With our homemade waffle mix, you can skip the store-bought boxes and make your own from scratch. Just add water and a little melted butter, and you’re ready to whip up fresh, fluffy waffles in minutes.
For pancakes, see our popular recipe for Just Add Water Pancake Mix.
Why Our Recipe
- Just add water and melted butter for fresh, fluffy waffles anytime.
- Store for up to 3 months at room temperature or freeze for 6 months.
- Perfect for easy morning breakfasts, RV and camping trips, and more.
This mix is perfect for busy mornings, especially for kids to make their own waffles, but it doesn’t stop there. It’s perfect for packing it along for an RV adventure or making breakfast magic at a campsite. You can even customize your waffles with your favorite flavors like vanilla extract, cinnamon, or even a handful of chocolate chips for an extra treat.
Ingredient Notes
- All-Purpose Flour: Stick with regular all-purpose flour for best results. Bread flour also works. If you want to use whole wheat, only replace half of the flour.
- Instant Nonfat Dry Milk: Find it in the baking aisle or near powdered drink mixes in most grocery stores.
- Granulated Sugar: You want to add a little sweetness and it also helps your waffles brown.
- Baking Powder: Check the expiration date to make sure it won’t expire during the amount of time you want to store it.
- Baking Soda: Works alongside the baking powder for the perfect rise. Check the expiration date.
- Salt: Regular old table salt.
Powdered Milk
Powdered milk might not be the flashiest item in your pantry, but it’s definitely pulling its weight here. It’s what gives this mix that creamy, just-like-mom-made-it flavor without needing fresh milk on hand. You’ll find it in the baking aisle or near powdered drink mixes. Look for “instant nonfat dry milk.” You may also find whole powdered milk which works, but just know it won’t last quite as long.
Make Fancy Waffles
This mix is like the blank canvas of the breakfast world. You can eat your waffles plain or make them as fancy as you want to. The measurements given here are based on using 1 cup of the dry mix.
Add Some Flavor: Feeling fancy? Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract or 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon to the batter. Want to go big on fall vibes? Use pumpkin pie spice mix.
Sweet Treats: Toss in 2 to 3 tablespoons of chocolate chips, a handful (about 1/4 cup) of fresh berries, or 1 tablespoon of creamy peanut butter stirred into the batter. Breakfast just got dessert-y, and nobody’s mad about it.
Go Savory: Skip the sugar, and mix in 1/4 cup of shredded cheese (cheddar is amazing), 2 tablespoons of cooked and crumbled bacon, or 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh herbs like chives or parsley. Bonus points if you top it with a fried egg for full-on dinner vibes.
Toppings, Toppings, Toppings: Maple syrup is a classic for a reason, but let’s level up. Whipped cream (a dollop will do), 1/4 cup of fresh fruit, or 2 tablespoons of chopped nuts. Get creative—your waffles deserve it and so do you.
Small Batches
Whether it’s breakfast for one or a whole crowd, this mix has you covered. Here’s how to scale it down for small batches.
For 1 Waffle: Mix 1/3 cup of waffle mix with 3 tablespoons of water and 1 teaspoon of melted butter.
For 2 Waffles: Double it up! Use 2/3 cup of mix, 1/3 cup of water, and 2 teaspoons of melted butter.
Waffle Makers
Belgian Waffle Makers: These beauties have deeper grooves and need about 1/2 cup of batter per waffle. Think big, fluffy waffles with pools of syrup. Yum.
Standard Waffle Makers: These are the OG waffle makers, with shallower grooves that usually take about 1/4 to 1/3 cup of batter. Less syrup pooling, but still delicious. Pro tip: Start small! Pour the batter slowly so you don’t end up with a waffle volcano. (Been there, cleaned that.)
With either, if your waffles come out looking a little patchy, just add a smidge more batter next time and call it a learning experience.
Storage Instructions
Shelf Life: Store it at room temperature in an airtight container, and it’ll stay fresh for up to 3 months. Want to push that timeline? Pop it in the fridge or freezer, and it’ll last up to 6 months.
Storage Tips: Keep it in a cool, dry place (so, not next to the oven or above the dishwasher). A mason jar, zip-top bag, or anything airtight will do the trick. The goal? Keep moisture out because waffles and humidity don’t mix.
Check Expiration Dates: Before you whip up your mix, take a peek at the expiration dates on your baking powder, baking soda, and powdered milk. If those are about to expire, so will your mix.
Do you have a master mix of dry ingredients
for biscuits or breads
I don’t, but that’s a great idea!
Can you use almond flour
Almond flour isn’t a 1:1 substitute for regular flour in this waffle mix because it lacks gluten, which helps give waffles their structure. If you want to use almond flour, you’d need to make several adjustments to the recipe including adding a binding agent. We recommend following a recipe specifically designed for almond flour for the best results.
Hi! THANKS for this! I rarely make waffles. I’m curious. Can this mix be used for pancakes? Any alteration necessary? I appreciate you, Rachel, and all of your team!!!
We have a recipe specific just for pancake mix. That one we even got down to being “just add water” which is pretty convenient! https://thestayathomechef.com/pancake-mix/
Will this work for Belgian waffles? Or do you have a recipe?
Yes, as noted above, you can use it for all the different waffle maker shapes, including Belgian waffles. It’s just a matter of how much batter you add to the waffle iron. It wouldn’t be a “true Belgian waffle” but this mix is about the convenience of using the least amount of fresh ingredients possible.