French Waffles (Gaufres)

Difficulty	Time	Serves
★ Easy	25 min	10–12 waffles

French breakfast to it's best! W
affles are called "gaufres" in french and if you have never tried them before or were looking for a basic recipe that it's easy and works very well, then try this one :)

Requires a waffle iron (electric waffle maker).

Classic French waffles — light, slightly crisp on the outside and soft inside. Perfect for breakfast or brunch with sweet toppings. Requires a waffle iron (electric waffle maker).

INGREDIENTS

• 300 g all-purpose flour (T45 or T55)
• 10 g baking powder
• 50g sugar
• 2 eggs
• 500 ml milk
• 100 g unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt.
2. Add wet ingredients: Make a well in the center and add the eggs and melted butter. Gradually pour in the milk while whisking, until the batter is smooth and lump-free. Stir in the vanilla if using.
3. Adjust consistency: The batter should be smooth and pourable, similar to heavy cream—coating a spoon lightly while still flowing easily. Adjust with a splash of milk to loosen it or a spoonful of flour if it’s too thin.
4. Rest the batter (recommended): Cover and let rest for 30–60 minutes for a lighter texture and improved flavor.
5. Preheat waffle iron: Heat the waffle iron until fully hot. Lightly grease if needed.
6. Cook waffles: Pour batter into the center without overfilling. Close and cook for 3–5 minutes, until golden brown and crisp, and the steam has mostly stopped.
7. Serve: Remove carefully and serve warm with your choice of toppings.

TIPS & VARIATIONS

• Do not overfill waffle iron to avoid overflow.
• Resting batter improves softness and reduces gluten toughness.
• For extra crisp waffles: cook a little longer and cool the waffles on a wire rack instead of stacking them.
• Serve warm with icing (powdered) sugar, jam, chocolate spread, or the traditional French pairing of salted butter and sugar. For a more elaborate presentation, garnish with fresh fruit, whipped cream, honey, or maple syrup.
• These French waffles freeze beautifully! Once completely cooled, place them in a well-sealed freezer bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. To enjoy them warm again, reheat them in a toaster, waffle iron, air fryer, or a 350°F (175°C) oven until heated through and lightly crisp. For the best texture, let frozen waffles thaw for a few minutes before placing them in a hot waffle iron, or reheat them straight from frozen over gentle heat for a little longer. They’ll taste almost as good as freshly made!

[Originally published on 10/8/22 1:29 PM]