How to Make Extra Fluffy Waffles

By Danilo Alfaro

Updated 06/13/19

Fluffy Waffles recipe
The Spruce
  • Total: 45 mins
  • Prep: 15 mins
  • Cook: 30 mins
  • Yield: 4 to 5 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
371 Calories
29g Fat
20g Carbs
9g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 5 servings
Amount per serving
Calories 371
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 29g 37%
Saturated Fat 10g 49%
Cholesterol 158mg 53%
Sodium 795mg 35%
Total Carbohydrate 20g 7%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Protein 9g
Calcium 264mg 20%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

If you want your waffles to be super fluffy, they need to be full of air. But if you try to whip air into the batter directly, you'll overwork the glutens, and instead of being fluffy, your waffles will be tough as doormats.

Fortunately, there's a solution. And as we see so often in the culinary arts, the solution involves eggs. Specifically egg whites.

How it works is, you separate the eggs, then beat the egg whites until they're fluffy as if you were making a meringue or souffle, and then gently fold the whites into the batter before spooning it onto your waffle iron.

Fresh egg whites are best for this, as opposed to pasteurized egg whites that you buy in a carton. The pasteurization process, which involves heating the egg whites at a low temperature, reduces the egg whites' ability to form stiff peaks. They'll still work, they just won't hold as much air, and they'll collapse sooner.

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Ingredients

  • 228 grams all-purpose flour (about 1 3/4 cups)
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 3/4 cups whole milk
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 ounces (1/2 stick) whole butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Fluffy Waffles recipe
     The Spruce

  2. Preheat your waffle iron to its hottest setting. Placing a cookie-sheet under it can help catch any batter drippage during cooking.

  3. Preheat oven to 200 F. (This is to keep the finished waffles warm while you continue cooking the next ones.)

  4. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.

    Fluffy Waffles recipe
     The Spruce

  5. Separate the eggs. Save the whites in a glass mixing bowl and the yolks in another.

  6. Melt the butter over low heat, then remove it and let it cool (but not solidify).

  7. Beat the yolks thoroughly. Whisk in the milk, oil, and melted butter.

    Fluffy Waffles recipe
     The Spruce

  8. Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat the egg whites until stiff. Then add the sugar and continue mixing until you get nice stiff peaks.

    Fluffy Waffles recipe
     The Spruce

  9. Add liquid ingredients to dry ingredients and mix gently until combined. Don't overmix!

    Fluffy Waffles recipe
     The Spruce

  10. Use a rubber spatula to gently fold the beaten egg whites into the batter—and again, be careful not to overmix.

    Fluffy Waffles recipe
     The Spruce

  11. Spray both surfaces of your waffle iron with cooking spray.

    Fluffy Waffles recipe
     The Spruce

  12. Ladle 1/2 to 3/4 cup (depending on your waffle iron) of batter onto the iron and close the lid. It's not unusual for a bit of batter to seep out of the edges of the iron. If there's excessive leakage, use less batter for the next waffle.

    Fluffy Waffles recipe
     The Spruce

  13. Cook until the waffle iron's indicator light shows that cooking is complete, or until the steam has stopped coming out. The finished waffle should be golden brown and crispy.

    Fluffy Waffles recipe
     The Spruce

  14. Lift the waffle out of the iron with a pair of tongs and either serve right away or transfer it to the oven to keep warm.

    Fluffy Waffles recipe
     The Spruce

  15. Enjoy!

Tips

  • We recommend that you measure your flour in grams. When it comes to baking, weighing your ingredients is much more accurate than using volume measurements like cups and pints.
  • When it comes to baking powder, make sure yours is fresh. If it's older than six months, your waffles won't be as fluffy as they should.