I think the world is divided into two kinds of people. Pancake people and waffle people. I’m a waffle person. If you are a pancake person, it’s ok. We can still be friends. But only after you listen to me explain why waffles are a million times better than pancakes.
First of all, waffles just work. They may not be effortless, but they usually work out pretty well. Pancakes, on the other hand? More often than not they are lumpy, too thick, burned on the outside and raw on the inside, or just generally disappointing. Waffles never disappoint you. Waffles love you.
Also, you can put all kinds of fun stuff into waffles to jazz them up and they will taste delicious. Pancakes are finicky. If you overload them with too much extra stuff they don’t turn out right (as if they turn out right the rest of the time. Side eye, pancakes.)
Lastly, and this is probably the most important. Waffle iron. The best invention since ever. Drop your batter in. Close the lid. It beeps to tell you that it’s done! And then remove a perfect waffle every time. Not like with pancakes where you inevitably have to throw the first one away because the first one is always terrible for some reason? Then you can keep all your waffles warm in a nice 200 degree oven until they are all finished, and everyone gets to eat their waffles at the same time.
I may be partial to waffles because I was raised that way. My mom always made waffles when I was growing up. In fact, she bought me and Mr. Briar our first (and only) waffle iron. We had only been dating for a few months at that point but we were spending every waking moment together and I think we and everyone else had already figured out that we were going to be 2gether 4ever. So with our new waffle iron we set out to find THE BEST WAFFLE RECIPE OF ALL TIME. It took a long time to find a waffle recipe that we really liked, but we eventually settled on the Aretha Frankenstien’s Waffles of Insane Greatness recipe.
I usually made a variation of them, until a few weeks ago when I realized I was out of milk and I had some apple cider sitting in the fridge from our apple picking trip. I’ve always loved the idea of making apple cider waffles but never gotten around to making them. After a few tweaks we ended up with these guys. The flavors! I added some greek yogurt, which gives a nice tanginess. Then some cider spices like cinnamon, allspice, cloves and nutmeg. If you are in a pinch or it is just too early to be measuring out 5 different spices you can just use a teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice (I do that all the time). I also subbed some whole wheat flour to add a little extra flavor and body to the waffles, but you can use all white flour if you want.
The best thing about these waffles is that they can be made the morning you want to eat them, instead of the night before like yeasted waffles. I do love yeasted waffles, but I rarely have the planning skills to make them happen. The thing that makes these waffles special is that they contain cornstarch. This helps the waffles to be fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside. They do require a 30 minute resting time between mixing up the batter and cooking, but there is plenty to do during that time – turn on your waffle iron, make your coffee, clean up the cooking mess, put your bacon in the oven (you cook your bacon in the oven, right?) and before you know it, its time to start making some waffles. The rest time is for sciencey reasons having to do with how quickly flour and cornstarch absorb water. Just trust me on this.
Apple Cider Waffles
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup nonfat greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup fresh apple cider or apple juice
- 1/3 cup canola oil or vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon allspice
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
Instructions
- In a medium sized bowl, mix the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt and spices until combined, set aside.
- In a separate bowl, mix the yogurt, apple cider, oil, eggs, brown sugar, and vanilla until well combined.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Allow to sit for 30 minutes.
- Heat the waffle iron and cook according to manufacturer instructions. Serve waffles immediately with butter and maple syrup or arrange in a single layer on a cooling rack and keep in a 200°F oven until ready to serve.
Notes
**Makes about 5 waffles in a standard round waffle iron
***Waffles freeze well! Allow to cool completely on a cooling rack (not stacked). After they are cool, wrap individually in plastic wrap or foil and store in a freezer bag. When ready to eat them, they can be unwrapped individually and reheated in a 200 degree oven or in the toaster.
Nutrition
Heavily adapted from Aretha Frankenstien’s Waffles of Insane Greatness
Are you a waffle person or a pancake person? It’s ok if you are a pancake person, I promise I won’t judge (probably).
PS – After much painstaking consideration, THIS is the waffle iron that Mr. Briar and I selected for our first household item as a couple. We have had it for a few years now and we are quite happy with it. (< That’s an affiliate link, by the way!).
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase the items I recommend through the links I provide, I get a small commission. For more info, please see my disclosure policy. I only recommend products if I actually love them. Thanks for supporting Fox and Briar!
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Stephanie | The Foodie and The Fix says
These sound so amazing AND the photos are stunning! #teamwaffle for sure (though crepes are also high on my list) Btw, thanks for letting me include this in my buzzfeed post! It’s live @ http://bzfd.it/1TLZjEu 🙂
Meghan says
Thank you so much Stephanie, and thanks for including me in the buzzfeed post!
swayam says
This is all kinds of yum Meghan!! Loved the post..and so good to meet a fellow waffle lover 😉
thanks for joining us at #saucysaturdays.
PS: you have been FEATURED this week!!! Feel free to brag about it to your friends.. 🙂
Meghan says
Wow, thank you so much for the feature Swayam! That is so cool! High five for waffles!
Ritu ahuja says
These waffles look perfect. Great combination. They look delicious. Yum yum 🙂
Meghan says
Thank you Ritu!
[email protected] says
These apple cider waffles look so delicious and your photos – major drooling !!!
Meghan says
Thanks so much for the sweeet compliment Ami!
Ashlyn | Dollop of Yum says
I am that odd person who can’t pick between pancakes and waffles because I love them both too much! These look delicious!!
Meghan says
The more breakfast foods the merrier! Thanks so much Ashlyn!
annie says
Gimme waffle!
I love both waffles and pancakes, for different reasons. Thanks for sharing the story about how you came up with these. Hurrah for food blogger innovation!
Meghan says
Running out of ingredients: keeping food bloggers in business since 2005. 🙂 Also, as long as you love waffles, loving pancakes too is OK in my book. Thanks Annie!
Kelly says
These waffles look amazing, Meghan! Team waffles all the way for me and I love that you added Greek yogurt
Meghan says
Yes, go team waffles! Thanks so much Kelly!
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop says
I love how you used apple cider in here! Perfect. We are actually equal waffle and pancake people in my house. We tend to switch off every other weekend! Will need to try this delicious looking combination!
Meghan says
Thank you Kathy! Giving equal love to pancakes and waffles is the egalitarian thing to do, and hey, you get delicious breakfast either way!
Leslie @ flora foodie says
Alright sooooo I think I have to claim I’m both a waffle person AND a pancake person. I can’t choose!!! Although you’re right that having a waffle maker tell you when your food is done is pretty awesome… Anyway, you’re killing me with these apple cider waffles. So perfectly fall, I must have them. 🙂
Meghan says
Hey, being a pancake and a waffle person might just be win/win – you can’t lose! Thank you so much Leslie!
Linda | The Baker Who Kerns says
Ooo! Love your photos Meghan! I am actually a pancake person cause I am a little scared of waffle irons… I always feel I’m gonna end up with freaky waffle-ironed fingers. But these just look so lovely! I think I have to get that waffle iron!
Meghan says
Thanks so much for the sweet compliment Linda! I can see how waffle irons can look a little scary, but they are so much easier to use than they look! I think you will be pleasantly surprised!
Nicole @ Young, Broke and Hungry says
I don’t have a waffle iron but my parents do, and I’m planning on stealing it from them just so I can make these glorious golden brown waffles.
Meghan says
I bet they won’t even notice it’s gone! And if they do, just make them some waffles, then they will forget all about it 🙂 Thanks Nicole!
E.A. says
Thise sound SO good!! I love the way you smoothly improvise when the opportunity presents! So~~will be trying these waffles with apple cider!
What a wise mom to give you such an important kitchen tool in your time of “going serious” in your relationship!
????❤️❤️❤️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Meghan says
🙂 🙂 What a smart Mom!
My Dish is Bomb says
“waffles love you”<— Lol yes!! My breakfast loves me!! If only the whole world thought like that, there would be alot more self-love goin' around. Love these waffles and love having apple flavours in my breakfast!
Meghan says
Yes, what the world needs now is love and waffles. And a hug. Thanks so much Katy!
Rachel @ Bakerita says
Apple cider waffles! These are amazing. I just got a waffle maker a few weeks ago, but I am DEFINITELY a waffle person. They’re crispy perfection and your apple cider version only makes them better!
Meghan says
Yes! High five on our waffle person-ness. And now that you have a waffle maker you will probably start making every kind of waffle you can think of. Thank you so much Rachel!
Cathleen @ A Taste Of Madness says
I am only a pancake person because cleaning a waffle iron scares me. But now I see this…maybe I will be asking for a waffle iron this Christmas..
Meghan says
Haha, Cathleen, I get that! But I think most waffle irons come pre-seasoned and the waffle pops right out, no cleaning needed! The only time I have had to clean my waffle iron is when I do “liege” waffles which have tons of sugar. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Anu-My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
Mmmmm, these apple cider waffles look and sound incredibly yum! Lovely share! 🙂
Meghan says
Thank you so much Anu!