Crispy Belgian Waffles

Jul 10, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Breakfast Pancakes waffles french toast Vanilla: Beans Medium

A stack of golden crispy belgian waffles on a plate with a pat of butter and the toppings from the recipe

Crispy Belgian waffles with a tender crumb, enriched with yeast and vanilla bean for a light, airy texture and deep flavor, finished with a dusting of powdered sugar.

Prep 30 min

Cook 15 min

Cooling 1 hr

Total 2 hr 45 min

Yield 6 waffles

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

waffles

2 ¼ cups (270.0 g)all-purpose flour
¼ cup (50.0 g)granulated sugar
½ tsp (2.0 g)fine sea salt
2 ¼ tsp (7.0 g)active dry yeast
¾ cup (180.0 ml)whole milk, warm (about 110°F/43°C)
2.0 large (100.0 g)eggs, separated
⅓ cup (75.0 g)unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1.0vanilla bean, split and scraped
¼ tsp (1.0 g)vanilla bean powder or pure vanilla extract
2.0 tbsp (15.0 g)powdered sugar, for dusting

Make it at home

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Instructions

In a small bowl, combine warm whole milk, yeast, and 1 tablespoon of the granulated sugar. Stir gently and let it sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy and activated.
In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, remaining sugar, and fine sea salt.
Add the yeast mixture, egg yolks, melted butter, vanilla bean seeds, and vanilla powder or extract to the dry ingredients. Mix until combined into a smooth batter.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean towel and let the batter rise in a warm spot for 1 hour until doubled in size and bubbly.
In a separate bowl, whip the egg whites to stiff peaks using an electric mixer.
Gently fold the whipped egg whites into the risen batter until no large streaks remain, being careful to maintain as much air as possible for lightness.
Preheat the Belgian waffle iron and lightly grease it with melted butter or nonstick spray.
Ladle the batter onto the hot waffle iron (about 1/2 cup per waffle). Close the lid and cook for 4-6 minutes, until waffles are golden brown and crisp on the outside.
Carefully remove waffles and keep warm on a wire rack. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
Serve crispy Belgian waffles plain or with fresh fruit, whipped cream, or maple syrup as desired.

Tips

Using yeast instead of baking powder for leavening creates a lighter, crispier waffle with a subtle yeasty flavor complementing the vanilla.
Scraping the seeds from a real vanilla bean along with vanilla powder intensifies the vanilla aroma more than extract alone.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make crispy belgian waffles?

Plan on 30 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cooking, plus 2 hours to rise and chill. The recipe makes about 6 waffles.

How should I store crispy belgian waffles?

Store leftover waffles in a single layer in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in a toaster or oven to restore crispness.

Can I make crispy belgian waffles ahead?

Prepare the batter the night before and refrigerate after rising for up to 12 hours; bring to room temperature before folding in egg whites and cooking.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped. Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

Crispy Belgian waffles with a tender crumb, enriched with yeast and vanilla bean for a light, airy texture and deep flavor, finished with a dusting of powdered sugar.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 6 servings this recipe makes.

333 Calories / serving

13.3g Fat

44.6g Carbs

8.2g Protein

10.1g Sugar

Whole recipe (6 servings): ~1998 cal · 80g fat · 268g carbs · 49g protein · 61g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 333 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 63 min·3.7 mi·~7350 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 45 min·2.3 mi·~4500 steps
Moderate cycling 34 min·6.8 mi
Swimming laps 47 min
Jogging 33 min·2.8 mi·~5300 steps
Stair climbing 31 min·~2800 steps
Dancing 54 min
Bodyweight circuit training 34 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 77 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.