Say hello to The Best Fluffy Buttermilk Waffles! Crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside, these easy waffles are freezer-friendly and ready to eat in minutes.
Hands down, these are The Best Fluffy Buttermilk Waffles ever! Made with a classic buttermilk waffle batter, these golden-brown beauties come out of the waffle iron with crispy edges and an impossibly fluffy and soft inside. Pair them with maple syrup, fresh berries, and whipped cream for an out-of-this-world breakfast or brunch!
Have I mentioned how easy they are to make? Just mix the batter together in one bowl, cook them one at a time in your waffle iron, and you’re done! You can even freeze a batch and heat them later on to enjoy fluffy and light waffles whenever you feel a craving coming on.
If you want the best start to your day, pair a fluffy waffle or two with a Strawberry Banana Smoothie, Waffle Iron Hash Browns or Scrambled Eggs with Bacon. Wash it all down with a glass of homemade Apple Pineapple Juice (or my favorite coffee) and get your day going.
What is buttermilk?
Buttermilk is, traditionally, what’s leftover after churning butter from cultured cream. Nowadays, it’s made by adding cultures into low fat dairy milk. The living cultures in buttermilk are acidic, which react when mixed with a rising agent like baking soda.
This means that when you make waffles with buttermilk instead of regular milk, you end up with an extra fluffy result!
What if I don’t have buttermilk?
No problem! There’s a popular substitute made from milk and acid to replicate the same properties of storebought buttermilk. To make this alternative, mix 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice in 1 cup of milk. After 5-10 minutes, the acid will help curdle the milk and produce the same result as traditional buttermilk.
How to make fluffy buttermilk waffles from scratch
You’re going to need a waffle iron to make buttermilk waffles. Otherwise, they’re just pancakes! In just a few minutes, you’ll have the most perfect, fluffy, and crispy buttermilk waffles:
Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl. Stir in the buttermilk, melted butter, and eggs until you have a lump free waffle batter.
Once your waffle iron is hot, pour 2/3 cup of batter in the middle.
Close the lid and cook until each waffle is golden brown and crispy.
Waffle toppings
You can keep things simple with a little maple syrup or powdered sugar on top of the waffles, or go all out with a bounty of fun toppings! These topping ideas are sure to win the hearts of any sweet tooth:
- Fresh berries
- Whipped cream
- Strawberry, raspberry, or blueberry jam
- Fried chicken and syrup
- Nut butter
- Chocolate chips
- Caramel syrup
- Nutella or chocolate sauce
- Ice cream
Frequently asked questions
- How are these different from homestyle waffles? Waffles without buttermilk are still delicious and fluffy but lack a certain ‘oumph’. Not only does the buttermilk help the waffles fluff up, but it also provides a nice acidity and balance in each bite.
- Can I make them gluten free? Sure! Replace the all purpose flour with a gluten free all purpose flour blend.
- Can I make them vegan? Use vegan butter instead of butter, flax eggs instead of eggs, and almond milk mixed with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar instead of buttermilk to make vegan buttermilk waffles.
- What’s the secret to crispy waffles? Don’t cook the waffles until you know the iron is hot. Test it by placing some butter on the iron; if the butter sizzles, the iron is ready! To keep them crispy after cooking, place the waffles in a 200ºF oven until you run out of batter.
How to freeze waffles
Cook all of the waffles, let them cool, then place them in a freezer-safe bag. I like to put wax paper in between each waffle so they don’t freeze together.
How to reheat waffles
To make your leftover waffles crispy, toast them in a toaster or toaster oven for about a minute. This is the best way to retain their crispy edges.
More pancake and waffle recipes to try
Pin for later:
Fluffy Buttermilk Waffles
PrintIngredients
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
- 1/4 cup butter melted
- 2 eggs
Instructions
- In a large bowl mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and add in buttermilk, melted butter and eggs. Stir until batter is well mixed, and not lumpy.
- Heat up your waffle maker according to the directions. Pour 2/3 – 1 cup of batter into the waffle maker. Close lid and cook 4-5 minutes or until golden brown.
- Serve waffles with syrup, butter or fruit preserves on top. Enjoy!
Jamie | Jamie's Recipes says
What a great present! I love waffles so much. I have a square waffle maker but I really really want a circle waffle maker. For some reason my brain thinks waffles taste better in circle form. I’ve been drooling over the KA waffle maker that bakes two at a time.
Pamela says
Two at a time would blow my mind!
Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health says
i love waffles and on a whim we bought waffle maker but it is so underutilized. I need a reminder every now and then to dust it and use it. Thanks dear.
Chris @ Shared Appetite says
Mmmm waffles. Growing up, if you can believe it, I actually liked waffles with PB&J on them. I know, super weird.
Beautiful photos! Reminds me I need to bring out my waffle maker!
Pamela says
Peanut butter on waffles sounds pretty delicious, I might have to try that!
Sophie says
Mmmmmmmm,…..lovely looking waffels. Yummmm!
[email protected] 'n' Cookies says
My husband and I recently got the waffle attachment for our Panini press. Best.decision.ever! But I hadn’t yet found a perfect waffle recipe. I’ll definitely be trying this one.
And I love that your were surprised with both waffles and a waffle maker on your birthday. Now, that’s my find of gift!
Koko says
This looks like the PERFECT waffle. I am longing for a weekend off work to sleep in and eat waffles….I don’t think that will happen until January hahaha boooo
Pamela says
I know the feeling. 🙁 Hope you get some time to sleep in and eat those waffles!
Laura @ Lauras Baking Talent says
Love waffles! Will definitely have to try this recipe out 🙂 Glad he got a chance to surprise you with the wafflemaker.
[email protected] says
I love them with syrup and bananas!!! I am loving how the waffles are soaking up the syrup! Yummy 🙂
Mary Frances @ The Sweet {Tooth} Life says
What a fantastic birthday present! Great present for a baker:) We always put syrup and powdered sugar on our waffles, too. I will take waffles over pancakes and french toast any day of the week and these fluffy ones nailed the texture. Craving a big stack now!
Prudy @butter, basil, and breadcrumbs says
Pamela! You couldn’t have posted this at a more appropriate time!! My husband was looking through one of his sportsmans magazines, and found this waffle iron that has a buck’s head that would be imprinted on the waffle. He brought the magazine into the kitchen, and asked me if it was something that I might be interested in. I laughed, first because my husband and I are complete opposites… he is a country boy, loves to hunt…etc etc…. I’m a city girl, and love the arts… and am not into camouflage or deer heads. And second, because I was touched that he could find something in his “genre” (for lack of a better word…) that I just might like. So, we ordered it, and the deer head waffle iron will take residence at our cabin.
I will have to print up your recipe, show it to him, in reciprocation that in my “genre” I found something for him to go with the waffle iron that he found for me in his “genre”. haha!!
This is perfect… and they look so yummy.. and I love the fact that Matthew did that for you. It makes me happy… <3
Pamela says
Your story made me laugh, can you please send me a photo of deer head printed waffles? Please!
Jennifer @ Not Your Momma's Cookie says
SO perfect! 🙂
Consuelo @ Honey & Figs says
I need to make these for dinner, that’s all.
They couldn’t look any better, I’m drooling. What a lovely birthday present, you lucky girl! 😉
Faith @ Pixie Dust Kitchen says
Oh gosh. Now I want waffles! And I actually have all the ingredients to make these; so I might have to soon!
Karly says
It took me so long to convince myself that I needed a waffle iron, and now I’m obsessed with it! These look amazing!
Karly says
Thanks for linking these up with What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!
[email protected]'s Recipes says
My husband would love this for the dinner! They look super fluffy and great!
Louisa [Living Lou] says
These look like they have a great texture – that crunchy outside and soft inside that can be quite hard to achieve! (I’ve made plenty of “soggy” waffles in my day.) Can’t wait to try this recipe! Thanks for sharing.
Francine says
One of my favorite memories is coming home to my parents’ house during the holidays years ago and staying with them for a few days and my dad making waffles in the morning. Best smell to wake up to! (even better than coffee brewing, in my opinion)
Dan from Platter Talk says
Pamela,
This post literally made my mouth water. The photos alone would suffice, they are so appealing. Our boys love waffles, and I grew up with maple syrup on virtually everything. The buttermilk component just puts these into a top tier recipe. Thanks for sharing this one!
Monica says
What an awesome birthday surprise, Pamela! I totally understand that whole ‘put it in the amazon cart but not buy’ thing with the waffle maker (same with a small blow torch). I’m devoted to the waffles at a nearby diner and feel like I should just pop in there for my fix. I rationalize that I don’t have a great waffle recipe anyway but now you’re weakening my resolve! Buttermilk pancakes are probably my favorite and this recipe and these waffles look amazing! Enjoy your waffle maker and all the amazing-ness sure to come from it!
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
Yayyy for you!!! I don’t know how I’d live sans waffle maker, they’re so awesome! These waffles look SOOO delicious and fluffy omgeee I want em now!
Kim (Feed Me, Seymour) says
Waffles are my absolutely favorite breakfast. Hands down. I love savory ones but the classic buttermilk are truly the best. And you’re right. I now need second breakfast. 🙂
Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen says
That man is a keeper, Pamela! What a total sweetheart to make you waffles for breakfast with your new waffle maker! Such a sweet gesture. We adore waffles in our house and yours look phenomenally good! (We’ve been using Christopher Kimball’s recipe from his book, The Cook’s Bible, since the early 1990s.) Life just isn’t complete without weekend breakfasts and brunches with buttermilk waffles! You photos are fabulous and we can’t wait to make your recipe. Thanks for sharing, girl!
Joanne says
I didn’t realize how much my life needed a waffle maker until I got one either. and now we’re inseparable. I need to try your waffles! I’ve only made fancy waffles and never just a plainer, standard go-to kind of recipe. Must change that.
Davida @ The Healthy Maven says
Perfection. I too wonder how I went so many years without a waffle maker!
yummychunklet says
Now I want a waffle maker!
Kelly says
That was so sweet of Matthew – sweetest bday present ever and yay for a waffle maker! We love fluffy waffles and these look perfect and super fluffy! Hope you have a great week Pamela!
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
I’m a huge sucker for fluffy and airy waffles!! These are divine 😀
Irina @ wandercrush says
Everyone should have a go-to waffle recipe! Ugh, you’re right about the waffle iron investment… I’ve only held back because I haven’t been settled down in one place for more than a year, but as soon as I get back to London I think I’ll bite the bullet.
Mimi @ Culinary Couture says
I was JUST telling my mom how we need to get a waffle maker up in this house! I’m tired of pancakes! These look soooo good!
Anne ~ Uni Homemaker says
I love breakfast for dinner too! And I would totally eat this anytime of the day. I love a good fluffy waffles. YUM! 🙂