We will show you how to make fluffy Belgian waffles by combining 2 cups of pancake mix with some whipped egg whites, egg yolks, butter, sugar, and milk. Pancake and Belgian waffle mixes are different enough that you cannot use a pancake maker to make waffles. If you want a waffle maker that can make both waffles and pancakes, then please look at the Cuisinart WAF 300 removable plates Belgian waffle maker.
Belgian waffles are much thicker than the Eggo-style waffles that are made by any of the best thin crispy waffle makers. Trying to turn a Belgian waffle mix into pancakes requires a different set of steps.
What is pancake mix?
Pancake mix is a prepackaged powder consisting of commonly used dry ingredients for making pancakes including flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. It is a really convenient way to make some pancakes because all you have to do is combine the powdered mix with some milk and eggs to make your pancake batter instead of spending a lot of time and trouble measuring out all of the individual ingredients and combining them. It is available in a variety of flavors including apple cinnamon, blueberry, chocolate chip, pumpkin spice, and strawberry.
What are the differences between Belgian waffles and pancakes?
Pancakes and Belgian waffles are both breakfast favorites, but there are some key differences between the two. The first difference is that pancakes are soft and floppy while Belgian waffles are stiffer and have a crispier exterior. The second difference is that waffle batter is thicker and richer than pancake batter because it uses a lot more melted butter, sugar, and eggs.
There is also a difference in how pancakes and waffles are prepared. You make pancakes by pouring the batter into a pan and flipping the pancakes after the top starts bubbling up. Waffle batter is prepared with yeast or whipped egg whites and then poured onto the bottom plate of the Belgian waffle maker. The cooking plates have ridges and squares that give the waffle its unique checkerboard pattern.
If you want to purchase an easy to clean waffle maker, then you should purchase one of the top rated waffle irons with removable grids that can be detached and cleaned in a dishwasher.
Why are Belgian waffles thicker and fluffier than pancakes?
The main reason why waffles are thicker and fluffier than pancakes is that whipped egg whites are used in waffle batter because they add air to the mixture which makes the waffles light and fluffy. Egg whites also create a crispy outer crust on the waffles.
The egg whites should be whipped until stiff peaks form and don’t collapse onto each other. The mixture should be thick and heavy. You might want to add another egg white if the mixture is too thin and the peaks don’t hold. Then fold the beaten egg whites into the waffle batter very gently so that as much air as possible ends up in the batter. This will create many air pockets in the batter which will make the inside of the waffle as fluffy as possible. The air that is whipped into the eggs helps to create a volume in the waffles, resulting in a crispy outside and a fluffy inside.
Egg whites have other benefits besides making waffles fluffier including:
1. The whipped egg whites help to bind the batter together, ensuring that the waffles will be sturdy enough to hold all of your favorite toppings.
2. Egg whites also create a crispy outer crust on the waffles.
3. Whipped egg whites help to keep the waffle batter from sticking to the waffle iron, ensuring that your waffles come out perfectly every time.
How do you separate egg yolks from egg whites?
There are a few ways to separate egg whites from egg yolks.
Method 1: When you’re cooking and need to separate an egg white from the yolk, using an egg separator is the easiest way to do it. An egg separator is a small cup with a hole in the bottom used to separate the egg whites from the egg yolks. The egg is cracked into the separator and the whites flow through the hole while the yolk remains in the cup. If you don’t have one, use a small strainer or cheesecloth to separate the egg whites from the yolks.
Method 2: The eggshell method is a simple way to separate egg whites from egg yolks. Crack the egg into two halves over a medium-sized bowl. Then transfer the yolk from one half of the shell to the other until all of the egg whites drip into the bowl. You can place the yolk in another bowl.
Method 3: The funnel method is a very easy way to separate egg whites from egg yolks. All you need is a funnel and a bowl. Crack the egg into the funnel, and allow the whites to drain out while the yolk stays in the funnel. If you have any trouble getting all of the egg whites out, you can use a spoon to help coax it out. Once the whites have drained, place the yolk in another bowl.
What are the differences between pancakes and waffles?
Both pancake and waffle batters use the same base ingredients including flour, milk, butter, sugar, eggs, baking powder, and salt but in varying amounts. The main differences between these two are that pancake batter typically uses more milk and less butter, eggs, and sugar than waffle batter.
The extra butter, eggs, and sugar will make the exterior of the waffles crispier. The extra eggs will make the inside of the waffle moist and fluffy. The extra butter and sugar will give your waffles a lot more flavor. The extra sugar will caramelize the exterior and give it that familiar golden brown look.
The extra milk in the pancake batter will make the pancakes soft and fluffy but using a lot less sugar, butter, and eggs will make them denser and less flavorful and make the exterior less crispy.
What does sugar do to waffles?
While the plates are cooking the batter, the moisture in the batter turns to steam. The steam can make your waffles soggy if you don’t add enough sugar to the batter.
The sugar will crystallize and create a crispy outer crust on the outside of the waffle while also locking in the moisture inside and keeping the inside remains fluffy and soft. This means that even if you add syrup or other wet ingredients, your waffle will stay nice and crispy instead of becoming a gooey mess. Without sugar, the waffle would become saturated with moisture and become floppy and soggy.
Can you turn a pancake mix into waffle batter?
Yes, you can. If you want to turn pancake mix into fluffy Belgian waffles, just add some milk, sugar, butter, and egg yolks to the pancake mix, and then fold some whipped egg whites into the new batter to give your Belgian waffles more volume.
Before you use the whipped egg whites, place the egg whites in a separate bowl and then add a quarter teaspoon of cream of tartar to stabilize the egg whites. Beat the egg whites with a whisk until they are uniformly stiff. You should beat your egg whites till soft peaks form. Then you should delicately fold the egg whites into the batter to give it more air bubbles. Fold until you do not see the egg whites anymore. Lightly folding the beaten egg whites into the batter will retain the air beaten into the egg whites.
Which pancake mix is the healthiest?
Kodiak Cakes Power Cakes Flapjack & Waffle Mix
The healthiest pancake mix is Kodiak Cakes Power Cakes Flapjack & Waffle Mix because it has no added fat or sugar and it has a lot of protein and fiber and it is made with 100% whole grain wheat, oat flour, and non-GMO ingredients. Each serving size is 1/2 cup or 53 grams and only contains 190 calories. Each serving will give you 14 grams of wheat and whey protein and 5 grams of fiber. If you add milk to the mix, you can increase the amount of protein per serving from 14 grams to 18 grams and if you add an egg, the protein per serving jumps to 21 grams.
Krusteaz Protein Pancake Mix
Krusteaz Protein Pancake Mix is made with 100% whole grain wheat flour, has 15 grams of wheat and whey protein and 4 grams of fiber per serving, and contains no artificial flavors or preservatives. Whey protein helps with muscle growth and speeds up muscle recovery. However, it does have 7 grams of added sugar and contains dairy milk and soy. There are 220 calories per serving. Each serving size is 1/2 cup or 62 grams.
Orgain Protein Pancake & Waffle Mix
Another really healthy pancake mix is the Orgain Protein Pancake & Waffle Mix because it is made with organic whole wheat and oat flour, has 10 grams of plant protein and is certified USDA organic. Also it does not contain any dairy milk or soy. However, it does have 4 grams of added sugar and only 1 gram of fiber per serving. There are 170 calories per serving. Each serving size is 1/3 cup or 46 grams.
Recipe for Belgian Waffles
Listed below is my recipe for making fluffy Belgian waffles with pancake mix. This recipe will make 8 Belgian waffles. The pancake mix has enough baking powder, salt, and flour so you won’t have to add any of those ingredients to the batter.
Ingredients list
• 2 cups of pancake mix
• 3 separated eggs (3 egg yolks and 3 egg whites)
• 2 tablespoons of sugar
• 3 tablespoons of melted unsalted butter – Butter is a key ingredient when making waffles. It gives them a rich flavor and helps them to stay fluffy. However, if you add too much butter, it can make the waffles heavy and greasy. It’s best to melt the butter before adding it to the batter so that it spreads and cooks evenly.
• 2 cups of milk
How to Make Belgian Waffles with Pancake Mix
No matter what time of year it is, waffles are always a delicious breakfast option. You can easily make fluffy Belgian waffles with pancake mix by following these simple steps:
1. Preheat your Belgian waffle iron to the desired temperature by selecting the desired setting on the browning control knob. The cooking plates have reached the optimal temperature if you flick some drops of water on the plates and they sizzle and evaporate. If the water droplets do not sizzle, then wait a few minutes longer for the plates to heat up. If you pour the batter too early, the waffles might end up with too many raw patches and end up falling apart after you remove them.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the pancake mix and sugar until the ingredients are well combined.
3. In a medium bowl, mix together the egg yolks, butter, and milk.
4. Add the wet ingredients from Step 3 to the dry ingredients in Step 2 and mix well to evenly distribute all of the ingredients. The batter should be a little lumpy. Do not over-mix because your waffles will end up too chewy.
5. In a medium bowl, use an electric hand mixer or whisk to beat the egg whites until they reach stiff peaks.
6. Delicately fold in the beaten egg whites to the batter from Step 4 without losing all of the airiness of the beaten egg whites.
7. Pour about 1/4 cup of batter into each section of the waffle iron and cook according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
8. Close the lid and cook for about 3-5 minutes, or until the waffles are golden brown and crispy.
9. Serve with your favorite toppings, such as maple syrup, fresh fruit, or whipped cream.
