Cornmeal Waffle Recipe: How to Make Hearty Cornmeal Waffles

Cornmeal waffles are a type of waffle made with ground cornmeal to add crunch and a sweet corn flavor. Cornmeal waffle batter usually contains eggs, milk, cornmeal, flour, butter, sugar, and a leavening agent like baking soda or baking powder.

To make waffles, pour the batter into a waffle iron or waffle maker to cook the waffle into a particular shape. You can serve waffles with sweet toppings such as maple syrup, butter, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, fruits, ice cream, or other sweetened toppings. The pockets in the waffles created by the waffle iron cooking method allow the syrups and toppings to stay on top of the waffle instead of running down the sides.

The waffle known today was created in the 1200s, when craftsmen in continental Europe forged cooking irons to replicate the shape of honeycomb. Batter was poured between two hinged plates, then pressed together and held over a fire to bake. The word “waffle” comes from the Frankish word “wafla,” meaning “a piece of honeybee hive.”

Follow these simple steps to make this cornmeal waffle recipe:

1. 1. Make the batter. Mix the dry ingredients and wet ingredients separately before combining to evenly distribute the ingredients without overmixing the batter. Mixing the batter too much will develop the gluten in flour too much, yielding a tougher, chewier waffle.
2. 2. Stir in some extras. Experiment with flavors by adding ingredients to the waffle batter. Try some fresh fruit like blueberries or chopped strawberries. Or, try a savory waffle with shredded cheese and chives stirred in.
3. 3. Cook the waffles. Add the waffle batter to a waffle iron. Start with half a cup of batter, but add more or less as needed to fill the size of your waffle iron. Cook according to the manufacturer’s instructions until the waffles are golden brown and crispy on the edges.
4. 4. Serve the waffles. You can eat the fresh waffles simply with softened butter and maple syrup. Or, you can add some special toppings. Try a fruit compote, whipped cream, or chocolate sauce. If you’re looking for a more savory waffle, try topping it with a poached egg.