Clean Eating Belgian Waffles Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Are Belgian waffles healthy? ›

Let's be honest: Waffles may be delicious, but they aren't exactly good for you. They're usually made with ingredients that nutritionists say to limit, such as white flour, butter, and lots of sugar. A Belgian waffle from IHOP, for example, has 590 calories, 29 grams of fat, and 17 grams of sugars.

Belgian waffles are beloved for their extra-deep pockets—the better for filling with butter, jam, or maple syrup. They are often thicker than their American counterparts, and made with a yeasted batter and crunchy pearl sugar.

Not waiting until the iron heats up properly means your waffles will cook, but never achieve that satisfyingly crisp exterior. Overworking the batter will leave your waffles dense and chewy instead of light and airy. And stacking even the most perfect waffles will cause them to become soggy and limp in minutes.

A 6-ounce waffle at Bob Evans “costs” 340 calories, while Denny's Belgian waffle platter will run you more than 600 calories — before adding syrup, butter or fruit. French toast, though, is typically the least healthy choice. Denny's French toast platter has more than 1,200 calories.

On average waffles are 14% fat, versus pancakes, which are 10%. Waffles contain less sugar at 2%, while pancakes press it up with 15%. Waffles are in the lead over pancakes with higher calorie, cholesterol, and salt figures. So, waffles are more likely to kill you, and that gives them an extra point.

Sugar, salt, and vanilla extract: Make our waffles taste amazing. I keep the sugar amount low since I love pouring maple syrup on top, but you can increase the sugar for sweeter waffles. Vegetable oil: My favorite fat for these waffles.

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 is a real Belgium waffle? ›

Belgian waffles are usually thicker than their American counterparts. 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.

Set your oven to warm or 200 degrees. place a cooking rack on a cookie sheet and place in the oven before you begin to make the batter. Then as you make each batch, place on the rack in the oven. This allows warm air to circulate around the waffles and will keep them warm and crisp until you are ready to eat.

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.

Belgian waffles start with a yeasted batter, require a leavening agent and tend to include more butter, milk and sugar. If you try to make the Liege style, larger sugar granules are added for more crunch. Traditional or American waffles often substitute yeast with baking powder and do not sit overnight.

It creates waffles that are crisp on the outside, tender inside. Using vegetable oil instead of melted butter – once my go-to for homemade waffle batter – makes your waffles light and airy, not dense. Folding whipped egg whites into the batter also keeps the waffles light and fluffy.

The Difference Between Belgian Waffles and Regular Waffles

Belgian waffles have extra-deep pockets—the better for filling with butter, jam, maple syrup, or whipped cream. They're sometimes made with egg whites to give them their signature crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside texture.

Unfortunately, this breakfast favorite isn't considered a very healthy food choice. Waffles are often made with ingredients that most dieticians suggest limiting in our diets such as refined flour, sugar, butter, and oil, as sugar and white flour can contribute to obesity and insulin resistance (via Healthline).

Face it, traditional waffles are unhealthy. The delicious combination of sugar, butter, and even more sugar is guaranteed to make you gain weight fast. However, it's good to have treats occasionally as diets won't last if you don't enjoy them.