Craving for a warm breakfast on a Sunday morning? Brew yourself a cup of coffee or tea, and indulge in a comforting plate of waffles. Recipes of waffles are said to be one of the first recorded breakfast foods. The word “waffle” came from the Dutch “wafel,” although it was the ancient Greeks who made their cakes flat by placing them between metal plates.
Typical waffles are made with a dough or batter based cake, which is then cooked in a waffle iron. A waffle is distinct from, say, pancakes or hotcakes, because of its characteristic patterns. A waffle iron makes these delicate foods light and tender on the inside and crisp on the outside.
Waffles were once sold as street food, with vendors selling them hot and steaming, and dipped in molasses or maple syrup. Nowadays, waffles are served with syrups like honey, or with various toppings such as sugar, chocolate, and fruits like strawberries, blueberries, bananas, or peaches. Some even put crushed nuts or cinnamon powder over their waffles.
Waffles are consumed all over the world. Waffles are also not limited nowadays as breakfast options, but they can also serve as desserts as well. Some of the varieties of waffles include American waffles, prepared with baking powder, Belgian or Brussels waffles, made with yeast leavened batter, Liege waffles, which are chewier, richer, and sweeter, and even Hong Kong style waffles or grid cakes.
There are also countless ways to prepare and serve waffles. You can choose from among hundreds of ways described in recipes on cookbooks or online recipes. Whether you enjoy eating your waffles plain, topped with butter and light syrup, or rich and heavy with blueberry or chocolate sauce, you will enjoy this little piece of heaven.