All you need is a simple toss.
How to Keep Waffles from Getting Soggy, According to Martha Stewart
Updated on Mar. 17, 2023
When it comes to the infamous pancakes versus waffles debate, I’ve always been (and will always be) on the side of waffles. Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside and the perfect shape to cut. Not to mention all the little squares are perfect for holding just the right amount of syrup without immediately becoming too soft. And whether you prefer lots of tasty toppings or just a waffle, plain and simple, you’ve made the right choice.
It’s important to keep a waffle crunchy in the morning, so here’s how to keep waffles from getting soggy the easy way.
How to Keep Waffles from Getting Soggy, According to Martha
All hail our kitchen queen, Martha Stewart! She’s the purveyor of this invaluable hack that will surely have you making the greatest waffles you’ve ever had in your life. No one does it like you, @marthastewart.
@marthastewart Soggy waffles no more! #waffles #wafflemaker #brunchtok #tiktokpartner ♬ It’s A Wrap – Sped Up – Mariah Carey
The hack is so incredibly simple. Start with your favorite waffle recipe and whip ’em up in your waffle maker. Once they’re ready and rarin’ to go, simply fork them out and toss them back and forth between your hands. It may look and feel silly, but you’ll have the crispiest waffles known to man. By tossing your fresh waffles, you’re letting the steam escape in an efficient way. No excess steam, no soggy waffles. What could be better?
We don’t want you burning your beautiful hands, so make sure to pick up some heat-resistant oven gloves. You can keep them specifically for your waffle-makin’ mornings!
Other Ways to Keep Waffles from Getting Soggy
Here are some other ways to keep the sogginess at bay:
- Place your waffles on a cooling rack in a low-heat oven (don’t stack the waffles on top of each other).
- Throw your waffles in a toaster to refresh their crispiness.
- Make sure your waffle iron is very hot.
Waffles Worth Waking Up For
Oatmeal WafflesMake them once, and oatmeal waffles will become a tried-and-true favorite. They're crispy, fluffy and healthier than traditional waffles, and with the added heft from oatmeal, they'll keep you going longer in the morning.
Apple Spice WafflesThese apple waffles are cozy and comforting anytime—morning or evening. The smell of toasty waffles with apples is sure to warm you up on even the most blustery of winter days. —Jane Sims, De Leon, Texas
Breakfast BLT WafflesI'm not a big fan of sweets for breakfast, but I love a crisp waffle. My son and I tried these BLT waffles, and they were a huge success! We used gluten-free, dairy-free waffles with fantastic results. —Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas
Waffle CakeThese fun waffles—soft on the inside, crispy on the outside—taste just like cake batter. Stack and frost them for a waffle cake that's a treat anytime, but especially on kids' birthday mornings.
Savory Waffles with Asparagus, Gruyere and OnionI took one of our family’s favorite puff pastry recipes, which uses a similar mix of ingredients, and translated it to savory waffles. It’s a change of pace from sweeter fare. Served with a ham steak and fried eggs, it makes a fabulous meal. Feel free to add maple syrup or a spicy glaze. —Leslie Ponce, Miami, Florida
Cherry Chip Waffles with Cherry SyrupWhile on a recent trip to Door County, Wisconsin, for a family reunion, I created this yummy recipe using some freshly picked cherries. It was a hit with all ages and everyone was asking for more. —Heather Karow, Burnett, Wisconsin
Chocolate Peanut Fluff Waffles
Try adding chocolate chips to the batter, then top the waffles with banana slices and a dollop of peanut butter fluff (equal parts peanut butter and marshmallow fluff, plus a touch of honey). —Rachel Maidl, Birds & Blooms Editor
Toasty Pumpkin WafflesWhen I really want to impress folks, I serve these waffles. They're beautiful stacked
and layered with pink sweet-tart cranberry butter. When I owned a bed and breakfast it was the recipe guests requested most. —Brenda Ryan, Marshall, Missouri
Coffee Butter Waffles
The best waffle I've ever had was topped with caramelized bacon, maple syrup and coffee butter. You can make coffee butter at home by mixing 1/2 cup of softened butter, 2 teaspoons instant coffee granules, 2 teaspoons water, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar. —Maggie Knoebel, Culinary Assistant
Whole Wheat Waffles with Chicken & Spinach SauceOn a business trip years ago, I got the idea for waffles with chicken and spinach. When I serve it, people go back for seconds, even thirds. —Vicki Melies, Elkhorn, Nebraska
Blueberry Oat WafflesI truly enjoy recipes that make just enough for the two of us, like this one for yummy waffles. Instead of blueberries, you can slice ripe strawberries on top—or use the batter to make pancakes. —Ruth Andrewson, Leavenworth, Washington
Croque-Madame Waffles
One of my favorite waffle combos ever was a savory croque-madam—bechamel sauce, sliced ham and an over-easy egg. —Joe Hrdina, Country Designer
Hawaiian WafflesI created this waffle recipe to recapture the memorable tropical tastes we enjoyed while visiting Hawaii. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon
Waffle SandwichThese waffle sandwiches have a sweet, smoky flavor thanks to three meats, a slice of cheese and apricot preserves. Make them with store-bought waffles to save time, or pull out that waffle maker and make them fresh.
Lemon & Blueberry Waffles
I eat waffles with lemon curd and a blueberry sauce I make by simmering blueberries with a little water, sugar and a sprig of thyme. Remove from heat and stir in a tablespoon or two of butter. Top with whipped cream and lemon zest. —Jeanne Ambrose, Former Content Director
Banana-Nut Waffle CakeI wanted to use waffles in a creative way and came up with an idea of making a cake out of them. Not only did it take much less time than making an ordinary cake, it came out just as delicious as a traditional cake. Waffles can be made ahead, wrapped and stored in the fridge until ready to assemble this cake. —Kristina S., Yonkers, New York
Savory WafflesRefrigerated hash brown potatoes will help you make quick work of these crunchy waffles. Put out lots of toppings so everyone can customize their own.
PB&J Waffles
I like to spread mine with peanut or almond butter for some protein. Then I top them with fresh berries, kind of like a PB&J. —Shannon Norris, Senior Food Stylist. Learn how to make healthy protein waffles.
Pumpkin Waffles with Orange Walnut ButterThis is so delicious! Bring a flourish to the breakfast table with these unique and flavorful waffle. —Brandi Davis, Pullman, Washington
Over-Easy Waffles
I like to dress a waffle with an over-easy egg, sprinkle it with sea salt and fresh ground pepper, then add a generous splash of maple syrup over it all. Here's how to make an over-easy egg like a pro. —Deb Mulvey, Former Copy Chief
Amish WafflesThese waffles are so crispy and tasty, you wouldn't believe they could get any better—until you add the topping. It's so delicious.—Neil and Jeanne Liechty, Pensacola, Florida
Bananas Foster Waffles
I love waffles topped with bananas Foster or the four B's (sliced bananas, butter, sugar and booze). I also like to fold crumbled bacon into the batter. —Rashanda Cobbins, Food Editor
Bacon and Cheese WafflesIncluding bacon and cheese in the waffle batter makes an all-in-one breakfast flavor. Freeze extras to reheat another day. —MarGenne Rowley, Oasis, Utah
Churro Waffles
I make a churro-inspired version: I top waffles with cinnamon, whipped cream and dulce de leche sauce. —Justin Williams, Former Culinary Assistant
Pecan Chocolate WafflesIf you like waffles and chocolate, this recipe is for you. These tender but crunchy waffles are great for breakfast, brunch or an after-dinner dessert. Instead of chocolate topping, top with berries and whipped cream or simply sprinkle with powdered sugar. —Agnes Golian, Garfield Heights, Ohio
Savory Mustard Chicken and Stuffing WafflesAdding mustard to the chicken coating adds a tang that's amazing with the savory waffles and sweet maple syrup. —John Ginn, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Nutella Waffles
I top my waffles with Nutella, peanut butter, bananas and a sprinkling of crushed peanuts. Mmm. —Beth Tomkiw, Chief Content Officer
Apple Pie Ricotta WafflesI had apples and ricotta cheese to use up, so instead of making a pie I decided to do something different. The result was these fluffy, tender waffles with just a hint of sweetness. —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan
Peaches ‘n’ Cream Waffle DippersI've prepared these for many brunches—peaches are my favorite fruit to add, but you can use strawberries or blueberries. People of all ages enjoy dunking crispy waffle strips into creamy dip. —Bonnie Geavaras-Bootz, Chandler, Arizona
Easy Morning WafflesMaking your own fluffy waffles from scratch takes no time at all, and the touch of cinnamon in these beats any frozen store-bought version. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
Gingerbread Belgian WafflesI like to combine the sweet and spicy taste of gingerbread with the cool and dreamy taste of cream cheese frosting. It's a heavenly way to start the day! —Jannine Fisk, Malden, Massachusetts
