Homemade German Waffles (Herzwaffeln)
Make German waffles, known as Herzwaffeln, at home with this authentic recipe. These heart-shaped waffles are slightly sweet and incredibly rich and buttery – perfect for breakfast, as an afternoon snack, or dessert. They’re a firm family favorite in our house and I’m sure they will be at yours as well.
In comparison to thick, rectangular Belgian waffles, German waffles are typically baked in a heart-shaped waffle maker and are much thinner. The batter has more sugar which makes the waffles incredibly delicious on their own. Belgian Liege waffles are typically sweeter as the batter includes pearl sugar.
For more homemade types of waffles, make sure to check out my Whey waffles, Crispy Swedish waffles, and Fluffy American waffles as well.
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Homemade German Waffles (Herzwaffeln)
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter unsalted, softened
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 eggs
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 cup whole milk
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, mix softened butter and sugar using a stand mixer or hand mixer until well combined.1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup sugar
- Add vanilla extract and eggs. Mix well.1 tsp vanilla extract, 3 eggs
- Add the dry ingredients including flour, a pinch of salt, and baking powder to the wet ingredients.2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 1 pinch salt
- Slowly stir in the milk and combine everything for 1-2 minutes until you have a lump-free, smooth batter. The mixture will resemble a thick pancake batter.1 cup whole milk
- Preheat the waffle iron and bake your first waffle. Store the finished waffles under a tea towel until serving to keep them warm.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Ingredients and substitutions
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
- Flour – This recipe works best with all-purpose flour.
- Milk – I use full-fat milk for extra flavor but you can substitute it with a lighter milk of your choice.
- Sugar – Granulated sugar works best for this recipe.
- Butter – Unsalted butter works best for this recipe but simply omit the salt if you only have salted butter on hand.
- Eggs – Rich egg yolks and butter give these waffles their golden color so make sure you’re using free-range eggs if possible at room temperature.
- Vanilla – I use vanilla extract but you can also opt for vanilla syrup, essence, or a fresh vanilla pod. For a fresher taste, swap the vanilla flavor with 1 tsp of lemon peel.
Variations
Chocolate waffles: Add 1/4 cup of cacao or cocoa powder to the waffle batter for a chocolate twist in these regular waffles. Alternatively, you can add chocolate chips to the batter.
Christmas waffles: Simply add 1 tsp of Christmas spice or pumpkin spice to the batter for a festive breakfast or dessert.
Step-by-step photos
See the recipe card for full information on the steps.
- Combine melted butter and sugar.
- Add eggs and vanilla extract and whisk until fully combined and fluffy.
- Add the dry ingredients.
- Stir in the dry ingredients until you have a lump-free waffle batter.
Waffle topping ideas
Enjoy these German waffles with a simple dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of maple syrup. For more ideas, check out 50 delicious waffle toppings but here are a few of my favorite ways to serve these buttery waffles:
- Fruity ice cream such as my boysenberry ice cream.
- Fruit compote including stewed apples and pears or honey stewed berries.
- Whipped cream such as my schlag, brown sugar whipped cream, or mascarpone cream.
- Fresh fruit including in-season strawberries, raspberries and cherries.
