If you have ever tried to make waffles at home and failed, you are not alone. Many people try to figure out why their waffle maker won’t do the trick online.

It was previously thought that this couldn’t be done because the wooden handle on the old-style waffle irons is too thick and would prevent it from going into a toaster. However, a way has been found around this problem, and it is now possible to make delicious homemade waffles without a waffle iron!

dry waffle maker

If you can’t find your waffle maker, don’t worry. You can still enjoy the crunchy goodness of this breakfast favourite.

Here are some other ways to make waffles without a waffle maker:

Make Waffles Without A Waffle Maker [Quick Guide]

Pancakes

Waffles are cousins to pancakes; this is the easiest way to make waffles without a machine. Simply use your favorite pancake recipe or boxed mix and pour it into a pre-heated iron frying pan. Avoid moving it until the bottom is browned, flip it over and finish cooking until golden brown.

Biscuit Waffles

Biscuit dough is another easy option for making waffles without a waffle iron. Roll out the dough, cut it into squares, and cook in an iron frying pan over medium heat for several minutes until golden brown.

How Can You Make Batter For Waffles?

waffle without a waffle maker

Cooking waffles without a waffle maker is very easy to do. You can either use a pan over the stove or cook them in the oven. You can make your waffle batter or purchase an already-made mix. 

When making your batter, you will need flour, salt, baking powder, eggs, milk, and butter. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. If you use a pan over the stove, heat it on medium-high heat and pour some oil into it.

Once it is hot enough, pour the batter into the pan and close it. Wait about five minutes for one side to cook before flipping it over. Cook for another five minutes or so and then remove from heat. If you are cooking them in the oven, pour some batter into a hot frying pan on the stovetop and spread it out as thinly as possible so that it will cook evenly when placed in the oven. 

Place this pan in an oven preheated to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately ten minutes until golden brown. Remove from heat and cut into triangles if desired.

Note:

Cook waffles in the microwave. You can also make waffles in the microwave if you don’t have one or aren’t comfortable using one. Place all of your ingredients into a large bowl and then place in the microwave until completely melted, about 1 minute per side. This will give you great results that taste very similar to those waffles made in the waffle maker.

1. Oven Bake In A Silicone Waffle Mold

Oven Bake In A Silicone Waffle Mold
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (177 C).
  2. Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
  3. Mix the wet ingredients in another bowl.
  4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, and mix until smooth.
  5. Prepare a silicone waffle mold by brushing it with oil, so the waffles don’t stick.
  6. Fill each cavity of the waffle mold with batter, then bake for 15-20 minutes until they are golden brown on top and feel firm to the touch.

2. Make Waffles In A Ridged Grill Pan

Make Waffles In A Ridged Grill Pan

A ridged grill pan is usually used for steaks and chops, but it’s also a great way to make waffles. The pan is made of cast iron, which heats evenly and retains heat well. It’s also non-stick, so you don’t need to grease the pan or worry about food sticking to it.

  1. Heat the ridged grill pan over medium-high heat until it begins to smoke, then reduce the heat slightly. 
  2. Pour batter into the center of the pan until it is halfway full.
  3. Cook the waffle until golden brown on both sides, brushing lightly with oil as needed to keep the waffle from sticking. 
  4. Remove from the pan and repeat with the remaining batter.

3. Use A Sandwich Maker As A Waffle Iron

What Is Malted Buttermilk Waffle Recipe
  1. Heat the sandwich press on medium heat. 
  2. Put your sandwich press on medium heat. The heat should be high enough to cook the waffle batter but not so high that it burns the outside of the waffle before the inside is done cooking.
  3. Add 2 cups (450 mL) of batter to one side of the grill pan. Use a liquid measuring cup or ladle to scoop out the batter and pour it into your sandwich press. You should use enough batter to cover most of the surface area, but not so much that it rubs off onto your countertop when you close your sandwich press. For example, if you have an 8″ x 8″ (20 x 20 cm) square pan, you should add about 2 cups (450 mL) of batter.
  4. Close the sandwich press and cook for about 5 minutes. To do this, lower the top section of your sandwich press until it covers your pan and locks into place.
  5. Check on your waffle every few minutes as it cooks.

4. Make Pancake Looking Waffles In A Frying-Pan

Make Pancake Looking Waffles In A Frying-Pan
  1. Heat the pan over medium heat and coat it with butter or oil.
  2. Pour a small amount of batter into the pan, be sure to use a measuring cup and pour 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of batter into the center of the pan.
  3. Wait until the sides solidify and bubbles form on the top surface of the waffle. This will take about 30 seconds.
  4. Flip your waffle and cook it for an additional 10 seconds, then remove it from the pan. Repeat this process until all of your batters have been used up.

5. Use A Piping-Bag To Criss-Cross Waffle Mix Onto A Skillet

Use A Piping-Bag To Criss-Cross Waffle Mix Onto A Skillet

If you’re looking for a neat, even way to make waffles, as opposed to the fast and dirty method of dumping a bunch of mixes into hot waffle iron and hoping everything turns out all right, then this is the method for you.

What you’ll need

  1. Piping bag
  2. A thick-bottomed skillet
  3. Heatproof plate or dishtowel

Preparation

Set your skillet over medium heat until it’s warm, then set it aside. Fill your piping bag (or a ziplock with a corner cut off) with waffle mix, then use it to pipe crisscrosses onto your skillet. 

Return the skillet to medium heat and wait 1-2 minutes for the bottom of your waffles to firm up and the top to cook through. Using tongs, carefully remove your waffles from the pan and set them aside on a plate or towel while you repeat steps 2-3 with the rest of your mix.

Procedure

This unconventional method of making a waffle is for those who don’t have the time or patience to get out of the waffle maker. It may not produce a “true” waffle, but it’s a very effective fix.

  1. Heat your skillet to medium-high heat and put just a bit of oil in the pan.
  2. While waiting for your pan to heat, pour some waffle mix into a piping bag or a large plastic bag with the tip cut off. You can even use another large plastic bag if you don’t have a piping bag.
  3. Once your pan is hot enough, squeeze out the batter so that two lines are squeezed out onto the pan with about an inch in between them. Then turn the pan around and squeeze out two more lines to cross over the previous two lines. 
  4. Continue this process until you’ve covered the entire bottom of your pan with crisscrossed waffle batter.
  5. Cook until golden brown, flipping once halfway through properly cooked waffles.

6. Drizzle Waffle Mix From A Funnel Onto A Hot Skillet

Drizzle Waffle Mix From A Funnel Onto A Hot Skillet

To make these waffles, you’ll need a small funnel and something to pour the batter into the funnel with. 

That could be a pitcher, measuring cup, or small bowl.

  1. You’ll first want to preheat your skillet over medium-high heat for about five minutes.
  2. Next, put the funnel on top of the frying pan and pour some waffle mix. How much you use depends on how big you want your waffle to be. You can also scoop the batter using a ladle if you don’t have a funnel.
  3. When your batter hits the hot skillet, it will start to cook just like regular pancakes and spread out into a round shape. Pour enough batter in to fill the entire skillet up so that it covers all the bottom surface area and goes up on the sides. 
  4. This way, when you flip it over, it will be a nice oval shape like a Belgian waffle should be.

Note:

The most common waffle mix is the easy-to-make, pre-mixed kind that you can buy at the grocery store. Mixes are usually plain or chocolate and come in a box with instructions on how to make them.

The quick and easy way to make waffles is to use a waffle iron, a special frying pan with a built-in heating element. These irons have a non-stick surface and are very easy to use. Simply pour your batter into the iron, close it, and wait for your waffles to cook!

The traditional way to make waffles is on the stove top with a cast-iron skillet. This method is not as fast as an electric waffle iron, but it produces excellent results! This method is used primarily by restaurants and professional chefs because of the skill required and because it’s not as efficient as other methods.

FAQs

Conclusion

The batter is the single most important ingredient when it comes to making waffles. The batter is what makes or breaks a waffle. It starts with the recipe, and many easy, basic recipes can be made with ingredients already in your pantry.

Even if you have the perfect batter, you’re going to need to have the right tools. A good waffle iron is important because it determines how the outside of your waffle looks and feels. Once your batter is mixed and ready to go, it’s time for the fun part of cooking! 

You can cook waffles in many different ways, from an iron to a griddle or skillet. Each method has its pros and cons, but they all result in delicious waffles that will make you want seconds (or thirds).