What’s a Waffle?

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A waffle maker is a specialized kitchen appliance consisting of two heating plates usually joined with a zipper. A special batter of flour and egg is ladled onto the lower plate and the upper plate is closed over it. After a few minutes of cooking, the result is a waffle: a light breakfast food traditionally served with fruit toppings or maple syrup. Depending on the plates used in a waffle, the waffles can be square, round or triangular in shape. Some waffle batters contain additions such as chocolate chips, dried fruit pieces, or nuts.

The earliest versions of the waffle can be traced back to the Middle Ages. Soldiers mixed a rough batter of barley and water and placed it in an iron box with long handles. By holding this rudimentary waffle directly over a fire, the soldier made a form of toasted pie. The traditional square pattern of a modern waffle was just one of several designs available in medieval times. Family crest waffle irons were also popular, along with thinner plates that provided a popular snack similar to today’s waffle cones.

Surprisingly, one of the most popular waffle varieties today, the Belgian waffle, wasn’t actually introduced until 1965. A deeper heating plate combination on a waffle maker is used to create the signature squares of a Belgian waffle, which also uses a different formula than traditional waffles. Additions such as fruit, flavored syrups, and whipped cream are often used to decorate the sweeter, lighter Belgian waffles.

Because a waffle can be so specialized, many of us leave cooking fresh waffles to the professionals and buy frozen varieties instead. But the taste and texture of a fresh waffle is hard to recreate in a toaster oven. For the authentic experience of a rich whole wheat waffle or a light Belgian waffle with strawberries, buying a home waffle maker can be a worthwhile investment. A modern waffle iron also holds flat plates and a floating hinge for making pressed sandwiches called buns.

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