No country is more known for their waffles and their waffle varieties than Belgium, which has more than a dozen different varieties of waffles. Here are some of the many popular types of waffles that come from Belgium.
While Belgium is the country most known for a wide variety of waffles, other countries have some tasty types of waffles as well, including Canada, which is known for their unique hot dog waffles, which are typically stuffed with sausage and can be served with many different types of sauces. There are also Dunkirk Waffles that come from England. Dunkirk waffles are typically made with brown sugar and offer a dry, crispy, and crunchy texture. Toppings for these types of waffles usually include sugar, cinnamon, and butter, and they’re most commonly served when people are celebrating Christmas and New Year’s.
Here are some other types of waffles from around the world, along with where they come from.
| Waffle | Location | Description |
| American Waffles | United States | Primarily served as a breakfast food in the U.S., waffles may be topped with fruit, chocolate chips, ice cream, bacon, whipped cream, butter, and/or maple syrup. |
| Belgian Waffles | Belgium | Belgian waffles present a tasty combination of light batter and large squares and are typically topped with confectioners’ sugar, chocolate spread, and whipped cream. |
| Bergische Waffles | Germany | These heart-shaped waffles are commonly served with cream and cherries. |
| Brussels Waffles | Belgium | Common at carnivals, they’re rectangular, light, and airy and are best enjoyed when covered with chocolate or powdered sugar. |
| Bubble Waffles | Hong Kong | Also known as egg waffles, this is a very popular street food that is presented as half spheres, not squares. They’re crisp on the outside and a bit chewy on the inside! |
| Chicken and Waffles | United States | This unique combination comes from American soul food. The waffle is served as it normally would be, with condiments like butter and syrup, but it’s also topped with fried chicken. |
| Croffle | Korea | A dessert in Korea in which a layered dough is baked in a waffle pan and eaten with ice cream or maple syrup. They have a chewy texture much like the croissants they’re based on. |
| Dunkirk Waffles | England | This dry, crispy, crunchy waffle made with brown sugar tastes like butter, cinnamon, and sugar. They’re commonly given to friends and family to wish them a merry Christmas and happy new year. |
| Flemish Waffles | France | These can be round or irregularly shaped and are usually served with sugar and orange blossom water on top. They can be enjoyed either hot or cold! |
| Galettes | Belgium | Buttery and crunchy waffles paired with a savory filling |
| Hot Dog Waffles | Canada | Stuffed with sausage, hot dog waffles can be covered with any type of sauce. |
| Kanom Rung | Thailand | This is a coconut-flavored version of a waffle. “Kanom rung” means “beehive,” reminiscent of their honeycomb-like shape. |
| Kempen Waffles | Belgium | Yet another style of Belgian waffle that has many small pockets and is very crunchy, crumbly, and buttery. These make for the perfect snack. |
| Kue Gapit | Indonesia | These waffles are generally made with tapioca flour and get their name from the cooking process, in which they are grilled between iron molds like a waffle. |
| Lacquemant Waffles | Switzerland | Wafer-like waffles similar to the Dutch stroopwafel but covered with orange-blossom-flavored syrup |
| Liege Waffles | Belgium | Rich, dense, sweet, and chewy waffles that contain chunks of pearl sugar, which caramelize on the outside of the waffle when it’s cooked |
| Num Poum | Cambodia | Crisp waffles made from rice flour, cream, and coconut milk that are typically sold on the street and best consumed plain and hot |
| Pandan Waffles | Vietnam | A very common street food that makes for a delicious snack and uses green coloring, a fragrant nutty flavor, and cocunut milk or cream to further enrich the waffle batter |
| Pizzelle | Italy | Made from flour, sugar, eggs, butter or vegetable oil, and flavoring, these traditional Italian waffle cookies are a real treat. |
| Potato Waffles | Ireland | Also popular in Great Britain, potato waffles are essentially just waffle-shaped versions of potato pancakes. |
| Rosettes | Scandinavia | Deep-fried waffles that are thin and cookie-like, they’re known for their lacy pattern and are usually smothered in icing or powdered sugar. |
| Sandwaffeln | Germany | A crispy, thin, more biscuity version of the typical American waffle that’s commonly topped with applesauce, freshly squeezed lemon, or jam |
| Scandinavian Waffles | Scandinavia | Waffles that are generally heart-shaped and can have several unconventional toppings, such as salmon, cheese, or sour cream |
| Stroopwafels | Netherlands | Flat, round, crispy wafers with caramel syrup filling the insides. “Stroopwafel” even means “waffles in syrup.” |
| Swedish Waffles | Sweden | Usually served with whipped cream and jam, these waffles are thin, crispy, and heart-shaped. |
| Taiyaki | Japan | Dating back to the 1800s, this fish-shaped waffle is commonly filled with red bean paste that is made from sweetened adzuki beans. |
| Vegan Waffles | India | Crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, not too sweet, and filled with a good amount of fiber from the oats |
| Waffle Pao de Queijo | Brazil | A famous Brazilian cheese waffle that can be turned into a dessert by spreading jam on top |
FAQs
WAFFLES vs.
A 6-ounce waffle at Bob Evans “costs” 340 calories, while Denny's Belgian waffle platter will run you more than 600 calories — before adding syrup, butter or fruit. French toast, though, is typically the least healthy choice. Denny's French toast platter has more than 1,200 calories.
Which country has the best waffles in the world? ›
The Belgian waffle is one of the most famous types of waffles in the world.
Which is healthier, pancakes or waffles? ›
Neither carb-tastic treat is exactly spa food (though both can be made healthier and/or made to suit special diets—by using almond flour for gluten-free versions, for instance), but if you're counting calories, waffles have about 100 more of them than pancakes, and more cholesterol too, but that's before you factor in ...
How many types of waffles are there in the world? ›
The Full List of 28 Waffles from Around the World
| Waffle | Location |
|---|
| American Waffles | United States |
| Belgian Waffles | Belgium |
| Bergische Waffles | Germany |
| Brussels Waffles | Belgium |
24 more rowsFrench Toast is a delicious breakfast entree that is loved by many. With this in mind, french toast can be very calorie dense with high amounts of added sugar and fat. But, it can be tweaked to reduce the sugar and fat content while adding some fiber to your breakfast - yay!
Is it OK to eat waffles every day? ›
Also, avoid store-bought frozen waffles which contain white flour and preservatives. Once you start making healthy waffles at home, you'll never want to go back to store-bought. Last but not least, go easy on the serving size. Remember, waffles are an indulgence and not something you should be eating every day.
Which is better Belgian waffles or regular waffles? ›
The Difference Between Belgian Waffles and Regular Waffles
Belgian waffles have extra-deep pockets—the better for filling with butter, jam, maple syrup, or whipped cream. They're sometimes made with egg whites to give them their signature crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside texture.
Why do Belgian waffles taste so good? ›
Why Are Belgian Waffles So Good? Ahh, good question! While regular old waffles are made from a typical pancake-like batter, Belgian waffles are made from a brioche dough. The secret ingredient in Belgian waffles is the pearl sugar, which gives the waffles a unique texture and slight, satisfying crunch.
What country eats chicken and waffles? ›
Chicken and waffles is an American dish combining chicken with waffles. It is part of a variety of culinary traditions, including Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine and soul food, and is served in certain specialty restaurants in the United States.
What is healthier eggs or pancakes? ›
Unless it's a whole-grain, nut-flecked, bursting-with-berries kind of pancake, I'd usually stick with eggs because they're more inherently nutritious and higher in protein than pancakes made with white flour. The protein will help keep you full longer.
“Waffles covered in butter and syrup make them high in calories and saturated fat, which isn't a great way to start your morning.” But some frozen waffles are healthier than others.
Is it OK to eat pancake everyday? ›
Pancakes are a great breakfast option once in a while, but should not be eaten regularly. Pancakes and syrup are carb and sugar-heavy, which may cause you to wish for a nap!
What are skinny waffles called? ›
A stroopwafel (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈstroːpˌʋaːfəl]; lit. 'syrup waffle') is a thin, round waffle made from two layers of sweet baked dough held together by syrup filling. First made in the city of Gouda in South Holland, stroopwafels are a well-known Dutch treat popular throughout the Netherlands and abroad.
What did waffles used to be called? ›
Like many of Western civilization's finest achievements, the long and delicious history of waffles can be traced to ancient Greece, where Athenians cooked flat cakes called obelios between two metal plates. The word waffle is related to wafer, as in the Communion wafers that were a staple of early Christian fasts.
What country makes the best waffles? ›
Belgian waffles are also very light and airy inside. Traditionally this was due to them being made with yeast. Generally today they are made with baking powder, like in my recipe. In order to keep the waffles light, we beat the egg whites separately from the yolks, then, fold them into the batter at the end.
Which is healthier, French toast or pancakes? ›
Ready to find a winner? It's time for a food face-off. A typical stack of pancakes has almost 500 fewer calories than a plate of French toast—as well as 20 fewer grams of sugar. Pancakes keep up their lead with 78% less saturated fat than their French toast counterparts.
Is waffles healthy or unhealthy? ›
Despite their tasty profile, these comfort foods are often made with refined white flour and topped with butter and syrup, which is essentially pure sugar. This means that pancakes and waffles are high in calories, fat, and sugar, yet lacking in protein and fiber.
What is healthier than waffles? ›
Without any altercations to the typical recipe, pancakes have 20% less calories than waffles due to their small nature.
What's healthier, waffle or bagel? ›
Winner: Bagel!
Order the occasional bagel and pile it with good-for-you toppings: Scrambled eggs, veggies, and a little part-skim cheese will keep you full for hours.
