Did you know today is National Waffle Day? Finding out today was National Waffle Day got me thinking about waffles. Does your family like waffles? My family LOVES waffles for breakfast and while we don’t have them on school days, the weekend provides a great time to have waffles for breakfast occasionally. (I don’t count the frozen, boxed waffles we might eat on weekdays as real waffles.) We like to change up the recipes we use and change up the toppings too. We love topping with fruit and yogurt, peanut butter and syrup, chocolate chips and other yummy things. Sound good?

Want to celebrate National Waffle Day by making waffles? There are two things you need to make great waffles. You need a good waffle maker and a good waffle recipe. If you don’t have a good waffle maker, you can get one almost anywhere. It doesn’t take an expensive waffle maker to get good waffles. The waffle maker just needs to cook evenly and release the waffle easily. Take a look at the waffle makers on Amazon if you are in the market for a new waffle maker. If your current waffle maker sticks to the waffles a bit, use some cooking spray to help them release. Make sure you don’t overfill the waffle maker, doing that can prevent the waffle maker from cooking evenly.

If you need a good recipe to make on National Waffle Day check out the recipes below. They are a few of my family’s favorites. If you use one, let us know what you think. We love to hear from you!

Classic Crispy Waffles

Recipe makes 10 to 12 waffles

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

4 teaspoons baking powder

2 tablespoons white sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups warm milk

1/3 cup butter, melted

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, mix together flour, salt, baking powder and sugar; set aside. Preheat waffle iron to desired temperature.
2. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs. Stir in the milk, butter and vanilla. Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture and beat until blended.
3. Scoop the batter into a preheated waffle iron. Cook the waffles until golden and crisp. Serve immediately.

Whole Grain Waffles

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:

2 eggs, beaten

1 3/4 cups skim milk

1/4 cup canola oil

1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour

1/2 cup flax seed meal

1/4 cup wheat germ

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

1 tablespoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, oil, applesauce, and vanilla. Beat in the whole wheat pastry flour, flax seed meal, wheat germ, all-purpose flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Beat until the batter is smooth.
2. Preheat a waffle iron. Remember to coat with cooking spray. Scoop batter onto waffle iron and cook until crisp and golden brown.

Cinnamon Waffles

Recipe makes 3 large waffles

Ingredients:

2 egg yolks

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup buttermilk

1/4 cup butter, melted

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 tablespoon white sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 egg whites

1 pinch ground cinnamon

Directions:

1. Preheat your waffle iron.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, vanilla, buttermilk and butter until well blended. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, salt and cinnamon; stir into the buttermilk mixture. In a separate bowl, whip the egg whites with an electric mixer until stiff. Fold into the batter.
3. Scoop batter onto the hot waffle iron and cook until golden brown.