These Homemade Buttermilk Waffles are a family favorite!! They cook up crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside and are a delicious breakfast that feels extra special any day of the week.

Warm buttermilk, melted butter, and vanilla make a tender batter with classic diner flavor, and the recipe is simple enough for sleepy mornings.

We love to top these with our Buttermilk Syrup, or for a favorite twist, Cinnamon Buttermilk Syrup. No matter how you top them, they are sure to be a hit!

Why we think you’ll love it:

  • Kid-approved. Our kids love these waffles just as much as they love a stack of Pancakes or a slice of French Toast!
  • Start eating in 20 minutes! From start to finish, you’ll be pulling hot waffles from the waffle iron in no time.
  • The toppings are endless. Sweet or savory, pick your favorite toppings and enjoy! We especially love fresh fruit and Whipped Cream.
Ingredients for buttermilk waffles on a white countertop.

Buttermilk Waffles Ingredients

  • All-purpose flour (2 cups): Gives structure so waffles hold their shape yet stay tender.
  • Sugar (2 tablespoons): Lightly sweetens and helps the surface caramelize and crisp.
  • Baking powder (2 teaspoons): Provides lift for airy pockets.
  • Baking soda (1 teaspoon): Reacts with buttermilk for extra rise and a golden finish.
  • Salt (½ teaspoon): Balances sweetness and sharpens flavor.
  • Buttermilk (2 cups, warm): Adds tang, tenderness, and steam for a soft interior. Learn How to Make Buttermilk using 2 cups of milk and lemon juice.
  • Butter (⅓ cup, melted): Enriches the batter and promotes crisp edges.
  • Eggs (2): Bind the batter and create a light, custardy crumb.
  • Vanilla extract (1 teaspoon): Adds bakery style aroma and rounds out the flavor.
  • optional toppings Maple Syrup, Cinnamon Buttermilk Syrup, Strawberry Sauce, Nutella, Whipped Cream and fresh berries, powdered sugar, or even Fried Chicken

How to Make Buttermilk Waffles

BATTER. In a medium bowl, whisk 2 cups flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and ½ teaspoon salt. 

In another medium bowl, whisk 2 cups buttermilk and ⅓ cup melted butter. Add 2 eggs and stir until combined.

Add the flour mixture to wet ingredients and whisk until just combined (there were still lumps). Fold in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Let the batter rest for 10 minutes.

COOK. Preheat the waffle iron and grease. Pour about ⅓-½ cup of batter into the waffle iron (or until the batter reaches about ½ inch to the edge of the iron). Cook until ready. Top with syrup and berries. 

Kristyn’s Recipe Tips

  • Do not over-mix, whisk just until combined and leave small lumps so the crumb stays tender.
  • Rest the batter 10 minutes as written, this hydrates flour and boosts browning.
  • Preheat the waffle iron fully and grease lightly, hot plates give the best crisp edges.
  • Keep finished waffles warm and crisp on a rack set over a sheet pan in a 225°F oven until serving.
  • Check out our Homemade Waffle Mix to have on hand to whip these up even faster.
Stack of buttermilk waffles topped with berries and syrup.
Buttermilk waffles stacked on top of each other with berries on top.
4.99 from 432 votes

Buttermilk Waffle Recipe

Homemade Buttermilk Waffles are crisp outside, fluffy inside and perfect for stacking high with syrup and your favorite toppings.
Servings: 6
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 20 minutes

Video

Ingredients 

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups buttermilk, warm
  • cup butter, melted
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions 

  • In a medium bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. 
  • In another medium bowl, whisk buttermilk and butter. Add eggs and stir until combined.
  • Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and whisk until just combined (there were still lumps). Fold in vanilla. Let the batter rest for 10 minutes.
  • Preheat the waffle iron and grease. Pour about ⅓-½ cup of batter into the waffle iron (or until the batter reaches about ½ inch to the edge of the iron). Cook until ready. Top with syrup and berries. 
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Notes

Favorite toppings. Maple Syrup, Cinnamon Buttermilk Syrup, Whipped Cream, powdered sugar, and fresh berries, 
Store leftover waffles in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or wrap each waffle in plastic and store them together in a container in the freezer for 2-3 months. 

Nutrition

Calories: 331kcal, Carbohydrates: 40g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 90mg, Sodium: 600mg, Potassium: 341mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 525IU, Calcium: 182mg, Iron: 2.3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Recipe FAQ

Prep ahead of time?

The batter can be made the night before and kept covered in the fridge. Allow it to come to room temperature and give it a gentle stir before pouring it into the waffle iron.

How to store?

Let the waffles cool and store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or wrap each waffle in plastic and store together in a container in the freezer for 2-3 months.

This recipe was originally published July 2019.

About Kristyn

Kristyn Merkley is a published cookbook author, wife, mom of six, and major food enthusiast! For the past 15 years, she has been sharing foolproof, family-friendly recipes—each one tested in her kitchen—that anyone can master. As a seasoned recipe creator, she loves making cooking simple, stress-free, and totally doable for everyone!

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4.99 from 432 votes (256 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




331 Comments

  1. O says:

    3 stars
    Too much baking powder. I could smell it and taste it.

    1. Kimshiro Benton says:

      I have always disliked anything with baking powder because I could taste it. A friend suggested switching to aluminum free baking powder and that did the trick. I can now eat biscuits, pancakes, waffles, without tasting that bitter chemical flavor.

  2. Cheryl Whetstone says:

    I added orange peel, frozen cranberries and cardomom! Excellent!

  3. Amateur home baker says:

    4 stars
    The only reason I didn’t give this recipe 5 stars is because the batter is too thick. Most Belgian waffle maker requires batter to be poured in from the top. However, because this batter is so thick it won’t sink all the way down when poured from the top. I was able to make it work by using our regular waffle maker, but just beware of this when trying to use a Belgian waffle maker.

  4. Timothy Alexander says:

    What is the recipe for homemade buttermilk?

    1. Theresa Boehme says:

      5 stars
      These buttermilk waffles are exactly right. They have everything you hope for in a waffle, crispy outide, fluffy center, vanilla flavor, perfect browning, and excellent dry to wet ingredient ratio. Live it so much i got it in hard copy.

  5. Janet says:

    5 stars
    Simple and easy steps to follow recipe.
    The outcome is great yummy waffles which the family loves and enjoy eating. Thanks for sharing the recipe

  6. Ed says:

    4 stars
    The first round stuck to the grids like crazy… so I added a TBSP of oil to the remaining mix, and then they released just fine.

  7. Lisa Gallegos says:

    5 stars
    I’ve been making my family powder mix waffles with my $10 Amazon waffle iron for over a year. Tonight I used this recipe and holy smokes what a difference! It actually crisps up on the outside while fluffy on the inside. And the flavor is perfect!

  8. H McAlley says:

    5 stars
    Great recipe. Family loved it

  9. Lily says:

    5 stars
    I don’t often comment but I had to with this recipe!! Its now my go-to recipe when making waffles, easy and delicious!! Thank you so so much!!

  10. Rachel says:

    5 stars
    These are the perfect waffles. I used half whey left over from making yoghurt and half regular milk and they turned out spot on! I used less sugar too, but that’s personal preference.