Crispy Waffle Recipe for One (Step by Step Video)

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Craving your favorite weekend breakfast but don’t need a whole batch of homemade waffles sitting around? This waffle recipe for one is exactly what you need! Made with real butter and eggs for that perfect Belgian waffle taste and texture every time. Want more than one delicious waffle? Just use the built-in scaling calculator right on the recipe to make more than one waffle!

Why I Love This Single-Serve Waffle Recipe

As a momma to six hungry kids, we have gone through A LOT of fluffy waffles and pancakes over the years. Like, more than I care to admit. And yes, many of them came from a waffle mix instead of homemade. But now that I only have two kids left at home, rarely do we need a big batch of waffles, and man is that weird!

The last time I pulled out my Belgian waffle maker, I took my favorite pancake and waffle recipe and decided it was time to adjust it into a waffle recipe for one. And I know the criticism this recipe will bring…”Why would you only make ONE waffle? It’s so much work for just a single serving.” My response to the critics is that you all have much more self-control than I do. I can’t have extra Belgian waffles sitting around my house or I’ll eat them all. Every last one!

The waffles for one recipe below make just about a cup of batter, which is just enough for the standard Belgian waffle iron so put away that large bowl! All you need to use is a cereal bowl to mix up the best waffle for one. And if you need more than one waffle, yes you can use this same recipe, scale it by pressing the button inside the recipe card, and now you have a waffle recipe for two. Or, you can always make pancakes with this same recipe. But those little nooks that catch the syrup are the best part so I am team waffle!

Waffles for One Ingredients

Just like a classic homemade Belgian waffle, but just on a much smaller scale. A waffle recipe for one lookes just like any other waffle recipe.

All-purpose flour
Granulated sugar
Beaten Egg
Melted butter
Milk
Baking powder
Kosher salt

How to Make a Waffles for One

When making waffles for one, instead of pulling out all the big mixing bowls, measuring cups, and a whisk like you would for a normal batch, you simply mix everything together in a small bowl for one perfectly crispy, delicious waffle. Just think small and simple!

Time needed: 10 minutes

How to Make a Waffle Recipe for One

Preheat the waffle maker to high
The key to crispy waffles is to ensure that your waffle maker is hot before adding any batter. If possible, do not grease the waffle iron. It can impede the outside of the waffle from getting crisp.
Mix together all off the dry ingredients in a small bowl
This includes the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and kosher salt
Add the wet ingredients to the same bowl
This includes the beaten egg, milk, and melted butter.
Mix the wet and dry ingredients just until the batter comes together
Do not overmix the batter or your waffle will turn out very tough. You want streaks of flour in the finished batter.
Let the batter rest for 2-3 minutes
This allows the flour to absorb the wet without further mixing and for any gluten bonds that have formed to relax.
Cook the waffle according to the instructions of your waffle maker
Don’t be afraid to let the finished waffle cook for another one to two minutes if the waffle is pale when you open the waffle maker.

Waffle Recipe for One FAQs

How do you make waffles crispy in a waffle maker?

Three key factors impact if your waffles turn out crispy in a waffle maker: proper preheating, using enough butter, and keeping them crisp after cooking. If your waffle maker isn’t very hot before the batter goes in, your waffle will turn out soggy. And, you need to give it time to get hot again after every waffle finishes cooking. If possible, don’t grease the waffle iron. It will interfere with the crust forming on the outside of the waffle. If you do have to grease the iron, use it as little as possible.

Next, if you don’t have enough butter in your batter, your waffle will never get crisp, no matter how hot your waffle maker is. Don’t be afraid of the butter! And lastly, either eat the waffle as soon as it is finished cooking or put it directly on the rack of your oven that is preheated to 200 degrees. Don’t put it on a plate or baking sheet or the heat of the waffle will cause condensation to form and your waffle will get soft on the underside.

Is a waffle just a pancake?

While waffles and pancakes have a lot of similarities, when done correctly, there are some significant differences between the two and their batters. First, let’s look at the recipe. While waffles and pancakes are both made with the same ingredients, it is all about the ratio of those ingredients. Waffles have more butter to make them crispy on the outside and an extra egg to create their soft, chewy inside.

And of course, the difference in shape between pancakes and waffles comes from their difference in cooking equipment. Pancakes can be made in a skillet on your stove, or on an electric griddle. While waffles can only get their signature little divots by using a waffle maker.

What to Serve with Waffles for One

If you are looking for some balance with your waffle recipe for one, here are some savory breakfast options you can serve alongside your crispy, sweet waffle. While most of these are not single-serve recipes, they would pair perfectly with this recipe.

Perfect Hard-Boiled Eggs – make a batch of these at the beginning of the week, store them in the fridge, and add them to your breakfast for an added dose of protein.
Homemade Buttermilk Syrup – think of this golden nectar as the best salted caramel syrup you’ve ever tasted! I only make it a couple of times a year because we pour it over everything.
Overnight Chia Seed Pudding – top these healthy puddings with some fresh berries for the perfect breakfast pairing.
Loaded Breakfast Casserole – since this single waffle recipe has all the carbs, let’s get in some protein and veggies from this easy breakfast casserole. I make a pan of this, cut it into 12 pieces, individually wrap each piece, then store them in the freezer.
Homemade Greek Yogurt – is another tasty way to add more protein to your breakfast menu. You can even use it as a waffle topping then add some fresh berries, toasted nuts, and a sprinkle of coconut for a whole other level of breakfast.

Waffle Recipe for One Troubleshooting

What If I Need Waffles for Two?

Sounds like you love crispy waffles as much as I do! No worries my friend. This waffle recipe for one can easily be scaled. When you scroll down to the recipe card, look on the right-hand side by the ingredient list. There is the option to scale the recipe 2 or 3 times by simply clicking a button. If you do scale the recipe, it will also print with the increased measurements after you click the necessary scale button. And remember, this recipe makes one large Belgian waffle, which can honestly feed two people as well!

My Waffles for One Turned Out Tough And Chewy

If your goal is a perfect waffle recipe for one, you must remember not to over-mix the homemade waffle batter! Here is how you will know you it’s time to be done mixing: there are still a few lumps and a few small streaks of flour left. I know it will be hard, but just walk away! Let the dry ingredients and wet ingredients sit mixed together for a few minutes. The dry will absorb the wet and the batter will be perfect.

Here’s the problem. If you mix the batter too long, the gluten in the flour begins to form stronger bonds. Those bonds are how you end up with chewiness and density. If you were making homemade bread, that is an excellent feature but not so great in a homemade waffle recipe.

How to Freeze Homemade Waffles

If you double or triple this waffle recipe for one into multiple waffles, they freeze beautifully. Here are a few tips for frozen waffle success. First, place them on a baking sheet in a single layer and then into the freezer until they are frozen. Once they are solid, that is when they go into a freezer bag or airtight container for up to 3 months.

Freezing them on the tray before putting them in a bag keeps them from sticking together. So, when you want a waffle, that makes it easy to pull out the portion you want and toss it in the toaster to reheat for breakfast. Think of them as homemade Eggo waffles but significantly better!

Can I Make Waffles for One With Whole Wheat Flour?

Yes, you can make this recipe as a whole wheat waffle but I would make three changes to the original recipe to keep the texture light and fluffy. First, substitute whole wheat flour pastry flour for the all-purpose flour. The whole wheat pastry flour is more finely milled so it keeps the waffle for one from getting too heavy. Second, substitute buttermilk for the milk in the recipe. The buttermilk will react more with the baking powder, allowing for more lift in the heavier whole-grain flour.

Now, this last one is going to sound crazy. You want to separate the egg whites from the egg yolks, then beat the whites until stiff before gently folding them into the batter. Again, we are looking to add more air and lightness to the heavier whole-grain batter. This method obviously works better for more than a waffle recipe for one, so if you are going to go this route, make waffles for two or three and freeze them as instructed above.

How to Use Part Of An Egg

Since this is a waffle recipe for one, adding a whole egg would be way too much and would taste a lot like sweet scrambled eggs cooked in your waffle maker. The texture and flavor would be much too egg-y. So instead, grab one egg out of your container of large eggs, crack it into a small dish, beat it up, and add 1/3 of the beaten egg into the batter. Just eyeball it! No need to try to evenly divide the beaten egg. Or of course, you can use the whole egg and turn the single waffle recipe into waffles for two or three.

Waffle Recipe for One Video

Single Waffle Recipe Variation Suggestions

If you have been here at MKE long enough, you know I love to encourage my readers to try variations of recipes and make them personalized for their families. Recipe experimentation is one of the best parts of being a home cook or a home baker! Here are some suggestions for this single-serve waffle recipe the next time you whip up a waffle:

Use vegetable oil instead of melted butter. I prefer the flavor of using butter but oil will work fine. Use the same amount of oil as the recipe calls for in butter. Also, note the waffle will not be as crispy using oil instead of butter.
Add fresh berries to the finished batter before pouring it into the waffle iron. Frozen berries will also work well but be sure they are small like blueberries or raspberries. Use a couple of tablespoons in a single-serve waffle.
Use your favorite toppings: there’s nothing wrong with the classic maple syrup but what about whipped cream, fresh fruit, buttermilk syrup, chocolate chips, powdered sugar, peanut butter, or applesauce.
Add spices to the batter. A pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla in your batter will create even more flavor inside the waffle. This definitely gives the waffle some yummy fall vibes as well.
Use fresh fruit like diced peaches, apples, or pears in the batter. You will want to peel the fruit first, then dice it small. Use a couple of tablespoons of the fruit for a waffle for one.
Add mini chocolate chips to the batter before cooking, and then don’t be shy by adding a few more over the top once it is done. This is especially popular if you making it for a kid, or just feeling kid-like one morning.

Looking for more great breakfast recipes?

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Stack of homemade pancakes — Cinnamon Sugar Mini Muffins

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