Waffle with berry and cream

Cooking Waffles Without Waffle Iron (Step by step guide)

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Whenever you think of a delicious snack, waffles are definitely one of the first to pop up in your mind. These little treats of buttery sweetness are usually made using a very specialized machine that gives it the crunchy texture it’s so famous for.

Imagine you’re craving some homemade waffles. But you realize that you don’t have a waffle iron at home. Don’t worry; here’s a backup plan for cooking waffles without waffle iron. 

Simply use a grill pan or griddle pan that you have lying around at home. If you want to take it up a notch, get a silicone waffle mold that’s super easy to use.

We’re going to take you through some of the easiest recipes for homemade waffles. So, hang tight and enjoy!

Best Ways of Cooking Waffles Without Waffle Iron

There’s no better way to cook waffles without a waffle iron. But, if you don’t have one, which I assume you don’t, there are always alternative methods that you can try. Here are some of them. 

Using a Grill Pan

Grill pan

Grill pans are very versatile when it comes to DIY cooking. The nifty kitchen utensil can serve as a perfect cooking tray for grilling meat, fish, or veggies. But when you’re making waffles for breakfast at home, the results that come out of using a grill pan are pretty stunning too.

Here’s the grill pan recipe for making waffles at home without using a waffle iron. The steps are pretty straightforward. Even though it might seem a bit complex at first, you’ll get the hang of it just after a few burnt tries!

Step 01: Whisk the wet & dry ingredients separately

Take the flour, baking soda, baking powder, sugar & salt in a large bowl and whisk them all together. Take milk, butter, vanilla extract, and eggs in a separate medium-sized bowl. Mix the two batters once properly whisked.

Step 02: Prep the grill pan

Place the grill pan on medium heat and apply cooking spray all over it. Wait till the pan is adequately heated. Then put about half a cup of the batter right in the center.

Step 03: Cooking the batter

Wait till the batter gradually spreads all over the pan evenly. Cook for about 3 minutes until it’s time to flip it with a spatula. Cook the flipped side for about two more minutes, and voila! Your waffle on a grill pan is ready.

Using a Griddle Pan

Griddle pan

Griddle pans make it as simple as it can possibly get when cooking waffles. The whole method is fairly similar to the one we just discussed, only with a few minor differences. Griddle pan waffles actually hold toppings better than regular ones, so it’s a win-win! Follow these super-simple steps to make waffles at home without needing a waffle iron. 

Step 01: Making the batter

Mix the dry ingredients like flour, salt, and baking powder in a large bowl. Mix the wet ingredients like milk, melted butter, and eggs in a large jug. 

You can use a whisking spoon to mix the batter, but rapidly beating it with a regular spoon will also get the job done. Combine the two mixtures later on to make the waffle batter.

Step 02: Greasing the griddle pan and pouring the batter

Put the griddle pan over medium heat and place a cube of butter right in the middle. Wait till the butter melts and starts bubbling up. Then pour the batter evenly over the griddle pan to about half its capacity.

Step 03: Cooking

Cook the waffle batter over the griddle pan for about 5 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready once you see the waffle gets a light golden color. Flip the waffle using a spatula to reveal griddle marks on the other side. Repeat the same step for the flipped side, and you’re done! 

Just remember to press the waffle slightly using the spatula to get deep griddle ridges.

Using A Silicone Waffle Mold

Silicone Waffle Mold from Amazon

There’s another interesting method to make waffles without using a waffle iron. It’s a bit underrated but still functional, nonetheless. And it is using a waffle mold. 

Baking the waffles using a mold can be a fascinating experience. It gives the waffle a particular punch of flavor that’s unlike any other process we described above. Let’s take a look at how you can make waffles with these silicon molds: 

Step 01: Mixing and making the batter

Take the wet and dry ingredients in separate bowls and whisk them until you get a smooth batter with no lumps.

Step 02: Preparing the molds

Get your waffle molds and prep them with baking sheets. Pour the batter over the molds until it’s packed to the brim. Use a ladle to level the surface.

Step 03: Baking in the mold

Place the filled waffle molds in the oven and set it to 430 degrees. You’ll know when the waffles are done when they reach a golden-brown texture after about 10 minutes.

Step 04: Releasing the waffles

Take out the molds by handling the tray carefully using gloves. The silicone waffle molds tend to get very hot and put you at risk of burning your hands. Release the waffles from the molds by applying slight pressure.

Step 05: Re-baking the waffle

Put the waffles back into the oven without the mold. An extra 5 minutes of baking will make the waffles turn crispy brown. Take the waffles out and let them cool before serving. Yum!

You’re Better off Buying A Waffle Iron 

All of the methods are great if you need to make some waffles right now and you don’t have a proper waffle iron. But, when it comes to replicating the authentic taste and structure of a waffle, there is no beating the waffle iron. 

If you don’t make waffles in your household often then I guess there is no point in investing on an expensive machine. In that case you are better off with using the methods we’ve discussed here. 

But, if waffles are a frequent thing on your dining table and you actually plan on having them more than just once or twice a month, investing on a proper waffle iron will be the best thing to do. 

Some Advice On Serving Waffles 

The easiest way to serve up waffles is to slide a flat tray or plate under the cooked waffle and quickly pull it up. That way, you won’t need to get your hands wet or even risk any burns. You cat cut up the waffles into smaller portions for further convenience.

Drizzle some sweet topping like maple syrup or honey over the waffles once they are done. You can even go for jam, jelly, chocolate cause, caramelized bananas, nut butter, or a dollop of whipped cream with a scoop of your favorite ice cream. 

Chopped nuts, granola, or toasted seeds can add a bit of crunch to the flavor. Freshly made yogurt or chopped-up fruits go nicely with homemade waffles too!

If you want to make it savory, poached eggs, smoked salmon, or crispy bacon are good options. Fried chicken and avocado slices with waffles are not totally out of the question either.

Conclusion

The sheer craving you have when you think about the bite of waffles is enough to get you hungry. And if there’s your favorite maple syrup or whipped cream as a topping, it’s a sweet home run! That’s why we’ve compiled some alternative methods to the traditional waffle iron process.

The taste and texture you get by making waffles using these alternative methods are, in no way, inferior to the original recipe. They will have a crispy exterior with an airy, light interior. The crisp golden ridges will be on point as well when cooking waffles without waffle iron. So why not give it a try today?

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