Whether served in the Belgian way as street food with powdered sugar, or the American way with syrup and butter, or something else entirely, waffles are a delicious and simple food that has been beloved for many years.
National Waffle Day is the ideal time to enjoy everything to do with this unique and yummy treat!
Ancient Greece offered the predecessor to waffles by roasting flat cakes between two hot metal plates that were attached to long wooden handles and placed in the oven or over a fire.
By the 15th century, the Dutch in Holland were forming rectangular plates with grid patterns that were used to make waffles. The grid pattern was likely created for practical purposes, as it allowed the batter to cook more quickly and evenly than a flat cake might.
At the time, waffles were likely less sweet than they are today, as sugar was in limited supply, though they may have been sweetened with honey. It was probably the Dutch influence that brought the idea of the waffle to the New World in the early 1600s.
The word “waffle” is believed to have Dutch (wafel), French (walfre) and Frankish (wafla) linguistic influences. The word first appeared in print in English in a cookbook in the early 18th century.
Even after crossing the ocean, waffles remained popular in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries. Eventually, in the 19th century, waffles changed from street vendor food in Paris to a food that was predominantly made at home. The introduction of GE’s electric waffle maker in 1918 made it even easier for families to make waffles in their own kitchens at home.
National Waffle Day is celebrated in the United States as a nod to the day of a US patent for a waffle iron. In 1869, a US patent for a modern, stovetop version of a grid waffle maker was earned by Cornelious Swartwout from New York. That happened on August 24, which is why National Waffle Day is celebrated on this day in the US each year.
While it’s not yet a major holiday that is sanctioned by the government, National Waffle Day continues to grow in popularity as people with deep affection for waffles have a chance to celebrate and show appreciation for them!
As long as a waffle iron is available, making waffles is a fairly simple kitchen activity. Even the kids can get involved with stirring the batter! The most basic ingredients go into waffle recipes, typically including flour, sugar, baking soda, eggs, milk, oil and vanilla extract. Of course, some people like to take things a bit further by adding a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg into the batter.
Once the waffle iron is hot, it’s easy to pour the batter onto the grid, close the lid, and let them cook. Once they are golden brown and fluffy, remove them with a fork. Pile up the toppings, like maple syrup, berries and whipped cream. Enjoy!
