How to make the Best Belgian Liege Waffles from scratch. All of the secrets, tips and tricks for making perfect Belgian Liege Waffles at home. Top them with fresh fruit, cookie butter, Nutella, and whipped cream for the most decadent breakfast or dessert!
THE BACK STORY: Every recipe has a story. This one just has a long, complicated journey. Months ago we were staying in Lake Tahoe for Spring Break. I am a complete nerd and love to go to the library. My kids think I am nuts! Dean had taken the kids snowboarding and I just had my youngest with me. I thought it would be fun (my kind of fun) to head to the local library and we could read some books. Of course, I had a stack of cookbooks a mile long and I scoured them. I always like to study the recipes before I purchase a cookbook and a library is such an easy way to do it.
I found a recipe for Belgian waffles that peaked my interest. I’ve always wanted to try making homemade belgian liege waffles and here was my chance. I went home and got to work. Here’s the thing — I am a perfectionist in the kitchen. The waffles turned out good — really good but not perfect. Back to the drawing board! I decided to tweak the recipe some and made a second batch. Still not there yet. I tried whipping the egg whites, letting the dough rise longer, refrigerating the dough, and all sorts of methods. After five attempts at trying to make the ultimate belgian liege waffle recipe, we finally have it!
What makes a Belgian Liege Waffle special?
They are made with dough instead of batter. That’s a big change! We are used to filling our waffle iron with a waffle batter but this recipe is much different. It is definitely more time consuming and patience is key but these liege waffles are well worth the wait!
How do you make Belgian Liege Waffles?
It is similar to making homemade rolls or bread. You are making a dough using yeast and it has to have time to rise. That takes time and patience. The dough is made with milk, yeast, sugar, butter, eggs, honey, vanilla, flour and salt. This waffle recipe is made with simple ingredients but it is the method that makes it special and unique. Once the dough has risen and rested, it is time to cook the waffles. The dough is rolled into balls and placed in the center of the belgian waffle maker and baked until golden brown.
You may have tried a Belgian Liege waffle at Waffles n Dinges in New York City, Waffle Love, or Waffle Crush in Arizona. They are made with little sugar pearls that melt beautifully in the liege waffle to give it a sweet crunch.
I tried making this recipe using three different sugar methods — Belgian pearl sugar, chopped sugar cubes, and sprinkling with sugar as soon as you remove the waffle. Using the sugar pearls is definitely the most authentic method but it does have some cons. Sugar does burn easily and that could cause an issue. You want to cook the waffle at a slightly lower heat than you normally would use for a traditional waffle. Another cost effective method is to use sugar cubes that you can pick up at any grocery store. You chop them into small cubes and place them in the dough right before cooking. The EASIEST method by far is to sprinkle the waffles with sugar as soon as they are removed from waffle maker.
You can purchase the Belgian Pearl Sugar on Amazon. It isn’t cheap but it does make one incredible liege waffle! You could also use Sugar Cubes instead which is a less expensive option.
I found my Waring Restaurant Style Waffle Maker at Costco a few years back and love it. If you can find it at your local Costco or Sam’s Club, I would snatch one up because it is such a great deal. Here’s another Belgian Waffle Maker with great reviews.
How long do I have to wait for homemade Belgian Liege Waffles?
Well…that’s debatable. I wanted to put it to the test so I tried out a few different versions. I tried letting the dough rise until it was double in size, which took about 2-3 hours. If you want to expedite the rising process, put it outside (tightly covered) in the summer heat and it will rise in less than 2 hours. It worked like a charm!
I tried cooking a few waffles after rising for only 2 hours and they turned out light, crisp, and just like I wanted. But, I know that good things come to those who wait so I decided to tightly wrap the rest of the dough and let it rest in the refrigerator overnight. I woke up in the wee hours of the morning and rolled the dough into balls and started cooking. The result was downright heavenly. They were melt-in-your-mouth waffles and definitely got even better with time!
If you are in a pinch for time, you could skip the overnight resting in the refrigerator but the results may not be as perfect.
If you are looking for FAST homemade waffles, these Mama Driggs Homemade Buttermilk Waffles recipe is for you.
How long do I cook my Belgian Liege Waffles?
It all depends on your waffle maker. A good rule of thumb is to start on a medium-low heat. I like to add a small pat of butter to the waffle maker before cooking them to give it the nice golden crunch.
What toppings do I put on my Belgian Liege Waffles?
Oh this is the fun part! Here are some of the favorite waffle toppings:
Nutella, Cookie Butter (Biscoff), Peanut Butter, Salted Caramel, Dulce de Leche, Fresh Fruit (strawberries, bananas, raspberries), Lemon Curd, Whipped Cream (a must!), Cinnamon Sugar.
Here are some ideas for Specialty Waffles:
Biscoff + Raspberries + Cream
Nutella + Strawberries + Cream
Lemon Curd + Raspberries + Cream
Cinnamon Sugar + Bananas + Cream
Dulche de Leche + Cinnamon Sugar + Bananas + Whipped Cream
The options are endless!
Without further ado, here is the best belgian liege waffle recipe. I can’t wait to hear what you think!
- ¾ cup Whole Milk (lukewarm, warmed to about 110 degrees)
- ¼ cup Sugar
- 1 Tablespoon Yeast
- ¼ cup Honey
- 2 Eggs
- 1 Tablespoon Vanilla
- 1 cup Butter, softened
- 3¾ cup Flour
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- Belgian Sugar Pearls, Sugar Cubes, or Sugar to sprinkle on waffle
- Butter
- Toppings:
- Nutella
- Biscoff Cooke Butter
- Salted Caramel
- Cinnamon Sugar
- Lemon Curd
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Bananas
- Maple Syrup
- Jam
- In an electric mixer, combine warmed whole milk, sugar, and yeast. Let proof for 10 minutes. Make sure yeast is working by watching for bubbles and that the mixture is expanding.
- Add honey, eggs, and vanilla. Mix until combined.
- Add butter, one tablespoon at a time. Stir in flour and salt.
- Let mixture knead on medium speed for 8-10 minutes, scraping down the sides often.
- Place in greased bowl and cover tightly with Saran Wrap.
- Let rise in warm place for 2-3 hours or until doubled in size.
- If you are in a hurry, you may begin to cook waffles after the dough has rise to double the size. For best results, refrigerate for at least 6-8 hours, or overnight.
- When ready to cook, heat up Belgian waffle iron. Divide the dough into approximately 8 pieces depending on how large you want your waffle and roll into ball.
- If using belgian pearl sugar or sugar cubes, knead into balls.
- Place a small pat of butter on waffle iron and then cook each dough ball according to waffle maker's instructions. Cook for 3-5 minutes, or until golden brown. If not using sugar pearls or cubes, sprinkle with sugar.
- Transfer to cooling rack and eat right away.
- Top with your favorite toppings.
I can’t wait to hear what you think about the Best Belgian Liege Waffles! This beautiful dessert waffle that is always a huge hit! Tag me at #modernhoney and find me on instagram at modern_honey. Happy Eating!
If I do the refrigerator method, do I still let it raise on the counter and then put in in the fridge or do I just put it straight in the fridge after kneading? How long can it really sit in the fridge? Could I get away with 12 hours? I’m not an early riser. 😀
Hi Aria! Great question! Regardless of whether or not you do the refrigerator method, the most important part is letting it rise at room temperature for at least 2-3 hours. The warmth is what allows the yeast to rise. You can definitely leave it in the refrigerator for 12 hours. Once you take it out of the refrigerator, let it sit for a few minutes to get it to room temperature to allow for easier rolling into balls. Let me know if you have any more questions. I am here to help! 🙂
Hi Melinda, living in Europe, these waffles are available all over and are fantastic. The caramelized pearl sugar hot out of the iron makes them melt in the mouth. I look forward to trying your recipe! Thanks again for so many great recipes, I used to stay at the Doubletree in Houston for work quite frequentley so I am looking forward to trying your copycat cookie.