Plain Waffles Recipe

Preheat and prepare

Preheat your waffle iron according to manufacturer instructions to medium-high heat. Lightly grease the plates with cooking spray or brush with melted butter just before pouring batter.

Mix dry ingredients

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour (2 cups), granulated sugar (2 tablespoons), baking powder (1 tablespoon), and salt (1 teaspoon) until evenly combined.

Mix wet ingredients

In a separate bowl or large measuring cup, beat the 2 large eggs lightly. Add the whole milk (1 1/2 cups), melted unsalted butter (1 1/4 tablespoons), and vanilla extract (1 teaspoon). Whisk until uniform.

Combine batter

Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour the wet mixture into the dry and gently stir with a spatula or whisk until just combined and no large streaks of flour remain. Do not overmix; a few small lumps are okay. Let the batter rest for 5 minutes to hydrate the flour and allow the baking powder to begin working.

Cook waffles

When the waffle iron is hot, lightly re-grease the plates if needed. Pour the recommended amount of batter for your waffle iron (typically 1/3 to 1/2 cup for standard irons) onto the center of the lower plate. Close the lid and cook until the waffle is golden brown and crisp, usually 3–5 minutes depending on your iron. Steam should largely stop escaping and the waffle should release easily when done. Transfer cooked waffles to a wire rack set in a single layer to keep them crisp while you finish the rest.

Keep waffles warm (optional)

If cooking in batches, preheat your oven to 200°F (95°C) and place the finished waffles on a baking sheet in a single layer to keep warm and crisp while you finish the remaining batter.

Serve

Serve plain waffles immediately topped with maple syrup, a pat of butter, fresh fruit, or a dusting of powdered sugar as desired.