made from a brioche dough. The secret ingredient in Belgian waffles is the pearl sugar, which gives the waffles a unique texture and slight, satisfying crunch.

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