Fluffy & Crispy Butter Waffles (No Buttermilk, No Oil)

There is just something about homemade waffles that makes an ordinary morning feel special.

And listen… I love a good buttermilk waffle, but I don’t always have buttermilk sitting in my fridge. I also don’t always want to separate egg whites or use oil. I wanted a simple, classic waffle that uses basic pantry ingredients…and still turns out fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside.

This recipe checks every box.

Golden edges. Soft centers. Real butter flavor. And no complicated steps.

Why You’ll Love These Waffles

• No buttermilk needed
• No oil…butter only
• No separating eggs
• Simple pantry ingredients
• Fluffy inside, crispy outside

They taste like the kind of waffles you’d get at a cozy breakfast spot… but you made them in your kitchen.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1¾ cups milk (whole milk works best)
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup butter, melted and slightly cooled
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat your waffle iron until fully hot. This step matters for crispiness.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk milk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla.
4. Pour wet ingredients into dry and mix just until combined. Do not overmix…a few small lumps are fine.
5. Lightly grease your waffle iron if needed.
6. Pour batter into the waffle iron and cook until deep golden brown and crisp. Let them cook slightly longer once the steam slows for extra crunch.

How to Get Them Extra Crispy

• Let them cook just a bit longer after the steam stops.
• Place finished waffles on a wire rack instead of stacking them.
• For even more crisp texture, you can replace ¼ cup of the flour with cornstarch.

Make-Ahead Tip

These freeze beautifully. Let them cool completely, then freeze in a single layer before transferring to a freezer bag. Reheat in the toaster for that fresh, crispy texture again.

There’s something so satisfying about learning how to make simple foods from scratch. Once you realize you can make waffles this good with ingredients you already have… it’s hard to go back to boxed mix.

If you try these, top them with fresh fruit, maple syrup, whipped cream, or even a little extra butter. No judgment here.

Homemade just hits different.