Homestyle Waffle Recipe

Preheat and prepare

Preheat your waffle iron according to manufacturer instructions. Lightly brush or spray the plates with vegetable oil.

Mix dry ingredients

In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined.

Mix wet ingredients

In a separate bowl or large measuring cup, whisk the eggs until homogenous. Add the milk, melted butter (cooled slightly), and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; whisk to combine.

Combine batter

Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet mixture. Gently fold with a spatula or whisk until just combined—small lumps are okay. Do not overmix. Let batter rest 5 minutes to hydrate the flour and thicken slightly.

Cook waffles

Spoon or pour the recommended amount of batter for your waffle iron onto the preheated plates (usually 1/2 to 3/4 cup for a standard waffle iron). Close and cook until golden brown and crisp, about 4–6 minutes depending on your iron. Transfer waffles to a wire rack in a warm oven (200°F/95°C) to keep crisp while you finish cooking remaining batter.

Combine berries and sugar

In a medium saucepan, combine 2 cups mixed berries, 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons water. Stir to combine.

Simmer

Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the berries begin to release their juices and soften, about 5–7 minutes.

Thicken (optional)

If you prefer a thicker compote, stir the 1 teaspoon cornstarch into 1 tablespoon cold water to make a slurry. Slowly whisk the slurry into the simmering berries and cook for another 1–2 minutes until the compote thickens. Remove from heat and let cool slightly; it will thicken a bit more as it cools.

Chill and whip

Place a mixing bowl and whisk or beaters in the refrigerator for 5–10 minutes to chill (optional but helps). Pour 1 cup cold heavy cream into the chilled bowl. Add 2 teaspoons confectioners' sugar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. Whip with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until soft peaks form, about 2–3 minutes. Do not overwhip.

Stack or plate warm waffles, spoon a generous serving of mixed berry compote over each waffle, add a dollop of whipped cream, and drizzle with maple syrup and/or a pat of butter if desired. Dust with a little powdered sugar for garnish. Serve immediately.