Clean Eating Belgian Waffles Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Are Belgian waffles healthy? ›

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.

For one, waffle batter has a little bit more sugar, butter, and eggs than pancake batter. This helps make the waffles richer because they'll have a higher fat content. Alternatively, the pancake mix is thinner and easy to pour. The texture is another part of the equation.

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.

So while a basic waffle might have more protein, a pancake has better macros and has 20 percent fewer calories than a waffle. Waffles also tend to have more refined sugar in them than pancakes. Amy Goodson, who worked for the Dallas Cowboys, said that “pancakes are easier to turn healthy”.

Though Americans think of waffles as a breakfast food, Belgians generally have them as a late-afternoon snack. Keep in mind that, while Belgians eat lunch when we do, they eat dinner later.

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.

Kellogg's® Eggo® Buttery Maple Belgian Style Street Waffles are inspired by classic street food from Liege, Belgium. These ready-to-eat waffles are full of baked-in flavor and made with sweet brioche dough, real butter, and no artificial flavors or colors.

What do Belgians call Belgian waffles? ›

The 3 waffle types associated with Belgian Waffles in Belgium (not US) are: Brussels waffle, the Liège waffle and the stroopwafel.

Brussels waffles are made with a yeast-leavened batter, which makes them lighter and crispier. They are rectangular with defined edges, and they have deeper pockets or holes. Liege waffles are made with a thicker batter that is similar to bread dough, and they have uneven edges.

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.

A waffle mixture has a thicker consistency for better results. It's preferable to use a thin and runny mixture for pancakes because the pan can hold it. Add more sugar and more fat, and ensure thick batter consistency for a perfect waffle.

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. This means that pancakes and waffles are high in calories, fat, and sugar, yet lacking in protein and fiber.

A traditional waffle is made of refined grains and is low in fiber. Also, the total fat and saturated fat content in both frozen waffles and homemade waffles are high. Plus, waffles have a high sodium content.

A restaurant serving of Belgian waffles topped with whipped cream and syrup can have as many as 530 calories. A single large Belgian waffle made using a baking-powder batter and regular all-purpose flour has about 304 calories before you even add any toppings.