Anyone who loves breakfast knows that the most important meal of the day isn’t complete without a stack of waffles on the side. Waffles are easy to make and although typically enjoyed in the morning, can make a great snack throughout the day as well as a delectable dessert.
As delicious as they may be, some people may have a hard time getting them to be the perfect consistency. One of the main issues is that their waffles come out dry. So, what’s causing the issue and how can you fix it? Keep reading to find out.
Moisture: Friend or Foe?
When it comes to making waffles, there is a fine line between too much moisture and not enough of it. Too much moisture can result in a soggy and squishy waffle, while not enough of it may be the reason why your waffles are dry.
In order to find the perfect balance, be sure to turn on your waffle maker a few minutes before you put the batter in. This way, your waffles start to cook the second they reach the iron. Any moisture in the batter will evaporate right away, which keeps your waffles from getting too soggy.
Oftentimes, waffle recipes call for buttermilk. However, buttermilk can be too heavy sometimes and will end up giving you a dense waffle. Instead of using buttermilk, you can use regular milk to make sure that your waffles end up being light and crispy.
Eggs Make a Difference

In order to create a perfectly light and fluffy waffle, use egg whites in your batter to create the ideal texture. To do this, beat your egg whites separately first until they form into peaks.
Then fold in the egg whites into the rest of the batter. Be careful not to over-mix as this causes too much air to get into the batter and results in tough waffles.
Another way to make your batter a little bit lighter is to use unsweetened cream and simply fold it into the rest of the mixture. This will create a similar result as using egg whites.
Common Mistakes Made When Making Waffles
Aside from not using enough or too much moisture and over-beating your waffle batter, there are dozens of other mistakes that you can make when making waffles.
For starters, using the wrong type of flour is never a good idea. If you use flour that has too much protein in it, you’ll end up with the opposite of a light and fluffy waffle.
Bread flour, for example, is much too heavy to use in your waffle mix. All-purpose flour is the best way to go when making waffles as it creates the right texture.
Another common mistake that people make when cooking up their waffles is forgetting to grease up their waffle makers before putting the batter in.

Unfortunately, not adding any sort of lubrication onto your waffle iron is going to cause your waffles to stick. The best thing to do is line the waffle iron with a little bit of butter or cooking spray.
If you are looking for an extra added touch to your waffles, butter will add in a nice flavor to your waffles as well as leaving your waffle with a crisp exterior.
Many people are also keen on relying on their waffle maker’s timer to know when their waffles are done. However, waffles can go from uncooked to burnt in a matter of minutes, so be sure to stick around when making waffles.
Walking away and waiting until you hear the sound indicating that your waffles are done is a surefire way to make sure that you end up with burnt waffles. Instead, rely on your senses to let you know when breakfast is ready.
Tips to Making the Perfect Waffles
If you’re looking for a way to make your waffles perfect, look no further. Simply follow these tips. It might sound counterproductive, but sticking your waffles in the oven to bake for a few minutes after they are done cooking in the waffle iron ensures they come out crispy and golden brown.
In order to do this, simply preheat your oven to 250 degrees F and then put the waffles in for five minutes. Be sure to let your waffles sit on a cooling rack for a few minutes before you eat them in order to let some of the steam evaporate so that your waffles don’t end up soggy.
Another great tip to follow is the addition of cornstarch to your waffle batter. The cornstarch is a great way to protect your waffle from getting soggy and will keep your waffles nice and crisp.

When using a waffle maker, you also want to make sure that you aren’t lifting the lid too early or before the waffle is done. If you do, you could end up ripping your waffle in half and you’ll end up having to scrape off bits and pieces of waffle from your iron before you can add in the next batch.
Again, adding butter or cooking spray to your waffle iron will ensure they don’t stick.
Waffle Recipes
Now that you have the ammo that you need to make the perfect waffles, let’s get to work! For this waffle recipe, you will need all-purpose flour, baking powder, a pinch of salt, eggs, butter, milk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and granulated sugar.
First things first; be sure to preheat your waffle iron so that it is hot and ready when you are done preparing the batter. You will also want to preheat your oven to 250 degrees F to keep your waffles warm when you’re done cooking them.
In a bowl, stir in your flour, baking powder, and salt. Then separate the eggs, placing the yolks and the egg whites into two different bowls. Beat your egg yolks while also mixing in the milk, oil, and butter, which should have been melted.
Next up, start beating your egg whites until they start to form peaks. After that’s done, you can start to mix your dry ingredients in with your wet ingredients.
Using a spatula, begin folding in the egg whites without over-mixing the batter along the way. Using a ladle, start spooning in the batter to your waffle iron, which should be warm enough to use at this point.
Your waffle should stay in the waffle iron until you see steam starting to come out of the sides of it. Carefully lift the lid of the waffle iron and remove the waffle using tongs, being careful not to burn yourself.
Final Thoughts
Waffles are a delicate but delicious food that requires a lot of attention. In order to avoid getting a dry waffle, be sure that you are balancing the moisture that goes in it.
For a fluffy waffle, use egg whites in your batter and try not to over-mix. Otherwise, you expand the gluten and create a dense finished product.
A great tip to keeping your waffles warm while serving or to make them crispier is to put them in the oven on low heat for a few minutes. Your waffles should be perfect in no time.
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.
Jessica
Saturday 3rd of September 2022
Great article but I don't see any measurements on the waffle recipe. :(