Overnight Waffles

If it comes down to waffles or pancakes I’m picking waffles every time. This recipe for overnight waffles might be the best waffle recipe ever.

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The Story

Overnight waffles became my go-to waffle recipe about seven years ago. It’s a very long story filled with a lot of happiness, love, and thousands of vegetables.

I went to live and work on an organic vegetable CSA back in 2014. I lived in a small, rustic cabin on the 20 acre farm. The cabin was so rustic in fact it didn’t have running water or even electricity for a large part of my living there.

As such, I ate my meals with the family who owned and operated the farm. I’m not going to get into how much I love these people and their farm. Ryan, the dad/husband/head farmer ended up being a “Bridesman” in my wedding and his wife, Maree, played her violin as I walked up the aisle.

THE POINT of all this is to say, this waffle recipe was a staple in that household. They are absolutely delicious and I can’t make them without thinking of my years at that farm and how it was one of the happiest times in my life.

Why Make Overnight Waffles?

This waffle recipe is unique in that it calls for yeast. Next, the majority of the batter is mixed and left to sit overnight. This makes for a complex, almost sourdough tasting waffle.

These waffles take no more time than a regular waffle recipe to make. You just have to put a little forethought into getting the batter mixed up the night before.

Recipe Source

This recipe is an exact copy from Mark Bittman’s How to Cook Everything. If I had to get rid of all my other cookbooks, this is probably the one that I would keep. Thanks Bittman!

Ingredients for Overnight Waffles

• 1/2 tsp yeast
• 2 Cups All Purpose Flour
• 1 Tablespoon Sugar
• 1/2 Tsp Salt
• 2 Cups Milk
• 8 Tablespoons (one stick) of melted butter, then cooled
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• Oil for brushing the waffle iron
• 2 Eggs

Supplies to make Overnight Waffles

• Large mixing bowl with a cover
• Waffle Iron
• Small-Medium sized bowl
• Whisk
• Hand mixer or egg beaters and good arm strength

How to Make Overnight Waffles

The Night Before

The night before you plan to make the waffles, combine the yeast, flour, sugar, and salt with a whisk. Next add in 2 cups of milk and one stick of melted butter that has been cooled. Though I have definitely been impatient and mixed it in warm and everything turns out fine.

Cover the bowl and let it sit bubbling away while you sleep. I like to use a Pyrex bowl with a lid. As Julia Child so wisely said, “Always start out with a larger pot than what you think you need”. Meaning, that batter is going to do a lot of rising so err on the side of a large bowl.

The Morning Of

Get your waffle iron warming up. I have this cool old Nordic Ware iron that you can use on a stovetop so it takes a while to get hot.

Brush the iron with your oil of choice, top and bottom, to keep the waffle batter from sticking.

Separate the egg yolks from the whites. Mix the yolks into the batter. Beat the egg whites until they form stiff peaks.

Now look. I know this egg whipping business is tempting to skip. Who wants to drag out their beaters and make more dishes. But trust me on this, whip those whites. The stiff egg whites are what give your waffles the soft, airy texture in the middle.

Gently fold the egg whites into the batter. For a laugh about folding in, please watch this. For a legit folding tutorial check this out at about 1:58.

To make the waffles, spread about 3/4 a cup of batter onto the steaming iron. Follow your iron’s instructions as to how long to cook it for.

Make Ahead Waffles

Another trick from the farm family was to make a huge batch of batter. Then under-cook a bunch of waffles. Allow them to cool on wire racks, then place in a single layer on a baking sheet in the freezer.

After an hour or two, put the waffles in a freezer container or Ziploc storage bag. They freeze great, then all you have to do is pull one out and pop it in the toaster. Since you undercooked it before, it will come out perfectly crisp for a quick breakfast option.

Topping Ideas for Waffles

Fresh butter and local maple syrup are of course the classic and probably my favorite topping options. Some other great additions are:

• Fresh fruit (blueberries, strawberries, etc.)
• Stewed berries (toss your berry of choice in a pot on the stove with some sugar and cook them down. Sweeten as desired)
• Chocolate Chips
• Whipped Cream
• Chocolate Syrup
• Bacon Crumbles
• Powdered Sugar and Lemon

Looking for more make-ahead breakfast ideas? Check out overnight French toast!

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