Homemade waffles and the essence of comfort food

There is some comfort food which stands the test of time. Homemade waffles are one of them.

Piping hot, fluffy, sweet… Breakfast, brunch, after a long winter walk or late night munchies. They’re a flexible comfort food friend. You can even make them fancy, for a dinner party dessert.

 

 

Liege Waffles and Brussels Waffles

I have a particularly warm and fuzzy feeling about waffles because I spent a lot of time in my early 20s in Brussels. And the street waffles were unbelievably yummy. Melt in the mouth kind of crystallised smashed sugar… These were Liege waffles – I’ll include the recipe below in case you’re looking for a recipe for waffles. Chunkier than the traditional Brussels waffles, they are perfect for cold, crisp winter sightseeing days. You eat them plain, wrapped in a small piece of wax paper.

Brussels waffles are also delicious and better suited to be covered in fresh raspberry sauce, or blackberry coulis, or shaken with powder sugar. More of a cutlery kind of homemade waffle. The recipe is also included at the bottom of this post.

 

What do you need in a homemade waffle maker?

Waffles come in all shapes and sizes. Square, rectangular, triangular, Mickey Mouse face. (It’s true…) But when I’m choosing waffles irons, I find I’m a bit of a traditionalist. I prefer the rectangular waffles and that is reflected in the waffle irons here. But I’ve included a few different shapes, in case you are more open minded than me.

Aside from the obvious things (it needs to work safely and thoroughly), I recommend being able to detach the waffle plates. It makes them so much easier to clean.

It’s also ideal to have various settings for temperature and browning control – because you might want to experiment with the waffle batter (Liege, Brussels, lighter, more yeast, more crunched up sugar and so on, wholewheat…) and the cooking time will therefore vary.

 

7 Fabulous Waffle Makers

 

1. Hamilton Beach Flip Belgian Waffle Maker with Removable Plates

This waffle maker is a great price for a solid piece of cooking equipment. The flip style of waffle iron is a great way to ensure the waffle is browned evenly, and it also adds a bit of fun to the procedure. The Hamilton Beach maker has temperature control and removable plates for easy cleaning. Some of the parts even go in the dishwasher. The handle folds up, in case you are wondering how it would ever fit in your kitchen cabinets.

 

 

2. Cuisinart Belgian Waffle Maker in stainless steel

This Cuisinart waffle maker has handy removable plates for easy cleaning and a drip tray too. You can turn the waffles over by turning the hammer handle. It has 6 settings for temperature control. As I said before, I’m a fan of the more traditional square or rectangular shaped waffles, and this machine is a lovely example.

 

 

3. Cuisinart Belgian Waffle Maker in red

If you’re looking for a simpler waffle maker, this is definitely my favorite example. It doesn’t flip, and the plates aren’t removable. But it’s a sturdy all-metal machine, and it cooks beautiful waffles in 4 minutes. The plates are rectangular and there is an easy to use temperature control. This waffle maker is much neater than the flip versions and it gets extra enthusiasm for being a beautiful color. 

 

4. KRUPS Adjustable Temperature Belgian Waffle Maker

 

I’m a big fan of Krups as a brand – our coffee maker is a Krups brand and it has literally never made a bad cup of coffee. This isn’t the most beautiful picture of the waffle maker – check out the links to see pictures of the inside – it makes sweet little square waffles. The waffle plates are detachable and dishwasher safe – so convenient after a sticky batter day. The red and green lights let you know when the temperature is ready for cooking. It has 5 temperature settings and is very slim for easy storage. 

 

5. George Foreman Multi-Plate Evolve Grill in red

I like this George Foreman waffle maker because it comes with panini plates – I like a kitchen appliance that will do more than one thing. In fact, this appliance comes with waffle plates, panini plates and grilling plates. If you’re cooking bacon paninis (another Saturday brunch favorite) it’s a great idea to be able to tilt the whole appliance so that the excess fat drains away. Obviously, the plates are detachable and there is excellent digital temperature control.

 

 

6. Oster DuraCeramic Flip Waffle Maker in candy apple red

This waffle maker has non stick natural ceramic plates, which are more durable and without a chemical coating. I love this deep red color – it’s called “Candy Apple Red”.  It has the brilliant flip action, for evenly coated waffles and the drip tray. The plates are not detachable and the handle is not the strongest, but if ceramic plate are your priority, I think this is the best option. It is simple, stores easily, and you can brown the waffles evenly. 

 

7. Hamilton Beach Belgian Waffle Maker

This is a simple design waffle maker which makes perfectly sized waffles, without being anything fancy. The plates aren’t detachable, but on the positives, it is a very neat machine and is really easy to store. Hamilton Beach is such a stylish and reliable brand – this waffle iron is great value. Perfect for Saturday brunch.

 

 

 

Homemade waffles – the recipes

One of my very favorite places to collect recipes is Smitten Kitchen. I love the food Deb creates, and I love how she writes.

She has a gorgeous recipe for Liege Waffles. And Gingerbread Waffles. And Buttermilk Waffles. And Pumpkin Waffles. Seriously, it will make you feel creative about waffles.

For a traditional Brussels Waffles recipe, you need to visit The Hungry Belgian. The author is Belgian and writes about eating these waffles with her Grandpa as a child after a trip to a museum and a ride on a tram. Love it.

If it’s a book of waffle recipes you’re after, then this book looks like a lot of fun and very useful: Will It Waffle?: 53 Irresistible and Unexpected Recipes to Make in a Waffle Iron by Daniel Shumski. It would make a great gift with a waffle maker.

 

 

 

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About the author

Elizabeth is a writer and a long time occupier of (mostly rental) small kitchens. She delights in making kitchens beautiful, and in helping you to do the same.  Over the past 10 years she has lived in an apartment above a restaurant, a tiny Victorian terrace, an Edwardian (even tinier) home, and a house with a kitchen from the 1980s. She now lives in a 1970s house with lovely natural light but very minimal cupboards.