Red Velvet Belgian Waffles
These Red Velvet Belgian Waffles are slightly crispy on the outside, but light and airy on the inside. They’re a delicious way to celebrate Valentine’s Day…or any day!
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Belgian waffles are one of my favorite street foods. That’s right. Waffles as a street food. Several years back, we ate our way through Brussels on vacation. This mainly involved lots of Belgian waffles, Belgian fries, Belgian beer and Belgian chocolate. It was glorious!
In America, Belgian waffles have come to mean waffles with deeper pockets. In fact, many of the Belgian waffles recipes you’ll find online are simply ‘regular’ waffle batter poured into a waffle maker with deeper pockets. These are not Belgian waffles! I’m sure they are still delicious, but they’re not Belgian waffles.
What are Belgian Waffles?
Belgian waffles are a type of waffle with larger, deeper pockets than American waffles. Belgian waffles are traditionally leavened with yeast, although some versions now use baking powder instead. They are typically eaten as a breakfast food topped with whipped cream, powdered sugar, berries, chocolate chips, Nutella, etc. However, Belgian waffles can also be served as dessert and topped with vanilla ice cream and fresh fruit.
In Belgium, most waffles are served warm by street vendors. These inexpensive treats are often found in tourist areas topped with whipped cream, fruit and a whole assortment of other toppings. When we were in Belgium, we ate at least one Belgian waffle a day. Oftentimes we ate more than one!
Red Velvet Belgian Waffles
For these Red Velvet Belgian Waffles, I decided to put a Southern spin on a Belgian favorite. I started with a classic recipe for Liege waffles, but I put a red velvet spin on the batter.
Liege Waffles
Let’s start with the Liege Waffle side first. Liege Waffles are a type of Belgian waffle that are a bit denser and chewier. They are crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside…and I’m telling you they are absolutely irresistible!
Liege waffles start with a yeasted batter. Yes, they take longer to make than traditional American waffles. The dough has to rise a bit, and it’s sticky. It might sound like a process, and it is…but it’s not too difficult. Plus, the effort will be well rewarded!!
Another unique feature of Liege waffles is the inclusion of pearl sugar. Pearl sugar, also called nib sugar, is a basically larger chunks of granulated sugar. These chunks don’t dissolve into the recipe, but instead caramelize on the outside while the waffle bakes. You end up with a waffle with little sweet pockets of sugar scattered throughout. It’s delicious! Pearl sugar is common throughout Belgium, but it’s not easy to find in the United States. Fortunately, you can order pearl sugar on Amazon.
For the red velvet angle, I substituted buttermilk for whole milk, and I added a bit of cocoa powder and white vinegar. I also added red food coloring to get that iconic red velvet color. The result was a red velvet waffle with a crispy crust and a chewy middle. These Red Velvet Belgian Waffles could be served for either a special breakfast or dessert. We opted to just dust some of them lightly with powdered sugar and drizzle some with a cream cheese glaze. (After all, cream cheese frosting is traditionally paired with red velvet cake.)
How to Store Leftovers
Leftover Red Velvet Belgian Waffles should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. The cooked waffles can also be frozen for 2-3 months. Allow the waffles to cool fully before storing the leftovers in the fridge or freezer. To reheat, place leftover waffles in a toaster oven or a 300°F oven for 5-6 minutes (or 9-10 minutes if frozen).
If you’re looking for a unique and fun recipe for Valentine’s Day, then put these Red Velvet Belgian Waffles on the menu! The flavor is fantastic, and these were a huge hit here on our house. I hope they become a favorite in your house, too. Happy Baking!
Did you bake this Red Velvet Belgian Waffles recipe at home? Leave a comment, or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog) – I’d love to see your version!
Red Velvet Belgian Waffles
Ingredients
For the Red Velvet Belgian Waffles
- ½ cup buttermilk warm but not hot
- 2 tsp active dry yeast
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2½ Tbsp light brown sugar
- 1½ Tbsp honey
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 Tbsp red food coloring
- 10 Tbsp unsalted butter softened
- ¾ cup pearl sugar See note
For the Cream Cheese Glaze
- 4 oz. cream cheese
- ½ cup confectioner’s sugar
- 2 tsp milk
Instructions
For the Red Velvet Belgian Waffles
- Using a countertop mixer fitted with paddle attachment, add all of the ingredients except for the butter and pearl sugar. Mix on medium speed until a smooth, thick batter forms (1-2 minutes).
- Cover bowl and place in a warm (85°F) location for 30 minutes. (Tip: I let this dough rise in the oven with just the oven light on.)
- Add half of the butter to the bowl and mix on low speed for 1-2 minutes, or until butter is incorporated into dough. Repeat with remaining butter.
- Add the pearl sugar to the bowl and mix on low speed until well combined.
- Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces and place in a warm location for 20 minutes. (Note: This dough is sticky. Dip your hands in water occasionally to keep the dough from sticking.)
- Preheat waffle iron according to manufacturer's instructions.
- Place one ball of dough into the center of each “section” of the waffle iron. (My stovetop waffle iron has 4 sections, so I cook 4 pieces of dough at a time.) Cook waffles over medium heat until tops are golden brown in color (~2-4 minutes).
- Place cooked waffles on an oven-safe plate in a 250°F to keep them warm until all waffles are cooked.
For the Cream Cheese Glaze
- Using a microwave-safe bowl, microwave cream cheese in 20-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until cream cheese is soft and easily stirred with a spoon.
- Add confectioner’s sugar and milk; whisk until smooth.
- Dust waffles with powdered sugar and or dip into cream cheese glaze; serve immediately.
Notes
Looking for more tasty red velvet recipes? Check out these other favorites, too:
I need to try this soon for me and I love chocolate BTW cant wait to make your recipes soon for me
Thanks, Ramya – I hope you enjoy these waffles!!
Oh my! These are stunning. I love Belgian waffles, but usually only get them from the frozen foods section at Sprouts 🙂 Now I can make my dairy-free version of yours! BTW – think I could eat my way through Brussels with Belgian chocolate ON waffles! At least, that’s a challenge am willing to take! 🙂
Oh you should totally make Belgian waffles at home, Shashi – they’re fun! They take more time than American waffles, but the flavor and texture is SO different. And you can plan a vacation to Belgium while doing it. 🙂
These red velvet waffles look ridiculously fun, David, like the best parts of dessert and breakfast teaming up for Valentine’s Day. Honestly, this feels like the kind of recipe that turns an ordinary morning into a celebration.
These waffles really are fun, Raymund! Valentine’s Day is always a good excuse to lean into some sort of red velvet creation. These waffles definitely turn a morning into a celebration!
cream cheese? yes please. These look so pretty!
Haha – cream cheese is a key part of red velvet anything! Thanks, Sherry!!
Such a fun and festive idea, David! I love how you’ve combined the rich red velvet flavour with those crisp Belgian waffles – that texture must be incredible. And that cream cheese glaze on top sounds absolutely irresistible.
Well red velvet needs cream cheese or it’s just not red velvet – I figured it’s ok to put a bit of frosting on a waffle! Thanks, Ben!
Interesting post! I’ve taken to calling the Belgian waffles you find here American-Style Belgian Waffles to distinguish them from the waffles they serve in Belgium. I love that you used Liege as a base. I never thought about toasting the leftovers., that’s a great idea. I did think about making French toast out of them, though!
Ah, you are absolutely correct – American Belgian Waffles are not really Belgian Waffles at all! I do love a classic Belgian waffle with the little sugar crystals embedded throughout. Yum!
Yes!
Mmm… these Belgian waffles you’ve created are so so good! The caramelized sugar, combined with the soft chewy interior and crunchy exterior create such a wonderful sensory experience. I also really appreciated your tip for finding the pearl sugar on amazon. This has been a go to source for me lately, as they have a pretty good selection of harder to find ingredients.
True Belgian waffles are a thing of beauty, Heidi! I love ’em! They might take a bit longer to make, but the time is definitely well spent. And yes to Amazon for weird ingredients – I don’t have time hunting all over town for an ingredient that I may or may not even find!