These thick German waffles are one of the most popular German desserts. They are traditionally served with cherry sauce and whipped cream.
Learn how to make thick and crispy German waffles at home, a perfect Sunday breakfast, or a really decadent dessert.
We do love waffles in Germany! Either thickly covered with icing sugar or, more likely, served with cherries and cream. You can get them in any bakery or coffee shop, but you can easily make them yourself. All you need is a waffle maker.
Try more typical German desserts like Kirschmichel, Yogurt Bomb with Berries, or German Cheesecake.
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Recipe ingredients
All pantry ingredients: Eggs, whole milk, granulated sugar, all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, butter, sparkling water, and vanilla extract.
You can replace the butter with margarine, which is more likely to be used to make the waffle batter served in bakeries. You can also use just milk instead of sparkling water.
Serve the German waffles with cherry sauce and freshly whipped cream for an authentic German treat.
Waffle maker: You need a good Belgian waffle maker (the Amazon affiliate link opens in a new tab).
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to make German waffles?
- Step #1: Separate the eggs. Beat the egg whites with salt until soft peaks form and set aside.
- Step #2: Mix soft butter (or margarine) with sugar and vanilla (sugar, extract, or aroma). Add egg yolks and combine.
- Step #3: Mix and sift flour with baking powder. Gradually add to the butter mixture, alternating with milk, starting and ending with flour.
- Step #4: Stir in mineral water, then carefully fold in the egg whites.
- Step #5: Bake according to your waffle maker’s instructions. Mine took 6-7 minutes at medium-high heat (level 4 out of 6). Adjust the temperature to your preference.
Good to know!
Usually, the waffle makers don't need to be greased before baking the waffles but make sure to read the waffle maker's directions for use before starting, especially if the waffle iron is new and you are not familiar with it.
How to serve them?
Serve the German waffles sprinkled with powdered sugar.
The typical German way of serving them is with cherry sauce and whipped cream sweetened with vanilla sugar. It's so good; you should definitely try this version! Or try them with Roasted Cherries.
The American way of serving them is with sliced strawberries and whipped cream or with different kinds of syrups, like maple syrup, for instance, but other sorts as well. Check out Macerated Strawberries.
Any kind of berry topped with whipped cream and drizzled with syrup or runny honey would be great as well.
How to store them?
Store: The waffles keep well for one or two days. Let them cool completely, place them into an airtight container or wrap them well in cling film/plastic foil or aluminum foil.
Reheat: When ready to serve again, you can easily reheat the waffles in the toaster. Alternatively, place them on a baking tray lined with baking paper and reheat at about 200°F/ 100°C until warm and crisp again.
Freeze: The waffles can also be frozen. Wrap them tightly and freeze them. Reheat them as instructed above.
You can also eat them at room temperature. We often eat the leftovers for breakfast, topped with jam (strawberry, apricot, etc) or drizzled with a little honey.
German Waffles
Equipment
- Waffle maker
Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- 1 pinch salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter soft or margarine, 4.5 oz/ 125 g
- ⅓ cup sugar 75 g
- 1 tablespoon vanilla sugar OR ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour 9 oz/ 250 g, Note 1
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup whole milk 250 ml
- ½ cup sparkling water 125 ml
To serve:
- cherry sauce
- whipped cream
Instructions
- Beat egg whites: Separate the eggs. Whisk egg white with a pinch of salt until stiff. Set aside.3 eggs + 1 pinch salt
- Beat: Place the soft butter, sugar, vanilla sugar, or vanilla extract into another bowl, mix until creamy. Add the egg yolks and mix well until the sugar is dissolved.½ cup unsalted butter/ 125 g + ⅓ cup sugar/ 75 g + 1 tablespoon vanilla sugar OR ½ teaspoon vanilla extract + egg yolks
- Batter: In another bowl, sift the flour and the baking powder. Start adding them to the butter mixture alternating with the milk. Start and finish with the flour.2 cups all-purpose flour/ 250 g + ¼ teaspoon baking powder + 1 cup whole milk/ 250 ml
- Stir in the water. Carefully fold in the stiff egg whites.½ cup sparkling water/ 125 ml + egg whites
- Bake the waffles according to the directions of your waffle maker. My waffles took about 6-7 minutes to become crisp and nicely browned on the outside while remaining soft and fluffy on the inside.
- Temperature: My waffle maker also has different temperature settings and I prefer using a medium-high one, for instance, 4 or 5 out of 6 temperature settings. But that is a matter of personal taste; adjust the temperature setting accordingly.
- Bake: Pour some batter into the waffle iron, regarding the instructions of the waffle maker again. Close the waffle maker and bake until the waffle is golden.
- Time: Usually, the waffle makers will have a way of letting you know that the waffle is ready, either a (green) light or it will make some sound. But that depends on the waffle iron you are using.
- Keep the waffles warm in the oven at 200°F/ 100°C until you are finished with baking.
- Serve the waffles warm with cherry sauce and whipped cream or as suggested above.
Notes
- Measurements: It's best to use a digital kitchen scale in baking; it ensures the best results (the Amazon affiliate link opens in a new tab).
- The nutrition is calculated only for the waffle without the topping.
- Make in advance: The waffles can be baked in advance and reheated in the oven at about 200°F/ 100°C until warm and crisp again. They can also be frozen and reheated the same way or in the toaster.
Priya @currynation says
Waffles are the true beauties you know 😉 i love these cherries and yeah I am waiting for the blueberry sauce recipe because i have tried this blueberry waffles just a few days and i loved that..hope you will share soon.
Kelly | Foodtasia says
These look delicious! Great information!
Anca says
I was thinking of making Belgian waffles, as they look fab and are delicious too. But I don't have a waffle maker. I should buy one. Your waffles are so appetizing.