Growing up, I was never a big breakfast person. I didn’t eat egg dishes which severely limited my options. My family would often go to a breakfast restaurant near us on Sunday mornings, and I would invariably oscillate between ordering a grilled cheese or a tuna melt—two of the least breakfast-y options on the menu.
My sister, meanwhile, has always loved breakfast. She is a huge fan of eggs, so she had an endless selection of omelets and scrambles before her. But her favorite dish to order by far was the Belgian waffles. I’ll admit that I occasionally ate a bite or two off her plate and, as far as breakfast foods go, this one is pretty good. But what are Belgian waffles, exactly? How do they differ from regular waffles? Are they actually from Belgium? Let’s find out.
What are Belgian waffles?
Belgian waffles are a supersized form of the waffle that are often served with strawberries and whipped cream. Waffles of some variety have been with us since at least the time of the Ancient Greeks, when they would cook flat cakes between two hot metal plates. And it turns out that waffles and wafers are related and probably share the same root word. I’d never put this together before but it makes sense.
What is the difference between Belgian and regular waffles?
If you’ve ever eaten a fresh Belgian waffle from a top-tier breakfast establishment one day and then plopped an Eggo on your plate the next day, you will understand what makes Belgian waffles different from their American cousins. The main thing that makes Belgian waffles different is their size. Belgian waffles are fluffier than regular waffles. Their squares are deeper and larger.
The ingredients in Belgian waffles and regular waffles, though, are pretty much the same, though some recipes for Belgian waffles will include egg whites to make them even fluffier. So, what makes Belgian waffles different? Mostly it’s all about those big, deep squares.
Where are Belgian waffles from?
The real question here is: Are Belgian waffles from Belgium, or from somewhere else? Surprisingly, unlike French fries, French toast, and Russian dressing (oh, and also French dressing), Belgian waffles were actually invented where their name implies.
The story of the Belgian waffle is strongly connected to the story of the World’s Fair. Belgian waffles first premiered at the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair in Brussels, Belgium. And they were introduced to Americans at the Century 21 Exposition (also a World’s Fair under a different name) in Seattle, WA in 1962. And the 1964 New York World’s Fair popularized them even further.
What is a liege waffle?
But Belgian waffles are the only type of Belgian waffle. You see, there is another well known waffle that also comes out of Belgium, known as the liege waffle. It’s made of a dense brioche, it’s often small and square instead of large and round, and it’s typically eaten plain, without any toppings at all because it’s already sweet enough thanks to the pearl sugar in the batter. It’s a popular street food in parts of Europe.
The liege waffle is delicious, but if someone outside of Belgium even mentions a Belgian waffle, they’re almost certainly talking about the so-called “Brussels waffle,” the big, soft, fluffy kind that you may have had for breakfast.
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!