Deliciously sweet waffles with a crisp exterior and a light and fluffy interior, this is a breakfast treat that comes together quickly and easily.

These are very similar to Belgian Liège waffles, but without the pearl sugar. I also use a simpler method of making the dough than the recipe that came with my waffle machine and claims to be the real deal. I have occasionally gone all out and spent 45 minutes making the dough, but I honestly don’t think it makes that much difference to the finished product.

I make the dough the evening before to give the yeast time to do its magic ever so slowly in the fridge overnight, then it’s super quick in the morning to bake the waffles. If you’d prefer to do it all at once, let the dough rest for 15 minutes before dividing, then give it about 30 minutes to rise.

Makes 8, serves 4
Dough: 10 minutes
Resting: overnight then about 45 minutes the next morning
Baking: 20 minutes (4 batches of 2), depending on your machine

Ingredients

250g (2 cups, spooned and scraped) all-purpose (plain) flour
35g (3 Tbsp) granulated sugar
3g (1 tsp) instant dry yeast
pinch salt
80ml (1/3 cup) milk, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 large egg, lightly beaten
110g (7 1/2 Tbsp) butter, softened

Directions

Whisk together the flour, sugar, yeast and salt.

Add the milk, vanilla extract and egg and mix to a shaggy dough.

Add the softened butter and knead until dough is smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes with a stand mixer or 10 minutes by hand. It will be very soft.

Transfer dough to a clean, buttered bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Remove dough from fridge, knead together and cut into eight pieces. Roll the pieces into smooth, flattened balls and place in a buttered baking dish, cover loosely with plastic wrap and allow to rise for 30 – 45 minutes, depending on ambient temperature. They should be about 50% bigger.

Stretch and flatten slightly and bake in waffle maker until deep golden brown – about 5 minutes on medium-high.

Serve hot with whipped cream, berries, maple syrup, chocolate sauce, jam… whatever you fancy.