Best Buttermilk Waffles

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Folks, my family and I are huuuuuuge waffle fans! We make waffles at least once a week. And this recipe for delicious homemade Southern Buttermilk Waffles may be our new fave! #waffleaddicts

I’ve enjoyed challenging myself to come up with new and different waffle recipes over the years, such as Nutella Waffles and these Chocolate Chip Sweet Potato Waffles to name just a few.

You can also try these Honey Waffles and these festive Gingerbread Waffles. Yep. We totally love, love, love waffles, and not just for breakfast!!!

And if you’re anything like me, you’re gonna love the unexpected kick of diced jalapeño in these Southern buttermilk waffles. But for those who don’t want the heat, these are totally optional.

Why Make This Recipe

• This buttermilk waffle recipe is perfect for breakfast or brunch
• Fluffy and light inside texture while still being crispy on the outside.
• Easy to make in less than a half-hour. Serve with Strawberry Compote.
• This is seriously the best buttermilk waffle recipe. The ENTIRE family will rant and rave about them
• Made from scratch waffles are ALWAYS better than pre-made waffle mix

Ingredient Notes

• All-Purpose Flour: You can use whole wheat flour for a nuttier flavor or a gluten-free flour blend for a gluten-free option.
• Sugar: Adjust the amount of sugar to your taste. You can use brown sugar or a sugar substitute like honey or maple syrup.
• Baking Powder: Acts as a leavening agent to make the waffles rise- This is how you get fluffy waffles!
• Salt: Use a small amount to balance the sweetness. You can use sea salt or kosher salt.
• Cinnamon: Adjust the amount of cinnamon to your preference. You can also use nutmeg or other spices for variation.
• Buttermilk: If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make your own by adding a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to regular milk and letting it sit for a few minutes until it curdles.
• Eggs: Use room temperature eggs for better incorporation into the batter.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances the flavor and aroma of the waffles.
• Butter: Adds richness and a slight buttery flavor to the waffles.
• Jalapeño Peppers (optional): Adds a spicy kick to the waffles for those who enjoy the heat.

Ready to learn how to make Buttermilk Waffles? Then gather up your ingredients, and I will show you…

How To Make Buttermilk Waffles From Scratch 

Get complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

1. Preheat waffle iron.
2. In a large mixing bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
3. Pour the buttermilk, eggs, vanilla extract, and melted butter into the dry ingredients bowl. Stir until well combined.
4. Pour batter into the hot waffle iron. The amount of batter needed varies based on each waffle iron. Scoop the batter into your waffle iron in batches and cook according to the manufacturer’s directions (lean toward being a little deep) and cook until golden brown and perfectly crisp. 
5. Keep finished waffles warm while cooking the rest of the batch.

Recipe Tips

• Keep the cooked waffles warm by storing in the oven for 5-10 minutes at 200 degrees F / 94 degrees C on a wire rack on a baking sheet. 
• Lightly oil or spray the waffle iron with cooking spray before cooking each batch. 
• Want even crispier waffles? Turn the heat up on the waffle iron. Don’t worry, you won’t burn them, and they’ll still be the best waffles ever.  
• Do not open the waffle maker halfway through cooking at the risk of breaking the waffles.
• Make sure you don’t overmix the waffle batter recipe. This will make them turn out too dense. It’s ok if you have lumpy batter- This will create air pockets!

Delicious Variations

• Fruit-Infused Waffles: Add fresh or frozen berries like blueberries, raspberries, or diced strawberries to the waffle batter for a fruity burst of flavor. Sliced bananas, diced apples, or peaches also work well. Consider adding a sprinkle of cinnamon with apple waffles.
• Chocolate Lover’s Waffles: Mix in chocolate chips or chunks into the batter for a delightful chocolatey treat. White chocolate chips or dark chocolate can be used for variety.
• Nutty Waffles: Fold in chopped nuts such as walnuts, pecans, or almonds into the batter for a crunchy texture.
• Spiced Waffles: Experiment with different spices like nutmeg, ginger, or cardamom to give your waffles a unique and warming flavor profile.

Waffle Toppings

Folks, waffles are just so darn versatile. Try adding on any of these tasty toppings on your waffle stack other than the usual butter and syrup:

• Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries or any fresh fruit
• Whipped cream
• Chocolate Ganache
• Jams and Jellies
• Chocolate Chips
• Marshmallows
• This crispy Air Fryer Bacon (!)

Prep and Storage

These Buttermilk Waffles are an ideal meal prep recipe because you can make the waffles ahead of time and keep them in the refrigerator or freezer until you need them. 

• Prep Ahead – If you’re looking to prep the ingredients on the same day or the night before, you can mix the dry ingredients (from step 2) together ahead of time and store in a container. I do NOT recommend adding the wet ingredients (from step 3) as this will activate the baking powder and that should not be done until you’re ready to make the waffles. 
• Storage – Keep leftovers in an airtight container inside the fridge for 3 days.
• Freeze – Cooked waffles can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Here’s how to do it;
  • Let them cool down, and then transfer into Ziploc freezer bags.
  • Squeeze out all the extra air and seal the bags.
  • Label the bags and then lay them flat in the freezer.
• Reaheat – To enjoy, let the fluffy waffles thaw overnight. Warm them in the oven at 200 degrees F / 94 degrees C for 5-10 minutes or toss them in the toaster. 

FAQs

Serving Suggestions

• Air Fryer Bacon.
• Whipped Dalgona Coffee.
• Instant Pot Breakfast Casserole.

More Southern Recipes

• Air Fryer Fried Chicken.
• Buttermilk Pancakes.
• Southern Banana Pudding Cake.
• Easy Southern Grape Salad.
• Bourbon Buttermilk Pie.
• Southern Squash Casserole.
• Easy Southern Butter Beans.
• Candied Sweet Potatoes.

Tools Needed

• Multipurpose mixing bowls.
• Measuring spoons and cups.
• Good quality vanilla extract.
• For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.

Thank you for reading my Buttermilk Waffles recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.

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