Belgian Sugar Waffles

A cooling rack with Belgian sugar waffles, served with a small bowl of melted chocolate

The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Rise Time: 60 mins
Total: 95 mins
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Yield: 12 to 15 waffles

These are the real deal Belgian sugar waffles called Liège, named after a city and a province in Belgium. They have a beautiful crunchy sugar coating and are soft and chewy on the inside. They smell like vanilla and taste like heaven. You can find them all over Europe and in the U.S. In restaurants, you can get them plain or with chocolate drizzled on them.

Luckily, you can easily make these wonderful waffles at home with any waffle iron and only one special ingredient. You will need pearl sugar. You can order it off of Amazon, and it is not too expensive. Some specialty baking stores also carry it. If you are in dire straits and must have these waffles sooner than Amazon will deliver them, you can also just break up some sugar cubes. 

You don't have to have a Belgian waffle iron to make these waffles, but the nice deep ridges are a plus in making these waffles amazing. These ridges are perfect for holding puddles of delicious maple syrup or whatever other flavors you enjoy. And you can also slather on some Nutella or whatever suits your taste when no one is looking.

These waffles are definitely best served immediately, preferably with some bacon and eggs. They do not store or reheat well since they tend to lose their crunchy coating and deliciousness. Some authentic waffles will include saffron, but the eggs will give the waffles their nice golden color, and the vanilla extract creates an amazing perfume of sweet deliciousness. 

"This is a fun treat! The dough tastes like a sweet yeast bread that's also chewy and crisp. The pearl sugar (available online or at Walmart) adds a great crunchy texture without making the waffles too sweet, so you can still serve them with syrup if you like." —Jasmine Smith

Belgian Sugar Waffles/Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons (20 grams) light brown sugar

  • 1 3/4 teaspoons (7 grams) active dry yeast

  • 1/2 cup warm water (about 95 degrees), or scalded milk for richer flavor

  • 2 1/4 cups (272 grams) all-purpose flour

  • 1/4 teaspoon fine salt

  • 3 large eggs

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

  • 1 cup (8 ounces) melted butter

  • 1 cup pearl sugar

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients to make Belgian sugar waffles

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, yeast, and water until well combined. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.

    A glass bowl of foamy yeast with brown sugar and water

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

  3. Place the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl. Gradually stir in the yeast mixture until the dough is damp and shaggy-looking.

    A large glass bowl of flour and salt, with the yeast-water mixture being folded in with a silicone spatula

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

  4. Using an electric hand mixer on medium-low speed, beat in the eggs one at a time until the mixture is just combined before adding the next one.

    A hand adding an egg to the bowl of flour-yeast mixture, with a hand mixer beating in an egg

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

  5. Add the vanilla and continue to mix on medium-low until just combined. Gradually add the butter while continuing to mix until the batter is smooth and emulsified, about 1 minute. The batter will be very sticky and have a thick but not stiff texture.

    A hand pouring melted butter into a bowl of Belgian sugar waffle batter, as a hand mixer mixes

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

  6. Cover and let rise for 1 hour. Meanwhile, heat a waffle iron according to the manufacturer's directions. Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 250 F. Place a rack in a large baking sheet. Set aside.

    A glass bowl of risen dough

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

  7. Just before cooking the waffles, fold in the pearl sugar. If you add it too early, it will dissolve and not create a crispy coating.

    A large glass bowl of Belgian sugar waffle dough, with a silicone spatula folding pearl sugar into the batter

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

  8. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of batter into the waffle iron. Cook until golden brown on both sides.

    A hand pouring a spoon of batter into a prepared waffle iron

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

  9. Transfer the waffles to the prepared baking sheet and keep warm in the oven until all the waffles are cooked. Serve immediately.

    A baking sheet with a cooling rack topped with 9 Belgian sugar waffles

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

Tips

  • Top with your favorite topping: fresh fruits, whipped cream, chocolate sauce, you name it, the sky's the limit.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
471 Calories
25g Fat
55g Carbs
7g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories 471
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 25g 32%
Saturated Fat 15g 76%
Cholesterol 131mg 44%
Sodium 278mg 12%
Total Carbohydrate 55g 20%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 28g
Protein 7g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 26mg 2%
Iron 2mg 11%
Potassium 84mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)