This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I make a small commission off items you purchase at no additional cost to you. Please read my Affiliate Disclosure

You know those waffles you get at your favorite breakfast spot — the ones that are light, crispy on the outside, and melt-in-your-mouth tender inside? Well, these are those waffles.

These waffles are my official “special day waffles.”— think sleepovers, holidays, or those cozy weekend brunches when the kitchen smells like butter and everyone’s still in their pajamas.

They take a little extra effort (mainly separating eggs and beating whites), but I promise, they are worth it. Golden and crisp on the outside, fluffy and light inside — these waffles are everything you love about a restaurant brunch but made right at home. My kids actually say they taste just like the ones from our favorite breakfast spot — high praise from the toughest critics in the house!

CHEERS 🥂 JENN

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

They’re restaurant-quality: The ideal waffle texture — crisp on the outside, soft and cloud-like inside, with that buttery flavor — perfection!
Simple, Real Ingredients: Nothing fancy — just kitchen staples and a few minutes of love.
Make-ahead friendly: You can freeze and reheat them for busy mornings.
Kid-Approved: My crew devours them faster than I can make them.
Chef’s Trick Inside: You’ll learn the secret of folding whipped egg whites for restaurant-level texture.

The Secret to That Crispy-Fluffy Magic

The secret to these light and crispy waffles lies in the eggs. You’ll separate them — yolks in one bowl, whites in another — and beat the whites until fluffy. This step is everything for that cloud-like texture. Trust me, it’s worth the whisking!

Separate the eggs: Yolks go in a large bowl (this will become your batter bowl), whites in a smaller one.

Mix the wet ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks with milk, cooled melted butter, and almond extract. This creates a rich, buttery base.

Add the dry ingredients: Then sift in your dry ingredients — flours, cornstarch, baking powder, and sea salt. Gently fold until just combined — don’t overmix. Set aside.

a bowl with the butter-sugar-milk mixture, and the dry ingredients in a sift above the bowl

the batter mixture before the egg whites

Now for the magic: Whip the egg whites! Beat with a hand mixer until you get soft, fluffy peaks. This part requires a little attention — over-whipping can make them grainy or collapse.

Jenn’s Kitchen Tip:

Watch your whites closely! Once they hold stiff peaks (they stand tall when you lift the beaters), they’re perfect.

Fold and cook: Gently fold the egg whites into the batter a scoop at a time (about ½ cup per fold). Be gentle — we’re protecting all that airy goodness!

a person using a spatula tofold in the egg whites into the batter in a bowl

Cook the waffles: Ladle (or cookie scoop) the batter into a preheated waffle maker and cook for 3–4 minutes.

A waffle iron is being used to make waffles. A laddle of batter is above one well ready to fill

Jenn’s Kitchen Tip:

If you prefer lighter-colored waffles but still want that crisp texture, cook them slightly shorter in the waffle maker, then finish them in a 250°F oven for 5–10 minutes on a rack set over a baking sheet. Perfectly crisp, no sogginess! Use this same technique to keep waffles as people are waiting to eat.

Serving Suggestions

These waffles are basically a blank canvas for your breakfast creativity! Try them with:

A big dollop of homemade whipped cream and fresh berries 🍓
Maple butter or a drizzle of warm syrup
Cinnamon apples or caramelized bananas for an extra cozy twist
Savory brunch style: Top with fried chicken, crispy bacon, or even a poached egg!

No matter how you serve them, these waffles bring that restaurant magic right to your kitchen — no reservation needed.

Storage & Make-Ahead Tips

If you’re like me, you’ll want to make extra — because these waffles disappear fast! Luckily, they store beautifully and reheat like a dream.

To Store:
Cool waffles completely on a wire rack before placing them in an airtight container or resealable bag. Store in the fridge for up to 3 days.

To Freeze:
Lay waffles flat on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container. Store for up to 2 months.

To Reheat:
Pop frozen waffles straight into the toaster for 5–8 minutes until warm and crisp again. (Avoid the microwave — it makes them soft and chewy instead of crispy!) My kids love grabbing one straight from the freezer — it’s perfectly toasted by the time the syrup hits the table.

Stasher Stand-Up Mid Bag

Buy Now →

Cooking with Kids

DISCLOSURE: Please keep in mind that the following tips are general and are meant to be suggestive. I personally use these strategies with my own kids, who are all unique even within my own family of five. Therefore, please regard these as suggestions or ideas. If you feel that your child requires more or less assistance, then go with what you and your child are comfortable with. Ultimately, you know your child best.

Cooking these waffles is a fun (and slightly messy) family activity — and a great chance to teach real kitchen skills.

Here’s how to get your little helpers involved:

Let them whisk the egg yolk mixture (lots of safe, splashy fun).
Have them sift the dry ingredients — they’ll love watching the flour “snow.”
Guide them as they beat the egg whites — it’s pure kitchen magic watching the egg whites fluff up!
Teach them how to fold the egg whites into the batter gently — an early cooking lesson that feels grown-up and important.

Cooking together not only teaches kitchen skills but makes the final waffles taste even sweeter.

More recipes you can’t miss:

Please Be Respectful

All rights reserved. You may NOT sell, trade, share, or redistribute this recipe in any way or use any of my photographs for your site. If you are linking back to this post to a list of recipes, giving credit for the recipe to myself and my site, you may use ONE photo. You must site me and my blog as the creators of the recipe and give credit for the photo. ©2025 Cheers, Jenn Smith and Cheers, Jenn; Jenn Smith, LLC

Cheers, Jenn Smith™ and Cheers, Jenn™; Jenn Smith, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. As well as the Apple affiliate program now called the Performance Partners Program.

This site displays third-party ads and contains affiliate links, See terms and conditions for ALL affiliates.

Feel free to comment below or e-mail me directly if you have any questions.