Classic Buttermilk Waffles
Crisp on the outside, tender within — a faithful update of Fannie Farmer's 1896 waffle, swapping plain milk for buttermilk and a cold-butter finish for extra lift.
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cupsall-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tspbaking powder
- ½ tspbaking soda(reacts with buttermilk for extra lift)
- ½ tspfine salt
- 1 tspgranulated sugar
- 2eggs(separated)
- 1 cupbuttermilk(room temperature)
- 2 tbspunsalted butter(melted and slightly cooled)
- 1 tspneutral oil(for greasing the iron)
- —pure maple syrup(to serve)
Method
- 01
Preheat your waffle iron on a medium-high setting and let it heat fully — at least 5 minutes — before cooking the first waffle.
- 02
Whisk together the 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour, 1 ½ tsp baking powder, ½ tsp baking soda, ½ tsp fine salt, and 1 tsp granulated sugar in a large bowl until evenly combined.
- 03
Separate the 2 eggs, placing the yolks in a medium bowl and the whites in a clean, grease-free bowl.
- 04
Beat the 2 egg yolks with the 1 cup buttermilk and 2 tbsp melted butter until smooth.
- 05
Pour the buttermilk mixture into the flour mixture and stir gently until just combined — a few lumps are fine. Do not overmix.
- 06
Using a hand mixer or whisk, beat the 2 egg whites to stiff peaks: they should hold their shape when the whisk is lifted.
- 07
Fold the beaten egg whites into the batter in two additions, using a wide spatula and a light hand to keep as much air as possible.
- 08
Brush the hot waffle iron plates with the 1 tsp neutral oil using a pastry brush or folded paper towel — coat every ridge.
- 09
Pour enough batter to fill roughly two-thirds of the iron's surface (about ½ cup per waffle, depending on your iron). Close the lid immediately.
- 10
Cook until the steam from the iron slows noticeably and the waffle is deep golden, about 3–4 minutes. Resist opening the iron early — lifting the lid before the waffle sets will tear it.
- 11
Transfer the finished waffle to a wire rack in a 90 °C (200 °F) oven to keep warm while you cook the remaining batter, re-oiling the iron between each waffle.
- 12
Serve hot with pure maple syrup.
Adapted from public domain & community sources