Liege-Style Waffles

Oct 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Breakfast Pancakes waffles french toast Vanilla: Paste Medium

A stack of golden liege-style waffles on a plate with a pat of butter and the toppings from the recipe

These Liege-Style waffles feature a rich, brioche-like dough with pearl sugar caramelized on the outside and a deep vanilla aroma from real vanilla bean, creating a chewy yet crisp texture that's perfect for a special breakfast or dessert.

Prep 30 min

Cook 15 min

Cooling 30 min

Total 2 hr 15 min

Yield 5 waffles

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

waffles

3 ¼ cups (400.0 g)all-purpose flour
2.0 tsp (7.0 g)active dry yeast
⅓ cup (80.0 ml)warm whole milk
3.0 large (150.0 g)eggs
½ cup (100.0 g)granulated sugar
1.0 tsp (5.0 g)pure vanilla bean paste
1.0 tsp (5.0 g)fine sea salt
12.0 tbsp (170.0 g)unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup (150.0 g)pearl sugar for Liege waffles

Make it at home

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Instructions

Warm the milk until lukewarm (about 100°F/38°C). In a small bowl, sprinkle the yeast over the warm milk and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes until foamy.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine the flour, sugar, salt, and vanilla bean paste. Beat the eggs lightly and add them to the flour mixture.
Add the foamy yeast mixture to the bowl. Mix on low speed until the dough just comes together.
Add the softened butter in batches, mixing well after each addition until the dough is smooth, elastic, and shiny. This may take about 8 to 10 minutes of kneading. The dough should be soft but not sticky.
Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let it proof in a warm place for 60 minutes, until it has doubled in size.
Turn the risen dough onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead in the pearl sugar with a few folds, being careful not to crush the sugar crystals.
Divide the dough into 5 equal portions (about 130 g / 4.5 oz each). Shape each portion into an oval or round ball. Cover loosely and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to firm up.
Preheat a Belgian waffle iron and lightly grease it. Place one dough ball in the waffle iron and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes, or until the waffle is golden brown and caramelized with deep amber spots from the pearl sugar.
Carefully remove the waffle and let it cool on a wire rack for a few minutes before serving. Repeat with the remaining dough balls.

Tips

For best vanilla flavor, use real vanilla bean paste or scrape a whole vanilla bean into the dough.
Let the dough rest chilled before cooking to prevent the pearl sugar from melting too quickly and losing its texture.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make liege-style waffles?

Plan on 30 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cooking, plus 1 hour 30 minutes to rise and chill. The recipe makes 5 waffles.

How should I store liege-style waffles?

Store cooled waffles in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 1 month. Reheat in a toaster or waffle iron to restore crispness.

Can I make liege-style waffles ahead?

Prepare the dough a day ahead, refrigerate after shaping, and cook waffles fresh the next morning.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1 tsp pure vanilla bean paste (5 g). 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.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 5 servings this recipe makes.

788 Calories / serving

31.8g Fat

113.0g Carbs

13.2g Protein

51.8g Sugar

Whole recipe (5 servings): ~3940 cal · 159g fat · 565g carbs · 66g protein · 259g sugar

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

Per serving · 788 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 149 min·8.7 mi·~17450 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 107 min·5.4 mi·~10700 steps
Moderate cycling 80 min·16.0 mi
Swimming laps 110 min
Jogging 77 min·6.4 mi·~12300 steps
Stair climbing 73 min·~6550 steps
Dancing 128 min
Bodyweight circuit training 80 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 183 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.

Made with VanillaGoods

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