Clean Eating Belgian Waffles Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Are Belgian waffles healthy? ›

Learn more. Let's be honest: Waffles may be delicious, but they aren't exactly good for you. They're usually made with ingredients that nutritionists say to limit, such as white flour, butter, and lots of sugar. A Belgian waffle from IHOP, for example, has 590 calories, 29 grams of fat, and 17 grams of sugars.

Many Belgians are waffle purists, enjoying them with nothing but a dusting of powdered sugar. We recommend trying a waffle or two this way to have the experience in its unadulterated form…but don't skip chocolate, caramel, Nutella, all sorts of fresh fruits, and whipped cream if that's your thing.

The Difference Between Belgian Waffles and Regular Waffles

Belgian waffles have extra-deep pockets—the better for filling with butter, jam, maple syrup, or whipped cream. They're sometimes made with egg whites to give them their signature crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside texture.

Ratios: Waffle batter contains more sugar, butter, and eggs than pancake batter, making it a richer batter with higher fat content. Pancake batter contains more milk than waffle batter.

A 6-ounce waffle at Bob Evans “costs” 340 calories, while Denny's Belgian waffle platter will run you more than 600 calories — before adding syrup, butter or fruit. French toast, though, is typically the least healthy choice. Denny's French toast platter has more than 1,200 calories.

Waffles can be a part of a healthy breakfast if they are made with whole grains, low-fat milk, and topped with fruit instead of high-calorie syrups or whipped cream. However, waffles made with refined flour and high-fat ingredients can be high in calories, sugar, and saturated fat.

Waffles are not breakfast food in Belgium but rather eaten in the afternoon as a snack. Some eat the waffle hot or cold depending on where you go.

Yeast-leavened batter: Belgian waffles are made with a yeast-leavened batter, which makes them rise and gives them a light and airy texture. The yeast also adds a slightly tangy flavor that complements the sweetness of the waffles.

Through the decades, Belgium's waffle styles diversified, resulting in two distinct groups – the crunchier, bread-like Liege waffle and a softer, lighter Brussels variety made with a yeast-leavened batter. Today, the Liege waffle incorporates crystals of pearl sugar for more crunch and caramelization on the outside.

Famous Belgian Waffles was established September 16, 2012. Without skipping a beat, after 5 productive years, Famous Belgian Waffles now has more than 500 branches including 1 in San Diego, California and counting. It has grown from kiosks to semi coffee shop concept.

Are Eggo waffles Belgian waffles? ›

Enjoy warm, Belgian-style waffles at home with Eggo® Thick & Fluffy Waffles. They have the classic Eggo® flavor you love, with deep pockets to fill with all of your favorites.

We have two types of waffles in Belgium: the Liege waffle and the Brussels waffle. And you should know that the difference is very important for all true waffle lovers. They are both yeast waffles, but that is really where the similarities end.

The yeast, along with malt, gives the waffle a deeper flavor but also a lighter texture. Crispy on the outside, but custard-like in the center, the Belgian Waffle is light and airy. Traditional waffles tend to be quite heavy, often made with traditional pancake batter thrown into a waffle iron.

If you don't have a Belgian waffle maker, you can use a regular waffle maker. It likely won't create the larger, thicker, deeper grooves, but you may still end up with fluffier waffles. Keep in mind that the time it takes to make Belgian waffles may vary depending on serving size.

Which Is the Better Choice? Without any altercations to the typical recipe, pancakes have 20% less calories than waffles due to their small nature. Because pancakes are individually cooked on a grilled or skillet, one is able to control the size of a pancake.

We hate to break it to you, but pancakes and waffles are not a nutritious way to fuel your mornings. Despite their tasty profile, these comfort foods are often made with refined white flour and topped with butter and syrup, which is essentially pure sugar.

On average waffles are 14% fat, versus pancakes, which are 10%. Waffles contain less sugar at 2%, while pancakes press it up with 15%. Waffles are in the lead over pancakes with higher calorie, cholesterol, and salt figures. So, waffles are more likely to kill you, and that gives them an extra point.