Making waffles in the morning for breakfast can be a real treat that everyone will enjoy. If you’re just getting used to making them, they might not turn out perfectly every single time.
It’s not that waffles are really that hard to make, but sometimes people will have problems getting them to turn out just how they want. For example, you might be noticing that they aren’t rising properly.
Why is this happening and what can you do to try to turn things around? Keep reading to learn more about why your waffles might not be rising.
Once you’ve figured things out, you’ll be able to get back to making a scrumptious breakfast.
1 – You’re Using Yeast and You Don’t Know How
One of the more common reasons why waffles won’t rise is that people decide to use a recipe that includes yeast. If you’re using a more complex waffle recipe such as this, you’re going to want to understand how to work with yeast.
Using yeast in a recipe generally requires it to be prepared, and if you’re using proofing yeast, it’s going to take eight hours to be ready. This means that you have to prepare things the night before you plan to make your waffles.
Take a look at the recipe that you’re using as well as the type of yeast you have. Did you try to use yeast without preparing it properly?
If this is the issue, that is the reason why your waffles are not rising as they normally would. Thankfully, you can fix things by following the recipe to the letter and giving the yeast the time that it needs.
You might still need to throw out your failed batch of waffles, of course, but you know what to do for next time. Always be careful when working with yeast because it isn’t always as easy as some people are used to.
2 – Other Recipe Errors
Other recipe errors can also cause problems with your waffles. If you don’t read the recipe carefully, it’s easy to make little mistakes that will throw your waffles off.
For example, you could use too much of an ingredient or you could use way less than you’re supposed. Not having the batter made with the right mix of ingredients is going to make things turn out wrong.
If you’re using a standard recipe, it isn’t likely going to be too difficult to mix things up. Waffles aren’t hard to make, but you do need to get things right all the same.
Slow down and take the time to read each step of the recipe that you have decided to follow. Once you’ve read things, it’s going to be important to double-check to make sure that you haven’t made any errors.
Being careful in this way and ensuring that you’re doing things right is the best way to go about things when you don’t know a recipe by heart. It minimizes the risk of human error and makes it more likely that your waffles will turn out nicely.
3 – Forgetting to Lighten the Batter
Lightening the batter is an important part of the process when making waffles as well. If you haven’t been making waffles for too long, you might be forgetting to do this.
Waffles are supposed to turn out as light and fluffy as possible. Sometimes people think that they aren’t rising right simply because they turn out way too dense.
When your waffles are dense, it means that you’re not lightening the batter properly. To lighten the batter, you’re going to need to separate egg yolks from egg whites and then whip your egg whites to froth them up.
With the egg whites whipped, you’re going to need to just fold them back into the batter. Some people lighten batter differently by just folding some unsweetened cream in, but you can choose whichever method sounds right for you.
4 – Flour Mishaps
Flour is another important ingredient that will ensure that waffles turn out right. If you use the wrong type of flour, you might get strange results, though.
Some types of flour simply aren’t good for waffles because they have too much protein structure. This means that using something such as bread flour is going to be a terrible idea for making waffles.
Pastry flour should work just fine for making waffles and you can also use all-purpose flour. Just try to stick to those so that you can ensure that they will turn out how you want them to.
When you use the right flour, it’s a lot easier to get the consistency and texture that you desire. Next time that you go to make waffles, it’s going to be wise to pay closer attention to the type of flour you’re using.
5 – Waffle Maker Issues
Occasionally, people will have waffles fail to rise or turn out right because of waffle maker issues. Most people don’t make waffles every single morning, and this means that their waffle makers go unused for long periods of time.
If something is amiss with your waffle maker, it might be hard to tell at first. Something being off with the waffle maker could easily cause your waffles to turn out wrong, though.
It’s also going to be wise to use your own judgment to determine when waffles are done. Many waffle makers have functions to tell you how long it’s supposed to take, but using your best judgment is typically better.
You Could Just Use a Store-Bought Mix
If you want to have things turn out right and you don’t wish to encounter issues, you could just use a store-bought mix. Some waffle enthusiasts will consider using a store-bought mix to be sacrilege, but a lot of people go this route.
These pre-made mixes are decidedly easy to make and there won’t be nearly as many steps to worry about. It might not be the same as making waffles from scratch, but it would still be good.
Not everyone is a culinary expert, and some people don’t have a lot of time to worry about this and that. If you’d like to have the simplest experience that you can while still enjoying waffles, this option is for you.
It’s also great that waffle mix is so inexpensive because you can buy it the next time you’re at the grocery store without it being a big deal. Read through the rest of the advice and then make your decision about which route to go.
Enjoy Your Waffles
Enjoy your waffles now that you know more about how to get them to turn out right. It’s good to have the right advice about things so that you can correct the mistakes that you’ve been making.
Before too long, you’re going to be an expert waffle maker if you just keep at it. Waffles are a delicious breakfast treat, and it’s nice to have them turn out to perfection so that the whole family can enjoy them.
Even if you can’t have waffles for breakfast every single morning, it’s going to be good to make them with love fairly often. Now that you’ve read all of the advice above, your waffle-making experience is going to be so much more pleasant.
Sarah is the founder of Baking Kneads, LLC, a blog sharing guides, tips, and recipes for those learning how to bake. Growing up as the daughter of a baker, she spent much of her childhood learning the basics in a local bakery.