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.

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.

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.

According to Waffle Makers Hub, the main difference between a true waffle mix and a pancake mix is the sugar and fat content. Waffle mixes contain more of both because the sugar caramelizes and the fat cooks off to create a crispy, golden treat.

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”.

Texture – In Belgian waffles, the eggs are separated. The yolks are whisked together with the other wet ingredients, while the whites are whipped to stiff peaks and then folded into the batter at the end. This creates a texture that is crisp on the outside and light and tender on the inside.

We have two types of waffles in Belgium: the Liege waffle and the Brussels waffle. And you should know that the difference is very important for all true waffle lovers. They are both yeast waffles, but that is really where the similarities end.

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. Today, the Liege waffle incorporates crystals of pearl sugar for more crunch and caramelization on the outside.

What time of day to eat Belgian waffles. If you're anything like most people, your mind goes directly to breakfast when you think about waffles. Not so with the Belgians. Waffles are a dessert or tea time treat enjoyed in that period of time that's long after lunch but too early for dinner.

Do Belgians put syrup on their waffles? ›

While most Americans serve their waffles with butter and syrup, Belgian waffles are embellished with a large variety of toppings, including syrups, whipped cream, soft fruits, powdered sugar, jams, chocolate, Nutella, caramel, nuts – you name it.

A better choice is milk, says Millie Norton, a longtime waitress at Becky's Diner in Portland, Maine. “It's strange. If people start off with coffee, once they get their waffles, they switch over to water or milk,” she says.

About Golden Malted

Since 1937, Golden Malted has been the largest distributor of waffle irons and waffle and pancake mix in America. Their products are served in top hotels, restaurants, universities and theme parks around the world.

The batter for regular waffles is usually denser than that for Belgian waffles, but both kinds of waffles contain more sugar than that other classic option, pancakes, which helps them become more caramelized for a deeper flavor (and gives them an edge in the age-old pancakes vs waffles food fight).

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.

Pancakes or waffles

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.

Unfortunately, many traditional breakfast foods—think pancakes, waffles, and cereal—are loaded with carbs and lacking in satiating nutrients like protein, fiber, and healthy fats. Eating these foods regularly may be filling you up with additional calories that aren't doing your body any favors.

Belgian waffles are different from their American counterparts in two main ways: toppings and mode of eating. Belgian waffles often feature minimal toppings: a swirl of whipped cream and sprinkle of sliced strawberries. There is certainly no maple syrup, which is a very foreign concept for us Vermonters!