Clean Eating Belgian Waffles Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Are Belgian waffles healthy? ›

Learn more. 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.

The ingredients for both regular waffles and Belgian waffles are similar and include flour, milk, eggs, and butter or oil. However, Belgian waffles use egg whites to give a fluffier texture. Additionally, Belgian waffles have yeast in their recipe while regular waffles use baking powder.

GoodWheat Buttermilk Pancake and Waffle Mix is healthy fiber disguised as the fluffiest pancakes you ever did eat. Think tasty, crowd-pleasing buttermilk pancakes stacked high with 8x more fiber than regular pancake and waffle mix, plus 5g protein.

So while a basic waffle might have more protein, a pancake has better macros and has 20 percent fewer calories than a waffle. Waffles also tend to have more refined sugar in them than pancakes. Amy Goodson, who worked for the Dallas Cowboys, said that “pancakes are easier to turn healthy”.

While regular old waffles are made from a typical pancake-like batter, Belgian waffles are made from a brioche dough. The secret ingredient in Belgian waffles is the pearl sugar, which gives the waffles a unique texture and slight, satisfying crunch.

Eggs are a necessary part of waffle batter, but if you want to take it up a notch, try separating the egg yolk from the egg white and whipping up something special. It takes a little more time to prepare, but if you have a few minutes, it's worth it.

Pancake batter and waffle batter contain the same essential ingredients, but there are critical differences between these breakfast foods: Ratios: Waffle batter contains more sugar, butter, and eggs than pancake batter, making it a richer batter with higher fat content.

An undeniable element of technique is involved in the flipping, timing, and surgical extraction of delicate waffles from the teeth of the iron. It also takes an experienced hand to not cram too much batter into the iron or underfill and end up with a thin, lackluster puck.

This is probably the easiest, fastest way to get a delicious maple syrup substitute: mix some jam (or jelly, or preserves, or marmalade) with a splash of water in a small pan over medium heat. Whisk until smooth, adding more water as needed until you get a nice, syrupy consistency.

What is the healthiest cooking oil for waffles? ›

One of the great things about using extra virgin olive oil in your waffle maker is that it's a healthier alternative to other cooking oils, such as vegetable oil vs olive oil or canola oil vs olive oil. Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fats, which are known to be heart-healthy and can help lower cholesterol levels.

The pearl sugar is key to their slight crunch, while the yeast and egg whites contribute to their wonderfully fluffy texture (noticeably less dense than their American counterparts). The term “Belgian waffle” also encompasses several different varieties of this European treat.

Traditional waffles are often made with buttermilk, which gives them a richer flavor than the light-as-air Belgian variety. American waffles are usually made with a smaller waffle iron that doesn't make pockets as deep as the Belgian waffle maker. Because of the waffles' thinner size, they cook faster.

On Belgium, we call it “gaufres” (in French) or “wafels” (in Flemish). This means in English just the word “waffles”.

We hate to break it to you, but pancakes and waffles are not a nutritious way to fuel your mornings. Despite their tasty profile, these comfort foods are often made with refined white flour and topped with butter and syrup, which is essentially pure sugar.

The Difference Between Belgian Waffles and Regular Waffles

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.

In a nutshell, waffles aren't the healthiest food, especially if you're on a low carb/keto diet, but there are ways to up their nutritional value. Eating whole wheat waffles or waffles made of other whole grains is one way to do this.